How to desalt cod and get its best flavor

Do you know how to desalt cod quickly to get its best flavor and texture? We'll show you how to prepare it easily!

¿How to desalt cod?

The process of desalting cod serves to remove excess salt and allow you to fully enjoy its flavor.

The time it takes to desalt cod depends on the type; a fillet is not the same as crumbs or a thick portion.

Cod is an ideal fish for maintaining a healthy weight due to its nutritional value, with a good flavor and a good texture.

If you don't know how to desalt cod quickly, at Delfín, we'll help you with the process with some foolproof tips.

Time to desalt the cod

As we mentioned before, depending on the piece of cod, it is left to rest for different amounts of time.

To desalinate shredded cod, you need 12 hours if it is a large quantity.

For very small pieces, you can desalt the cod for 12 to 24 hours.

The medium-sized pieces are left to rest for 48 hours and the large piece of cod can be left for up to 72 hours.

If you want to desalt the cod quickly, it is recommended that you use small pieces or crumbs.

It's a somewhat lengthy technique, so if you want to eat cod and don't want to go through this process, we recommend our recipe for cod pil-pil, delicious and ready to eat immediately.

Step by step to know how to desalt cod

Once we've chosen the type of cod we need and have an idea of how long it will take, we begin the process.

Steps to follow to quickly desalt cod:

Rinse the cod with cold water a couple of times to remove excess salt.
In a very large container, pour cold water and submerge the cod, skin-side up. Top up with more water if there isn't enough, as the cod must be completely covered.
We leave it to soak for the necessary time and change the water every 3 hours if it is crumbs, every 6 if it is a medium piece and every 12 if it is a large piece.
After the time has passed, we remove the water, rinse again and it will be ready.

It may seem like a slow and tedious process, especially if you don't want to cook very large pieces.

That's why at Delfin we offer our raw cod fillets that have a lot of flavor and can be cooked directly after defrosting.

Tips for desalination

If you're learning how to desalt cod, it's best to follow these tips to get it right the first time.

Since it is a long process, it is best to try to do it well and step by step so as not to spoil the product.

Here are some tips on how to desalt cod:

Use cold water: You can use tap or bottled water, but make sure it's not hot to prevent it from boiling or altering its flavor and texture.
Don't forget to change the water: Even if it's only left to sit for 12 hours, you should change the water a couple of times. This is a very important step to properly remove excess salt.
Cod position: You should desalt the cod with the skin facing up, because if you place the skin facing down, the salt can get stuck between the skin and the meat.
Check that it is desalted: When the excess salt is removed, the cod will have a soft texture. Before finishing the process, check if it still has that texture, or if it will need to sit in the water for a few more hours.
Optimize the cod: Buy a very large piece and do the entire desalting process just once. When you're done, you can freeze it in batches.

How to cook desalted cod

Once you've finished the desalination process, you can use it for any recipe.

One of the best recipes is cod in pil pil sauce , which perfectly complements it without overpowering its flavor.

Depending on the type of recipe, it can be cooked in a different way.

In general, this is how you can cook desalted cod:

Heat a pot with plenty of water until it boils.
Add the cod (with spices or vegetables if you want to enhance its flavor).
Cook the cod for 10 minutes for a small or medium piece.
Check that it is cooked through and leave it in a colander for a few minutes.

You can also use this process with our raw cod cheeks , which are very good and already come desalted.

Are you interested in cooking with cod as the main ingredient? We invite you to check out all the recipes we've prepared with this fish:

Can you eat desalted cod raw?

Yes, although it is recommended that it has been previously frozen.

There are many recipes for salads and quick dishes that use raw desalted cod crumbs.

There is no risk of bacterial contamination if it has been previously frozen, and the desalination process also helps prevent bacteria.

But if you're not completely convinced, you can also quickly cook or sauté the cod and avoid any worries.

How to preserve desalted cod

The question may arise as to how to preserve cod once it's been desalted, and there are three very easy options that apply to any fish.

Once the excess salt has been removed, it is cut into pieces or as desired and stored in airtight bags or lunchboxes.

Once we have it hermetically sealed, we can freeze it if we are going to consume it long-term , or keep it in the refrigerator for the next few days.

The most practical way to freeze cod is in airtight bags, as they are very convenient and fit better than a lunchbox.

And like all meals, you can also cook in bulk and divide the prepared dish into lunchboxes for storage or freezing.