How to Pan Fry Fish Fillets

By Molly Watson, About.com Guide

Pan frying fish is, perhaps, the most delicious way to cook any non-fatty fish. The coating protects the flesh from direct heat and helps keep the fish moist, while also providing a browned and crispy or crunchy crust. Yet, the method avoids the large amount of oil (not to mention the mess) required for deep frying.

The steps here show how to do a full three-step coating, but the basic idea can also be used to simply coat the fish once with flour to improve browning for pan fried fish.