Introduction
Don’t be intimidated by the fan-shaped “wings” of this delicious frozen raw fish. A longtime French favourite, skate is becoming increasingly popular with Western cooks as they discover just how buttery, flaky and flavorful the flatfish is. Don’t be daunted by the fish’s odd appearance, it’s easy to cook and crazy delicious.
What is Skate fish?
About 150 species belong to 17 genera in the skate family. The tail fins of these spongy fishes oscillate by their paired pectoral fins while the fishes swim. The majority of skates feed on molluscs and crustaceans on the bottom of the water. They also consume worms, among other small creatures. Several species of fish are predators, consuming others.
An offshore species of ray, the skate fish is prevalent throughout tropical waters all over the world. The Skate fish is a member of the Rajidae family, along with sharks and rays. Skates lack teeth, which makes them different from sharks. Rather, the upper jaw is filled with small, sharp structures referred to as denticles. Skate fish use these to catch prey.
The eyes of skates are positioned near the tip of their snouts, similar to sharks. Skate fish, however, have forward-facing eyes instead of sideways-facing eyes. It is not uncommon for skate fish to grow up to 8 feet in length. In different parts of the world, its colour varies. Species of the Atlantic Ocean are characterized by deep brownish-green colours and bluish-grey colours.
Among the prominent skate fish species are
- Arctic skate – This skate lives in the icy waters of Greenland and Antarctica and has a diverse habitat range.
- Big skate – Living from California to Alaska, big skates are large with a maximum length of 8 feet and a weight of 200 lbs.
- Deepsea skate – Found living at depths up to 9, 000 feet deep!
Skate Fish Appearance
Many skate fish species have a unique appearance. There are millions of them around the world, and their habitat ranges from near zero degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Others swim along the sea’s surface, while others live deep underwater. A skate’s photophores, which are located on its head, radiate light. In the deep sea, predators can more easily find prey thanks to these lights.
Skate fish are similar to rays, sharks, and flatfishes. In general, their bodies have a diamond-like shape and are brown. The snouts of skates are longer and more pointed than those of rays. Each of their “wings” consists of several sections of flesh connected by cartilage strips. A Skate can weigh up to 200 pounds, but its typical weight is about eight to ten pounds. Rays and skates have tough, inedible skin.
What is a ray? What is a skate?
As one of the largest cartilaginous fish groups, rays, sawfishes, and guitarfishes make up a category of sharks known as rays. Rays tend to be slender, elongated fish, although certain species have different appearances. A ray’s body is flat, its eyes are large, and it has no dorsal fin. The gill slits of some rays are single, while those of others are multiple. The number of species of rays is estimated to be around 350.
Skate is a kind of ray. They’re both flat fish that live on the ocean floor. Their broad tails resemble paddles. A hard guard over the head distinguishes skates from other rays. Due to their similarity in shape and hue, skates are frequently confused for sharks. A skate, however, is a ray in the true sense, whereas a shark is a member of the Chondrichthyes subclass.
Commercial value of Skates
Fresh skates are edible with wings the most commonly consumed part of this species. The flesh has a mild and pleasant flavour and is sometimes cut into shapes and produced as fake scallops.
Since skates don’t have any small bones, there is no danger of coming across any bones in these steaks. Some carefully selected species have tiny black filaments on the surface of their flesh, which look like worms but are part of their nervous system. You can just scrape them off your fish once you’re done cooking it. Simply defrost them and fry them in a little bit of butter and serve them with some salad and asparagus for a delicious light meal
What does Skate wing taste like?
Skate wings carry a mild flavour with delicate textures. It isn’t overpowering and doesn’t taste fishy at all.
Some compare its taste to that of shark meat, crab meat, and scallops.
Every frozen skate wing possesses a reasonably thin layer of meat on both sides. The skin of the skate wing is a crispy delight when it is pan-fried without burning it. Pan-frying the skate makes it sharply tender and beautiful. It has ridges that can hold a sauce by creating a fan effect. Skate wings are softer and not overly meaty. Depending on the season you catch it, some skate wings even carry an ammonia-type of flavour.
