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    Home » Main Dishes » Fish/Shellfish

    How to Cook Cod

    Published: Jul 11, 2019 · Modified: Jul 28, 2022 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Four different cooked cod photos and the words "How to Cook Cod"

    Wondering how to cook cod? Here's the information and recipes you need to buy cod and cook it in the oven or on the stove!

    four cooked cod photos for How to Cook CodI once thought I'd never like cod, but now it's my favorite white fish. It's meaty, mild and oh-so flaky...in a good way, of course.

    It's so delicious, it could pass for a poor-man's lobster.

    And...cod (sometimes called codfish), cooks quickly! You can bake, fry, sauté, broil or grill it.

    In the oven

    My favorite way to cook cod is to add toppings to it and bake the fish at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, as in this Parmesan cod recipe with garlic butter. People all over the world love this dish, and it's even perfect for kids!

    sheet pan with baked fish and butterCoffee lovers have to try my Atlantic Cod with Coffee Butter. It's got a unique, delicious flavor and coffee extract (affiliate link) is the secret ingredient!

    Close-up of baked cod with coffee butter

    You can also make Oven-Fried Cod by baking it at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes.

    breaded fish with lemon and mayo

    Or try this divine Baked Cod with Bread Crumbs and Butter. The delicious topping includes Parmesan, Romano and white wine! Bake it at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes.

    Another great option is to use your oven's broiler. You can make this Broiled Cod with Paprika, which only takes 6-8 minutes to cook.

    When baking or broiling fish, I like to use a half sheet pan (affiliate link). You can line the pan with foil for easy cleanup.

    broiled cod on plate

    On the stove

    It's easy to cook cod fillets in a skillet on the stove. Just heat olive oil or butter in your pan and add the fish, seasonings and toppings. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until the cod flakes easily with a fork. 

    Try my Nonna's Skillet Cod with Tomatoes. It's got a great Mediterranean flair, with garlic, olive oil, parsley and black olives.

    skillet of sauteed cod topped with tomatoes, parsley and olives

    Frying cod

    Cod is often used for fish and chips or fish sandwiches, because it holds up really well when battered and fried. You can make deep-fried, Beer-Battered Cod or shallow-fry cod with less oil.

    My Fried Baccalà, made from dried, salted cod that's been thawed and rehydrated, includes a simple but delicious fish batter of seasoned flour and beaten eggs. This Pan-Fried Cod Fish (using fresh cod) has a similar batter, with a nice kick from Old Bay Seasoning (affiliate link). 

    Fried Baccala (salted cod fish) on a plate with a lemon wedge on a plate

    Just dredge your fish in the eggs and flour, then pan-fry it in oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil or canola. (Make sure to heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees F before adding the cod to the pan. )

    Top the fried cod with a squeeze of lemon, and feel free to dip it in mayonnaise!

    holding piece of bitten fried cod

    How long to cook it

    You should cook cod until you can flake it easily with a fork. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fish and the method you choose.

    In general, it should take 15 minutes at 400 degrees F to cook it in the oven. Sautéeing cod on the stove takes about 10 minutes, while pan-frying takes 5-8 minutes. Deep-frying cod takes just three minutes, since the fish is completely submerged in hot oil.

    Buying cod

    Cod is usually sold in either boneless, skinless fillets, which are large, or cod loins, which are smaller and cut from the thickest part of the fillet. It's usually labeled by whether it came from the Atlantic or Pacific ocean.

    Smaller cod is sometimes sold as "scrod."

    Dried, salted cod is known as baccalà in Italian, or bacalao in Spanish. It's usually available at grocery stores during the Christmas season.

    If you have access to fresh cod (lucky you!), buy it and cook it within two days.

    Where I live, the grocery store's fish counter only sells "previously frozen" cod. I've learned the hard way that "previously frozen" cod needs to be cooked the same day I buy it, because it spoils quickly.

    Another option is to purchase it frozen and allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking it.

