Frozen cod fillets - can I poach them in milk?

[Holymoly321]

Have bought some frozen cod fillets - I'm sure that ages ago I bought some and could poach them from frozen in milk, but the packet says I can only microwave them or oven bake them. So can I poach them from frozen or not?

[TheArmadillo]

yes. If you can oven bake them from frozen I don't see why you can't poach them in milk - I do it in oven anyway.

Or ar you talking on hob?

[Goober]

Ignore the packet!
You can do anything with them, but do expect a lot of liquid after cooking.

[Goober]

Those boil in the bag frozen fillets in butter sauce aren't baked or microwaved. Stupid manufacturers.

[Holymoly321]

I was planning on poaching them in milk on the hob with bay leaf and peppercorns...

[Goober]

That'll be fine, go for it.

[TheArmadillo]

I would go with goober and think fine as long as properly cooked - but probably use a bit less milk than usual as will release a lot of liquid.

(ponders as to whether I'm weird for poaching everything in oven)

[Goober]

Don't think you are weird Armadillo, sometimes it makes more sense if oven is already on.
I sometimes do fish wrapped in foil on top tier of steamer if I have steamer out.

[Holymoly321]

How do you poach them in the oven Amadillo?

[TheArmadillo]

put them in oven dish cover with milk and add the bay leaf and peppercorns. Cover with foil and stick in for 20mins or so at 180 (or 200 in my crappy oven).

I do it that way cos if I'm cooking other stuff in oven is easier to whack it all in.

I didn't realise you could poach on hob till after I left home. I find the trays a better size for fillets than my pans.

[Holymoly321]

cool - you're right about the pan size - I just had to try and chop a frozen fillet in half to fit the pan!

[marmitebabe]

I poach my fish in oven too - I do it in wrapped in foil parcel. It shouldn't need much liquid in it.
BTW I do recycle the foil not put it in landfill, although goodness knows what happens to the stuff after I'm taken it to recycle centre.....

[AlexJones36]

strictly speaking it would be better if you could leave the fish in a cover dish in the fridge for a few hours before cooking... i know theres a lot of cooking from frozen going on, but it's not the best practice!

Heres the real guide:
www.thenewiceage.com/the-cold-facts/storing-defrosting-and-cooking-frozen-foods-safely

(from the british frozen food federation)

Alex

[PoopyFingers]

Could you put sliced potato on top of the fish & milk, would the potato cook at the same time thus giving you a pie-ish thing?