why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?

Much of it is susceptible to parasites because it's farmed not wild caught, posted on July 21, 2021 at 18:42:27
Jay Buridan Audiophile Posts: 10271 Location: Michigan Joined: January 21, 2004	On the other hand it probably doesn't contain Mercury or other heavy metals. Give the choice between ingesting Mercury or parasites, I'll choose the latter every time. "Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. " ― W.C. Fields

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 21, 2021 at 18:43:56

tweaker456
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Below is a positive article on the fish. There was stuff about how supposedly too many Omega 6s were bad and that it didn't have omega 3's. IMO it is most of the time a very nice tasting fish at a reasonable price with a good texture and a good source of protein, of course. I get my omega 3s from fish oil capsules, salmon, and sardines, not tilapia.

So let us stop talkin' falsely now, the hour's getting late --
Robert Allen Zimmerman

https://www.henryford.com/blog/2017/10/tilapia-get-bad-rap

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 21, 2021 at 20:02:44
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	A tasty school of Fish. Has a little more fat than omega content. Still very healthy.

Farmed fish flavor. nt, posted on July 22, 2021 at 05:11:21
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	d

I'm not eating farm raised imported fish., posted on July 22, 2021 at 06:42:43
srdavis2000 Audiophile Posts: 10699 Location: Deep South Joined: January 11, 2003 Contributor Since: December 16, 2004	Nothing scientific, just my imagination at work. I prefer locally wild caught fish when I can find it. Also, I prefer to ruin whatever health benefits fish may have by frying or blackening it. I have made some in the air fryer that turned out edible.

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 22, 2021 at 07:44:42

Inmate51

I suspect the deep frying had something to do with it being tasty. ;) Was it battered? That helps, too.

To us, tilapia is just "blah" with a slight sweetness. Coating it with a little salt, pepper and flour, maybe an egg wash, and then pan frying it in a mixture of butter and light olive oil can also make it acceptable. Sprinkle a little grated parmessan near the end to help it a little.

My regular fish preferences are salmon, cod, pollock, haddock, and Gorton's breaded/battered pollock frozen fillets. Sure, I'd like to include halibut in that list, but at $18+ per pound, not so much. But my most favorite fish is deep fried battered lake perch. Yum! Unfortunately, I can't find it here in Texas. I gotta go up to Wisconsin for that. Fortunately, I'll be going sometime in the Fall. Can you say "Friday night fish fry"?!

Living near the Gulf,, posted on July 22, 2021 at 08:10:45

srdavis2000
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I occasionally find redfish and snapper in the meat counter. My last great find was a slab of pompano. I bought a whole (one side) filet that was about two feet long. I cut it into four equal portions and blackened it in a cast iron skillet in my Primo cooker heated as hot as it would go. It made four meals, so wasn't that expensive. I know that they farm redfish somewhere in south Texas.

As far as fried fish goes, it's hard to beat thin fried catfish.

RE: Living near the Gulf,, posted on July 22, 2021 at 08:34:18
Inmate51	"As far as fried fish goes, it's hard to beat thin fried catfish." Just the word "catfish", along with the way they look, has been enough to turn me off for as long as I can remember. Maybe I should try it sometime, battered and deep fried. Just don't tell me it's catfish. :)

RE: Living near the Gulf,, posted on July 22, 2021 at 08:57:50
srdavis2000 Audiophile Posts: 10699 Location: Deep South Joined: January 11, 2003 Contributor Since: December 16, 2004	Catfish fillets you will find in the store will just look like tilapia fillets only pinker. Forget what they look like live. If you go by looks, what do you think of crabs, shrimp and crawfish. Hogs rolling in the mud don't look that tasty either, but they are.

RE: Living near the Gulf,, posted on July 22, 2021 at 09:19:13
Inmate51	LOL! I get your point. :)

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 22, 2021 at 12:54:47
BillH Audiophile Posts: 3913 Location: Baton Rouge Joined: December 23, 1999	I don't know, but I saw Jacques Pepin use it recently on a show, frying it with a batter, and it looked fine. He is generally a fanatic about quality and freshness, so it must be okay. But if there's anything I have, it's access to very fresh saltwater fish. And I love it!

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 23, 2021 at 04:08:38
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8384 Joined: June 3, 2006	Wife marinates Tilapias with several spices and then fries in coconut oil. Very good. Very good with Gin and Tonic. Bill

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 23, 2021 at 08:53:03

dark_dave56
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That, I do not know. I eat it from time to time--generally battered or breaded and fried. I don't find it to be particularly flavorful on it's own, so the seasoned batter/breading needs to step-in and save the day for flavor.

"And today is for sale and it's all you can afford. Buy your own admission. The whole things got you bored. Well the Lord chooses the good ones, and the bad ones use the Lord"--a very dear friend for decades Michael Stanley (Gee)--RIP

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 23, 2021 at 11:00:06
Inmate51	Ha! Read my post from 07:44 on July 22. One might say that tilapia is like Wonder Bread: A vehicle to use for delivering other flavors. :)

RE: why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?, posted on July 23, 2021 at 13:55:55
BillH Audiophile Posts: 3913 Location: Baton Rouge Joined: December 23, 1999	True that. On its own, it tastes like whitefish, which tastes exactly like its name.

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why does talapia fish get such a bad rap?

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