    Sauteed Cod with tomatoes, parsley and olives on a plate with fork

    Other fish in the cod family

    The cod family includes other white fish such as haddock, pollock, hake and whiting. I've tried hake fresh off the boat, and it's amazing!

    What about lingcod?

    Despite its name, lingcod (or ling cod) is not part of the cod family. Lingcod comes from the Pacific Ocean and is known to be quite delicious. Some day, I'd love to try it!

    How long will the fish keep in the fridge?

    Refrigerate fresh cod for up to two days before cooking it. If you bought it previously frozen, it's best to cook it the same day, or the next day at the latest. Store cooked cod in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    close-up of baked lemon parmesan cod with melted garlic butter in a sheet pan

    How to know when it's spoiled

    Follow your nose! Always sniff cod or any fish before cooking it.

    If it has a strong, fishy odor and smells like ammonia...throw it out. But first, call the store where you purchased it and report what happened.

    You'll likely be told to bring in your receipt for a refund. (I always save my grocery receipts until I've used any meat or fish I bought.)

    What to serve with it

    Now that you know how to cook cod, you might be wondering what to serve with it. It's wonderful with potatoes or rice.

    I also like to serve it with green vegetables, such as rapini, broccoli or escarole. Add the Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing, and you've got a fantastic meal.

    Enjoy!

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    « Baked Pork Tenderloin with Glaze
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rich Lenoce

      August 05, 2019 at 4:13 pm

      Hi Mamma C. Great post! I have a similar food blog that deals with Italian techniques and ingredients so cooks can be creative. In preparing a future blog post, also on Cod, my favorite way to make it is on a grill with a little lemon, butter, wine and fresh garden herbs. Get the grill really hot, 600+ degrees or more...in about 10-13 minutes the top will get a light crust and the flesh will separate into scallops remaining soft and moist under the outer crust, When you see the scallops it's time to come off the grill. In also like it with tomato sauce, chopped olives, chopped shallots and garlic, a few capers and LOTS of fresh herbs, and the secret ingredient--pistachios! Cook until bubbing.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        August 06, 2019 at 5:00 pm

        Hi Rich - That grilled cod sounds delicious!

        Reply
    2. Linda R

      July 15, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      Andrea,
      I failed to mention I made 4 batches of your Marinara Sauce last week to share with family. They all agree it is the best pasta sauce ever!!! My freezer is stocked for a while.

      Linda

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 15, 2019 at 4:13 pm

        Hi Linda - I'm so glad! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Linda R

      July 15, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      Andrea,
      Your recipe for Baked Parmesan Cod and Garlic Butter is my all time favorite fish recipe. So happy to see your collection of Cod recipes...I always have it in my freezer. I will be trying more soon.

      Thanks for your great recipes
      Linda

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 15, 2019 at 4:13 pm

        Hi Linda - I love hearing that! Enjoy.

        Reply
    4. Hayley

      July 12, 2019 at 12:45 pm

      We don't really eat a whole lot of cod in my house since I just didn't know too much about cooking it. But now I feel like I have a crazy amount of ideas! Thanks for the very informative article!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 12, 2019 at 1:01 pm

        Hi Hayley - I'm glad this article on how to cook cod was helpful!

        Reply
    5. Andrea Metlika

      July 12, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      These are some great recipes for cod. Never thought it was so versatile but so glad it is.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm

        Hi Andrea - Thank you! Cod is super versatile and always delicious.

        Reply
    6. Chris Collins

      July 12, 2019 at 11:38 am

      I'm an absolute cod lover, so this post is PERFECT for me! Thanks so much for all the details. I know what's for dinner tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 12, 2019 at 11:59 am

        Hi Chris - Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Raia Todd

      July 12, 2019 at 11:12 am

      I love cod, but I've never made it myself. Thanks for the tips!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 12, 2019 at 11:35 am

        Hi Raia - I hope you try it! It's delicious.

        Reply

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    I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I share family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen. I hope you'll visit often! Read More…

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