How to Clean Fish by Hand (The Spanish Method)

This traditional Mediterranean technique lets you clean small to medium fish quickly, without splattering scales or dirtying your kitchen. All you need are your hands and cold running water.

Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare Your Workspace

Work near the sink with cold running water.

Have a clean bowl ready to place the cleaned fish.

2. Rinse the Fish

Hold the fish under running water.

Rub it gently with your hands to wash away surface slime.

3. Remove the Scales by Hand

With one hand holding the fish firmly by the tail, use your thumb and fingers of the other hand to rub against the direction of the scales.

The scales will loosen and come off easily under the water stream.

Keep rinsing as you work so they don’t fly around the kitchen.

4. Gut the Fish Without a Knife