How to Clean Pomfret at Home

To clean a pomfret: scale it lightly, cut off the fins, remove the gills, slit the belly and take out the gut, then rinse well and pat dry. It takes about five minutes per fish with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors. If you’d rather not, most sellers clean and cut pomfret for you when you order.

Before you start: is it fresh?

Eyes are clear and bulging, not cloudy or sunken.
Gills are bright red or pink.
Skin is shiny and silvery (white pomfret) or glossy dark grey (halwa / black pomfret).
Body feels firm and springs back when pressed.
Smell is clean and of the sea, never sour.

What you need

A sharp knife or strong kitchen scissors
A cutting board you can wash easily
A bowl of cold water
Salt, or a little lemon or vinegar (optional, to rinse)

Step by step

Rinse the fish under cold running water.
Scale it. Pomfret has small scales. Scrape gently from tail to head with the back of a knife until the skin feels smooth.
Trim the fins and tail. Cut off the top and bottom fins with scissors. Trim the tail into a neat “V” if you’re frying it whole.
Remove the gills. Lift the gill cover and cut out the red gills.
Gut the fish. Make a small slit just behind the gills along the belly. Pull out the insides and scrape away any dark lining.
Wash well. Rinse inside and out. A quick rinse in water with a pinch of salt or a little lemon helps.
Score or cut.
- For fry: make two or three shallow diagonal cuts on each side so the masala gets in.
- For stuffed pomfret: slit along the side to make a pocket.
- For curry: cut across into three or four pieces.
Pat dry before applying masala. A dry fish fries crisp.

Skip the cleaning

When you order on Relifish, you can choose how each fish is prepared: whole, cleaned, or cut. Sellers clean and cut it before delivery or pickup. Compare sellers on the pomfret page and see today’s fish prices.

Quick answers

Should I remove the pomfret’s head? It’s optional. Keep it for a whole fry. Remove it for curry pieces.

Does pomfret have many bones? No. It has a central spine and few small bones, which is why it’s a favourite for children.

How long does cleaned pomfret keep? Cook it the same day for the best taste. Keep it in the coldest part of the fridge until then.

Questions? WhatsApp 9152207607 (7:30 AM to 9 PM).