25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (2024)

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by Alea Milham 8 Comments

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Are you wondering what to do with leftover fish? From fish soup to fish tacos, these leftover fish recipes will make you excited to have fish leftovers.

25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (1)

25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (2)

I cook fish quite often but rarely have leftover fish. My husband and two oldest children like fish so much that they usually polish off whatever fishI have cooked for dinner. And if they don’t finish it off for dinner, they will eat the leftovers for breakfast or lunch the next day. The only time I have leftover fish is when my neighbor goes salmon fishing and brings me back salmon steaks so large they don’t fit in a 13 x 9 pan and even then it goes fast!I have to act fast if I want to experiment with leftover fish recipes for dinner the next day. So I turned to my friends and asked them for theirfavoriterecipes that could be adapted to include leftover fish.

Few of the recipes below actually call for leftover cooked fish. I am sharing them to inspire you. If you match the flavors of your leftover fish to the flavors used in one of the following recipes you can cut down on the time it takes to make dinner. When you use fish leftovers in these recipes, add it when the recipe calls for the cooked fish to be added to the other ingredients or as the final step and cook until just heated through.

I often start with one of these fish recipes and then use the leftovers in one of the recipes below.

25Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas

25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (3)

25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (4)

Fish Soup Recipes:

It is easy to use leftover cooked fish in soup recipes. You save time since the leftover fish is already cooked. Just add the leftover fish as the last step and cook until the fish is heated through.

Salmon Dill Chowder

Tuna or Seafood Chowder

Southwest Tilapia Chowder

Cantonese Fish Soup

Thai Fish Soup

Salmon Chowder

Portuguese Traditional Fish Soup

Rustic Tomato & Coconut Fish Soup

Mediterranean Fish Stew

Fish Pasta Recipes:

Fish leftovers work well in hot or cold pasta salads. Assemble the pasta salad and then add the cooked fish. Toss to coat and then serve or chill for later.

Neptune’s Pasta

Asian Glazed Fish Pasta

The (Not Barefoot) Contessa’s Fish Pasta

Fish Salad Recipes:

April of 21st Century Housewife says she uses leftover salmon in salads. Here are a few fish salad recipes that could easily be adapted to include leftover fish.

Spicy Fish Taco Bowls

Tuna and Couscous Salad

Tuna andTabboulehSalad

Blackened Fish Salad Recipe

Honey Mustard Salmon Salad

Salmon and Blueberry Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Salmon, Potato, and Green Bean Salad

Fish Taco Recipes:

My husband and father enjoy fish tacos. You can stretch leftover fish taco recipes by adding beans, tomatoes, and/or corn in place of some of the fish called for in the recipe if you wish.

Tilapia Fish Tacos

Blackened Fish Tacos

Cilantro and Lime Fish Tacos

Mexican Salmon Quesadillas with Avocado Cream Sauce

Use Leftover Cooked Fish to make Fish Patties

Leah from Simplistic Savings says she uses leftover salmon or trout to make patties. She didn’t have a recipe, but this Baked Tilapia Cake Recipe from Miz Helen would make a great base for creating fish patties out of leftover fish. As would this Panko Salmon Cakes Recipeor this Chipotle Salmon Corn Cakes recipe from Shirley at Gluten Free Easily.

Use Leftover Fish to Make Fish and Rice Bowls

I like to combine leftover rice, leftover fish, and either cooked vegetables, fresh greens, or berries to make a fish and rice bowl. Sometimes I substitute pasta or quinoa for the rice. Then I choose a salad dressing and drizzle it over the top.

How do you like to use leftover fish? Or are you like me and rarely have any leftover fish.

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. sarah says

    What a great idea, I will sure have to try some of these awesome recipes

    Reply

  2. Ann says

    I baked a large whole Dover sole and had plenty of leftovers. The fish already had so much flavor from being baked. So I tossed the fish with mayo, green onion, homemade mayo (light olive oil), lemon juice, Thai chilis, black pepper, celery seed, garlic powder and this amazing ingredient…wakame seaweed! I reconstituted it then minced it up very fine. Added a nice flavor and color! Plus it’s so healthy. Serve with lettuce wrap, as a sandwich, or with gourmet crackers. Heck, just eat it as is!

