Fish scales that stick tightly often become a challenge for anyone who wants to process this food ingredient. This hard and slippery coating not only reduces the enjoyment of the fish when eaten, but also extends the processing time. The reason is, cleaning fish scales requires extra technique and patience.
Most people usually clean fish scales with special tools. However, quite a few still use knives to clean fish scales. Even though the tools are easier to obtain, cleaning fish scales with a knife requires special techniques so that your hands don't get scratched by scratches from the scales or knife.
To be safer, you can copy the simple trick shared by Instagram user @ummubalqishaura. Through one of the videos he uploaded, the account owner is seen not using a knife or special tool to clean fish scales. He seems to be using other tools that are more practical to use and safer to use.
Reported by BrilioFood from Instagram @ummubalqishaura on Wednesday (24/7), the kitchen tool in question is a cheese grater. A cheese grater basically has a number of sharp holes that can help remove scales from the surface of the fish. In the video, he cleans a milkfish which has lots of scales. However, you can also use this cheese grater to clean other types of fish.
 Instagram/@ummubalqishaura
To clean it, you just need to prepare the fish you want to cook. Then hold the fish using your left hand. To make it safer and the fish won't escape easily, you can use gloves when doing this process. Next, take the grater and hold it using your right hand. After that, immediately rub the surface of the fish using a cheese grater. Make sure you use the sharp side of the grater when rubbing the fish to remove the scales.
 Instagram/@ummubalqishaura
Do this scaling process repeatedly. Basically, the sharp part of the grater will help pry or simply peel off the scales. Then, if the scales have been completely removed, rinse the fish under running water. In the same video, Instagram user @ummubalqishaura also shares a trick for removing fine spines from milkfish. Instead of pressure-cooking or boiling for a long time, he actually uses another, more practical method.
 Instagram/@ummubalqishaura
So first, bend the milkfish from the middle body, tail and head. This aims to make the fine bones or spines break. So, after that, slice the back of the milkfish until you hear a 'snap' sound, which indicates that the fine spines have been cut.
 Instagram/@ummubalqishaura
Well, milkfish spines that have been cut will basically soften easily when cooked later. This certainly makes milkfish tastier and more comfortable to consume without worrying about spines getting stuck in your throat. How? Are you interested in trying it too?