When you buy salmon fillets, the fishmonger has done the skilled work in cleaning and filleting the fish. However, there very likely will be some bones remaining. These are usually referred to as the pin bones. They are not difficult to remove and you should do this to save yourself and your guests from having to pick fish bones out of your meal.
Pin bones are usually described as those “fine bones remaining after filleting” but, as you can see from the photo, salmon pin bones are anything but fine. They are whoppers!
As always, the task is easier if you have the right tool for the job. If necessary you can use your fingers or an ordinary pair of tweezers, but the best tool for the job is a pair of salmon tweezers. This is a relatively expensive little piece of kit but it’s well worth it in my opinion. I’ve had mine for almost 10 years and even though I use them frequently, they’re still as good as the day I bought them. Think of them as a long-term investment. These little beauties take all the hard work out of the task and make the chore almost a pleasure.
Place the fish fillet, skin side down, on a suitable chopping board. I like to use colour-coded boards at home – blue for raw fish. Gently run your fingers over the fish. You will quickly identify where the line of pin bones lies. Next, take the tweezers and pluck out the bones. Easy!
As I said above, Nisbets sell exactly the same salmon tweezers as mine – just click on the banner below:
Nisbets only deliver within the UK. If you live outside the UK, or want to shop around first, why not have a look at Not Delia’s Amazon Cook Shops instead?
Not Delia’s Cook Shop: UK and EU (prices in £)
Not Delia’s Cook Shop: non-EU (prices in US $)
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