4 Mistakes You Should Never Make With Your Fish Sticks and Why

Fish sticks are a beloved go-to for a quick and easy meal, but preparing them perfectly can be trickier than it seems. Whether you're baking or frying them, certain mistakes can leave you with soggy, bland, or unevenly cooked sticks. To ensure your fish sticks turn out crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked every time, it’s important to avoid some common pitfalls. Here, we’ll go over the most frequent mistakes people make when preparing fish sticks and how to correct them.

1. Not Preheating the Oven or Pan

One of the most common mistakes is not preheating the oven or the frying pan before cooking fish sticks. If the oven isn’t hot enough when you place the fish sticks inside, they won’t get that signature crispy texture. The same goes for frying—starting with a cold pan can cause the sticks to soak up too much oil, making them greasy.

Instead, ensure that you preheat your oven to the recommended temperature or heat the oil in your pan before adding the fish sticks. This ensures they cook evenly and develop a nice, crisp coating.

2. Overcrowding the Pan or Baking Sheet

When you overcrowd the pan or baking sheet, the fish sticks don’t have enough space for air to circulate around them. This results in uneven cooking, and they may come out soggy instead of crisp.

Next time you’re making a fresh batch of fish sticks, make sure there’s enough space between the pieces so that they can cook evenly. If necessary, use two baking sheets or fry them in batches to avoid overcrowding.

3. Using Too Much or Too Little Oil

Whether you’re frying or baking, the amount of oil you use is crucial to achieving the right texture. Too much oil can make the fish sticks greasy, while too little oil may leave them dry and unappetizing.

For frying, use just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and turn the sticks as needed. For baking, lightly coat the fish sticks with oil or use cooking spray to help them crisp up without becoming overly greasy.

4. Not Turning Them Halfway Through Cooking

Failing to flip your fish sticks halfway through cooking can result in one side being crispier than the other. This is especially important if you’re baking them, as the bottom side can stay soft if it’s not exposed to direct heat.

Always remember to turn the fish sticks halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning and crispiness on both sides.