Mushy Stuffed Flounder?

by JoAnn
(LA, CA, USA)

Twice I have prepared flounder with a cracker,shrimp,crab and seasoning stuffing, rolled and baked it and twice the flounder has come out mushy. The stuffing is good but the fish disintegrates into a sort of paste. What am I doing wrong?

Answer
Hi JoAnn
When you say paste, I'm thinking mushy here. Sometimes when baking stuffed flounder, people blame the cause of the flounder being mushy to cooking (ie. cooking to long, too close to the broiler etc). I think your problem could be the flounder you are buying. You may not be buying true flounder, although the package might say flounder.

I would bet you are actually getting Arrowtooth Flounder, these fish have a poor flesh quality.
The reason for this is that they release a enzyme when caught that softens the meat.

My suggestion would be to try and find true Flounder or use Sole as a substitute.

Thanks for visting.
Frank(the cookingfishmonger)