If you are a fan of quick easy-to-prepare meals, then fish tacos should definitely be in your meal rotation and of course, there are multiple options for preparing fish using your Convection or Steam oven. In addition to fish, you could also consider shrimp or even a little sliced lobster tail for your tacos then the only decision will be, to roast, broil, or steam roast or steam the fish or shellfish.
If you have some shredded cabbage slaw, sliced avocado, and a side of black beans on hand as well as some stone-ground corn tortillas you be able to pull a great meal together in no time at all.
Best Convection Modes to Cook Fish
Many electric ovens feature the option to roast, bake and broil in combination with Convection which is a great benefit because the circulating convection heat helps retain moisture in the food and an added benefit is that you can cook other foods at the same time. When cooking fish for tacos you have several options to choose from.
Convection Roast or Bake mode 350 - 375F°
When roasting fish at a high temperature in Convection first brush the fish with oil or mayonnaise, the fish will remain succulent with light crisping on the outside. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish 6 - 8 minutes for thinner cuts and 10 - 12 minutes for thick cuts.
Low-Temperature Convection Roast or Bake mode 300F°
Searing fish in a pan on one side to form a crisp crust and then placing the pan in the oven to finish cooking at a low temperature is one of the best ways to cook fish. In this preparation, you can achieve a really crisp crust and very, tender flaky fish. The time in the oven will depend on the thickness of the fish.
Convection Broil mode
When broiling fish or shellfish for tacos, be sure to brush the fish with a heat-tolerant oil and arrange the racks so that the fish will be close to the top heating element. In this mode, intense heat is directed at the food which adds great flavor, and the cooking time will be faster.
Prior to broiling, the seafood can be cubed and tossed before seasoning and coated with oil ready to go straight into the waiting taco.
Remember when broiling a long preheat time is not necessary and always broil with the door closed. When broiling I recommend turning on your overhead ventilation before heating the oven to help direct smoke and vapors out of the kitchen area.
How to Cook Fish in the Steam Oven for Fish Tacos
If you have a Steam oven and are interested in other options for cooking fish and shellfish for tacos, here are some guidelines.
Steam Mode
When steaming fish and shellfish in the steam oven, use the solid oven pan with a little water and some lemon slices so in effect the fish or shellfish are being poached. The cooking time will be fairly short depending on the thickness of the fish but usually around 5 minutes.
Steam Roasting
Roasting in a Steam oven uses a combination of great cooking tools. Convection keeps the food moist while steam inhibits the cellular breakdown of the food, so the results are not only healthy but also full of flavor.
There are food trends that come and food trends that go but traditional recipes like Arroz con Pollo remain constant favorites and with good reason. In my next post, I will review some options for cooking this flavor-packed dish using a Convection or Steam oven.
Larissa, Your Convection Enthusiast
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