Skate wings are chewy at the start, and then it starts to get more tender with each bite. However, some people believe that the fish doesn’t just taste mild, but its flesh is quite firm with increased collagen content. All these different combinations give it a unique and expensive texture. You can expect its flesh to go from pinkish to off-white when cooked.
Health benefits of Skate wings
There is not much knowledge about skate among the general public. However, it can be used in many ways and has a scallop-like flavour. Similarly, the texture of the fish is soft but firm at the same time, like flesh that is easy to chew. Almost like salmon, their meat flakes easily with a dry texture. Plus, it’s loaded with protein. What’s holding you back from trying it?
Skate wings can be classified into several types. Cooking or eating them raw depends on your preference. Be sure to get enough protein, however, you prefer. Each skate wing contains a healthy amount of protein and fat. Strengthening muscles with this is ideal.
Storing Skate fish
There is a maximal period of 2 to 3 days of shelf life for most types of fish, including skate fish. Adding a little butter to the skillet, or covering it with foil and heating it at low heat, is the most effective method for reheating.
Can skate wings be frozen? The best method of preserving the quality of freshness of skate wings is to store them in a refrigerator and use them as soon as possible. Depending on what you decide to do with them, you may skin them and shuck the meat, then place the fillets in the freezer.
How to cook Skate wing
Common method
Several skate fish species can be found in abundance and are commonly caught as trawler byproducts. As is the case with many fish species, skate fish are rarely cooked at home. Nevertheless, they have become more popular in kitchens. In skates, like other cartilaginous fish like sharks, urea is found in their tissues, making cooking them challenging. In the absence of proper preparation, this can result in an unpleasant taste similar to ammonia. The improper handling and storage of skates are the principal cause of this unpleasant odour in skates. The best restaurants in the world now serve skate, and it’s considered a delicacy across cultures. Skate is well known as a coastal cuisine in South Korea for its skate dishes with a strong flavour due to fermentation.
The most popular ways to prepare skates are fried or sauteed, but there is a lot you can do with this fish. It is versatile like cod or haddock but has a tender and unique texture that sets it apart as a suitable luxurious ingredient. Skinned skate wings are frequently pan-fried with a lot of butter, or they can be fried in oil and served like fish and chips or as a delish fish broth.
Food pairing
Any side dish or sauce would complement Skate’s smooth texture, delicate flavour, and striking look. There is a slight nuttiness to the soft, flaky texture, reminiscent of white fish. There is a lot of smoothness to this fish, so it requires the addition of acidity from capers, lemon, and white wine to enrich its flavour.
Wine pairing
The Alsace Riesling, the Sauvignon Blanc, and the White Bordeaux
The majority of Sauvignon-based wines, as well as an Alsace Riesling, go well with succulent Skates.
Popular recipes for Skate fish
Skate wing with brown butter
In this French-style skate wing with brown butter dish, the flavour of the skate shines through. Furthermore, brown butter enhances the taste of just about anything.
Skate Meunière
Butter, lemon, and parsley make up a very simple and earthy sauce that covers the delicate white fish.
Skate wings poached in miso and ginger
You’ll love this skate recipe because it’s a mouthwatering and easy-to-prepare fish meal. A traditional miso soup is derived from soybean ferment and gives this skate recipe an extra layer of flavour, perfectly balanced by the spicy chilli and ginger spice.
Pan-fried skate wing, purple cauliflower purée
It is served with a flavorful caper butter sauce along with cauliflower pickled in vinegar and romanesco florets to complement it.
Substitutes for Skate fish
Alternatively, you can use soles, flounders, ocean perch, or halibut if skate wing fillets are unavailable.
There is also the option of trevally. The flesh is firm and dense, and it keeps its shape. As an alternative to Skates, you can braise it to make stews, curries, paellas, and a variety of other wet dishes.
Sustainability of Skates
The winter skate harvested with bottom trawls off the Atlantic coast is a sustainable option. There is no quantity depletion or overfishing of winter skates. A relatively high level of effectiveness is attributed to the management of the fishery which is diverse, extensive, and varied.
The reduction of bycatch can be achieved by heeding scientific recommendations and adhering to conservation guidelines. Fishing is being conducted around more sustainable ecological areas through ecological management.
