Can You Eat Fish Scales? (Would You Even Want To?)

Everyone knows that the meat, or fillet from fish is delicious. Some folks even eat the skin, or roe (eggs) from fish…but what about the scales?

Can you eat fish scales? And more importantly, would you even want to eat them?

Table of Contents

Can You Eat Fish Scales?

Although fish scales are edible, they are typically removed from a fish before eating. Fish scales are crunchy, and in some cases sharp, which makes them not very appetizing.

So the short answer is yes, you can eat fish scales. Would I recommend it?

Probably not.

Can You Eat Fish Scales? (Would You Even Want To?)

Fish scales are like a suit of armor for fish and protect them from predators, parasites, and injuries. They can be quite sharp and are made of materials similar to that of bone or teeth.

Are they harmful? Technically, no. But if you get one in your mouth it’s kind of like chewing on a fingernail.

To me eating fish scales is comparable to eating fish bones, it’s rather unpleasant.

They are also pretty physically unappealing, slimy, and often covered in a layer of mucus (no thanks!)

Eating fish scales can injure your throat and mouth and they make it challenging to access the best part of the fish, the meat!

Safety aside, some fish skin and scales just do not taste great and you are better off to just enjoy the white flakey fillets.

Types of Fish Scales

A good way to identify fish is by their scale type. There are four main types of fish scales which are cycloid, ctenoid, ganoid, and placoid.

Most bony fish have ctenoid or cycloid scales, meaning they have the same number of scales their whole lives and they enlarge to accommodate for the fish’s growth.

A lot of fish, like flounder, for instance, do not just have one type of scale. In fact, they have ctenoid scales on one side of their body and cycloid scales on the other.

Fun Fact: Just like you count the rings of a tree, scientists can count the number of scales of fish has to determine its age!

Assorted Fish on ice ready for descaling

Fish Scale Types By Species

Cycloid Scaled FishCtenoid Scaled FishGanoid Scaled FishPlacoid Scaled Fish
SalmonTroutBowfinSharks
CarpHerringGarRays
CharPerchPaddlefishSkate
WhitefishSunfishSturgeonEels

Can You Cook Fish With The Scales On?

The majority of scaly fish don’t require scale removal before cooking, because they are simply skinned or filleted, where the skin and scales are removed completely.

And some species of fish like snapper, are quickly descaled and served whole, where you pick away the meet from the skin with a fork.

For instance, a few soft fish, like tuna and trout have delicate scales or little to no scales and can be consumed and cooked without having to remove them (whether or not you eat the skin is a personal preference).

Although fish scales are not inherently dangerous, they are pretty unpleasant to eat so the majority of the population prefers to descale their fish before cooking them.

Fish skin comes off a cooked fish very easily, and since the scales are attached to the skin they’ll slide right off the meat.

Are Fried Fish Scales Edible?

Some claim to enjoy frying fish with the scales on, saying it gives it some extra texture and crunchiness and adds flavor to the dish.

Other cooking methods, like steaming or boiling, can cause the skin to become rubbery and harden the scales making it unpalatable.

What Happens If You Eat Fish Scales?

If you eat fish scales you will most likely just experience a lot of unpleasantness. They are sharp and hard and crunchy and provide little nutritional value…not to mention they can easily get stuck in your teeth!

Health Benefits Of Fish Scales

I was pretty surprised to learn there are actually some health benefits to eating fish scales.

They are a great source of collagen and contain a small number of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Though this fact may be true, I still wouldn’t eat them, but thats just me!

How To Scale a Fish

First, you want to rinse the fish thoroughly in cold water, to remove the outer mucus layer coating. This will make it much easier to grip.

fish scraper or fish de-scaler tool

Next, you’ll need a tool such as a fish de-scaler, or a dull knife to scrape away the scales. Hold your knife blade perpendicular to the fish, and start with a horizontal motion and quickly scrape back and forth from the head to the tail, and the scales will come off.

You don’t want to ‘cut’ into the fish…so use a dull knife, or even the back of the knife. Its possible to even use a spoon!

Periodically rinse the fish and any loose scales, and continue on both sides of the fish. Repeat this process until all the scales are removed and you’re left with only the skin.

removing the scales on a small panfish

Pro Tip: You can also use hot water to loosen the scales before scaling, which will make it a little easier.

Can You Eat Fish Skin?

I recommend you avoid eating certain kinds of fish skin like tuna, which can be thick and chewy, stingray which I can only compare to sandpaper, mahi-mahi skin which is leathery, or shark, which is prickly.

On the other hand, I do recommend eating salmon skin, for example, which is scrumptious! Especially when it’s smothered in molasses-bacon seasoning and seared on a cast iron skillet to a crisp.

Fish skin is full of iron and omega-3 fatty acids and is an excellent source of bioavailable collagen.

When choosing what type of fish skin to eat, use the same guidelines you would choose what type of fish to eat. Know the source of your fish and choose fish that have smaller scales.

And FYI, when cooking any type of fish with the skin still on, despite the cooking used, will take longer to cook.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to eating fish, the scales is probably the last thing on the fish I’d want to eat.

The meat, roe, and even the skin is much more palatable and flavorful. That being said, there is nothing wrong with eating fish scales…so if you want to give it a try go for it!

Thanks for reading.

You May Also Like: How To Tell If Fish Has Gone Bad (Smell, Touch, Taste)

Growing up in Florida, I’ve been surrounded by saltwater my entire life…and I love sharing my passion with others.

To learn more about why I started Saltwater Mecca, visit the ABOUT page.

Thank you for reading this article. Browse around & have some fun!