Poaching is a cooking technique where food is submerged in some form of liquid and cooked at relatively low temperatures. This includes water, wine, milk, or meat stock. It’s favored by many home chefs and home cooks because it allows the protein in the food to cook without losing moisture.
Poaching works really well with delicate food like eggs, poultry, fruit, and fish. Cooking a piece of cod or halibut in milk brings out its flavor and results in a more creamy, tender dish.
While you can definitely poach fish in a pan or pot, using specialized fish poachers makes the process easier and locks in all that deliciousness more effectively. With that, here’s a list of five great fish poachers to choose from.
Best Fish Poachers Comparison & Rating
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Fish poachers come in a wide variety of designs so hopefully, the list above gives you a better idea of what options are available out there. Each featured product comes with its own specifications so you’ll know exactly if the product fits your needs. Also, be sure to click the yellow buttons after the product info section to see the best deals for it on Amazon!
Kitchen Craft Induction-Safe Stainless Steel Fish Kettle
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 23.23 x 4.72 x 7.48 inches |
Weight | 4.02 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Manufacturer | KitchenCraft |
This fish poacher is ideal for medium-sized whole fish. It can go right on top of your stove or right into your convection oven. The item comes with a lift-out drainer plate that lets you take out the whole fish conveniently without making it fall apart. Since the poaching liquid and the other aromatics collect at the bottom of the pan, simply remove the drainer plate and reduce the liquid to make a tasty sauce. You get a complete and healthy low-fat meal for you and your family. This product comes with a 15-year guarantee so you can be sure to get a lot of use out of it.
Norpro Stainless Steel Fish Poacher
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 19.75 x 6 x 5.5 inches |
Weight | 3.1 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Manufacturer | Norpro |
This Norpro Fish Poacher is so versatile. Not only can it cook fish to perfection but can also do the same for lasagna and even beef tenderloin. Measuring 18 inches long, it’s roomy enough to hold meat, poultry as well as fruits and vegetables. It’s lightweight and with high-quality stainless steel construction to ensure that you have a durable product. If you’re purchasing a fish poacher for the first time, this is a solid option.
Cestari Kitchen Easy Pod
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 12 x 2.6 x 2.5 inches |
Weight | 0.5 pound |
Material | Silicone |
Manufacturer | Cestari Kitchen |
This multifunctional product is great to use in smaller kitchens. Use it to create a quick breakfast in your RV or whip up an easy but appetizing dinner using your microwave. Made from high-grade silicone, the Easy Pod rolls up for convenient storage. Whether you’re poaching fish or steaming vegetables, you can be sure to get a healthy and delicious meal. Highly recommended for people on the go.
Eglaf Stainless Steel Multi-Use Oval Cookware
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 15.2 x 11 x 4.5 inches |
Weight | 6.69 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel and Glass |
Manufacturer | Eglaf |
With the Eglaf fish poacher, you purchase a complete set not only suitable for steaming fish, but also for steaming vegetables as well as making soups and stews. Along with the pot, you get a clear glass lid so you can see the pot’s contents, a ceramic plate to steam food, a stainless steel rack, and a chuck to lift the pan and rack out of the pot safely. All of these individual parts are dishwasher safe, making them so much easier to clean. easy to clean. And since it’s larger than most pots, it also handles large portions like a complete fish or a full roasted chicken. If you frequently make big dinners for a large family, you will find this poacher pot to be one of your most-used kitchen items.
Cook Pro All-in-One Stainless High Dome Roaster and Fish Poacher
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 18.75 x 7.5 x 17.75 inches |
Weight | 5.1 pounds |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Manufacturer | Cook Pro, Inc. |
When you have family over or preparing for a large dinner party, medium-sized cookware just won’t do. With its 8-quart capacity, this all-in-one cookware from Cook Pro lets you cook an entire bird or big fish. Not only that, you can make delicious soups and stews to feed five people or even ten. The included accessories let you turn the pot into a roaster, fish poacher, or a steamer. Overall, it’s an essential piece of cookware for family dinners, parties, and holiday celebrations.
Fish Poacher Buyer's Guide
When comparing fish poachers, it’s best to be aware of the two poaching methods so you can better decide on the kind of pot to buy.
The first one is called shallow poaching. This is when you add enough liquid to cover the item to be poached by about two-thirds. The item to be shallow-poached should generally be portion-sized or smaller to make sure it cooks through quickly. The pot or pan should have a lid on so that steam will cook the part of the item that isn't covered. Shallow poaching is especially good for fish fillets and boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
The second method is called deep poaching. It’s where the food is completely immersed in a barely simmering, well-seasoned liquid. Deep poaching is suitable when you’re cooking eggs, fruits, and even whole poultry.
Fish poachers available in the market today come in three types. First is the stovetop fish poacher that you can on a stove burner or an induction burner. A lot of these can also be used in standard ovens. Second is the electric fish poacher, an actual appliance that comes with an electric heating element built into the bottom. Finally, there’s the microwave fish poacher which you can use in a microwave oven.
All of these three types have essentially the same parts — lid with handle, the cooking platform, and the container or reservoir for the poaching liquid.
Fish poachers might come in different shapes and sizes. However, there are certain features that you should be looking for if you want one that’s both functional and durable.
The pot should come with a drainage hole and have a pair of handles that are easy to lift. Ideally, the material should be made from either stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. The pot should have a stable and heavy base for better heat distribution.
FAQs
Poaching uses lower temperatures (about 70–80 °C (158–176 °F)). Thus, it’s well-suited for cooking delicate food which might easily fall apart or dry out using other cooking methods.
Yes, because it doesn’t use fat or oil to cook or flavor the food.
Thicker, meatier fish like salmon, trout, and arctic char are best for poaching.
Bring your poaching liquid to a simmer over medium heat. Cook the fish until the center of the fish seems opaque and it flakes easily when prodded with a fork. Do not bring the liquid to a rolling boil - keep it at a simmer. When the fish is done, use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove it from the liquid.