How Long To Bake Catfish In Oven At 350?

Oven baked catfish is a favourite dish for my family. I love to cook the catfish in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The catfish cook time is key for a great result. The question is this. How long to bake catfish in the oven at 350 degrees? Let answer this question and also hear about other tips that can help perfect the recipe for the best catfish baked in oven.

How long to bake catfish in the oven at 350 degrees?

It takes 20 to 25 minutes to bake catfish in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the size of the fish. Overall, our goal is to make the fish soft and flaky. It is ideal to bake the fish for 15 minutes first and then check on it. If it is not flaky and soft yet, then bake it for another 5 minutes. When baked at 350 degrees, the fish can cook perfectly. The texture becomes incredibly soft and it just melts in my mouth.

How to cook catfish in the oven?

There are many recipes for baking catfish in the oven online. However, there is one easy recipe for catfish which I like. Here’s how to cook catfish in the oven.

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

First, we have to make sure we preheat the oven to make sure it reaches the correct temperature before we add our catfish.

2 Prepare seasoning for catfish

While the oven is heating, we should take the time to season our catfish. We can be as versatile as we want and use any seasonings that cater to our taste preferences. For those who prefer a simple taste, seasonings like salt, lemon, and black pepper are appreciated. For those of us who prefer a more complex flavor, spices such as paprika, parsley, thyme, and oregano can be added. Onions, garlic, and peppers (red, green, and yellow) can be included for even more flavor. If a spicy flavor is what I crave that day, then chili pepper or blackening season is the option that I choose.

3 Bake the catfish with a parchment paper or foil

When baking the fish, a flat baking sheet is the best thing to use. Lining the sheet with parchment paper or foil makes our job easier when we are cleaning up because it keeps all the juices from this dish off the actual baking sheet. When this is done, start baking the catfish at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.

How to make crispy catfish in the oven?

If I feel like eating a crispy piece of catfish, then I bread the fish in flour after it has been seasoned. This can be any flour of my choosing, depending on what flavors I want. White flour, almond flour, coconut flour, and cassava flour are all good options. Take note that coconut flour will give the meal a hint of a coconut taste. Cooking the fish this way is a technique called oven-fried.

Bake catfish on rack and with an oven pan

For this oven-fried technique, then I will put a metal cookie rack on top of the baking sheet so that the oil can drip to the bottom of the pan. This rack allows hot air to circulate all around the catfish and results in the cat fish to become crispy on both sides. This also saves me a step as there is no need to flip the catfish with this hack.

Use high baking temperatures for the catfish

When we decide to cook our catfish with flour, then baking it at a higher temperature will ensure that we can get the most succulent, crispy catfish. For this approach, baking at 425 to 450 degrees is optimal because the high heat ensures that the catfish has a nice, uniform, yet crunchy texture. I have found that if the catfish that I buy is on the bigger side, then 450 degrees is what I prefer to use. If the catfish is smaller, then 425 degrees will do just fine. Remember to always preheat the oven for a perfectly cooked meal every time.

Which is the best cooking temperature for catfish in oven?

The temperature I prefer the catfish to be cooked at, overall, is 350 degrees because the catfish is being exposed to less heat. When food is exposed to less heat, it tends to preserve more of its vitamins. That way I can up my omega 3 intake more, which is good for inflammation. I truly get the best of both worlds, a tasty and healthy meal.

How to bake catfish in oven fast?

To speed up the cooking process, I sometimes defrost the catfish the day before, if I have bought it frozen. Then, I add my seasonings and let them sit overnight in the fridge. This also improves the taste of the meal because it allows the seasonings to really sit and saturate the catfish. Then, when it is time to cook, the only thing I have to do is preheat the oven and put the fish on the pan.

What goes well with catfish?

If I want to take the meal to the next level and make it even better, I sprinkle some butter or oil (olive, avocado, or coconut) onto the catfish to enhance the taste. This can be done on the unbreaded or oven-fried version. Alternatively, I combine one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of lemon or lemon juice per catfish and drizzle that over the meal prior to baking. Then, I add vegetables of my choice over the catfish and then put it to bake.

Wrapping up this oven baked catfish guide

Now that I have answered the question about how long to bake catfish in the oven at 350 degrees, everyone can make themselves a delicious serving of catfish and satisfy their stomach to the highest degree.

FAQs on oven baked catfish

How long to bake catfish at 450 degrees?

It takes 15 minutes to bake catfish in the oven at 450 degrees. The high heat produces a fish with tender meat and a crispy skin.

What is the best seasoning for catfish?

I find that the best seasoning for catfish is one with multi-layer flavors. First, build the basic taste with the standard seasonings like salt, lemon, and black pepper. Next, add a more complex flavor layer of spices such as paprika, parsley, thyme, and oregano.

What is the internal temperature of catfish when done?

The internal temperature of catfish is to reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit for a fully cooked meat. The temperature should be taken at the thicker part of the fish as it takes longer to cook.