    Blanched spinach would be a good substitute for the seaweed or maybe some cilantro or fresh parsley.

    Reply

    • Lin says

      Brilliant.
      Love it!

      Reply

  3. 'Becca says

    Thanks for the new ideas! I don’t usually have leftover fish either, but when I do it’s good in Japanese Udon Noodle Soup or homemade sushi.

    Reply

  4. Jamie at Prepared to Eat says

    Aww, thanks for including my tilapia taco recipe! Yes, leftover fish would be a great idea for that. Why didn’t I ever think of that? 🙂 I will have to save this list since leftover fish is one thing that often stumps me.

    Reply

  5. Judy @Savoring Today says

    Thanks for including the Salmon Dill Chowder, you put together an inspiring list here for sure!

    Reply

  6. Miz Helen says

    Hi Alea,
    What a great idea, I will sure have to try some of these awesome recipes. Thank you so much for featuring my Southwest Tilapia Chowder and the Baked Tilapia Cakes, you are very kind.
    Happy Valentine Day!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  7. Beth @Aunt B's kitchen says

    Thanks for the mention and the link Alea. Much appreciated. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply

25 Leftover Fish Recipes and Ideas for Using Up Leftover Fish (2024)

FAQs

What to do with fish scraps? ›

What To Do With Fish Scraps
  1. Use it as bait! There are some great ways to use scraps as chum for your next trip. ...
  2. Compost! Fish scraps are excellent for composting. ...
  3. Expand your culinary portfolio! There are so many recipes that utilize fish scraps and assure nothing goes to waste.
Nov 24, 2021

What can be done so that a fish dish can still be eaten the next day? ›

To reheat seafood in the oven:

– Place the leftover seafood on a lightly greased baking sheet or casserole dish, splash it with water, and cover it with foil. – Put the fish in the preheated oven and let it heat up for 10 to 15 minutes. The internal temperature should be between 125°F and 130°F when it is done.

How long will cooked fish last in the fridge? ›

Cooked fish and other seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, it's important to use food within recommended time before it spoils or becomes dangerous.

How long is leftover cooked fish good for? ›

The USDA says that cooked fish is safe to eat for three to four days. There are many reasons why cooked fish ends up getting wasted, but the biggest is simply not eating it before it goes bad.

What is the smelliest fish to reheat? ›

Do be aware: reheating fatty fish like salmon and mackerel tends to give off a stronger fishy scent than when it was cooked and served the first time. This is due to the oxidation of its fatty acids which turn into strong-smelling aldehydes, bringing out a more pungent fish aroma.

What products can be made from fish waste? ›

Fish waste by-products are used for a variety of things, including human consumption (such as mince, roe, fish heads, and nutraceuticals), agricultural or related purposes (such as fertilizer and compost), and non-nutritional uses (such as biodiesel and fuel, chitin and chitosan, carotenoid pigments, leather, and ...

What are fish offcuts? ›

Our offcuts are unused pieces of raw fish from process of cutting sashimi. Size, shape and proportion of fish may vary.

How do you make fish fertilizer out of fish scraps? ›

  1. In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh fish fillets or scraps with water. ...
  2. Blend the mixture until it becomes a smooth, hom*ogenous liquid.
  3. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solids.
  4. Dilute the fish emulsion before using it on your plants.
Jul 15, 2023

Why can't you reheat fish? ›

As people for whom freshness is the principal quality of good fish, we would generally advise against reheating. You've already cooked the fish once and reheating it runs the grave risk of overcooking – which, as anyone who cooks fish regularly will know, is a surefire way to turn a good piece of fish bad.

Can you eat cooked fish after 5 days? ›

After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage. For best quality, freeze (0 °F / -17.8 °C or less) cooked fish for up to 3 months.

Is it safe to eat cooked fish left out overnight? ›

The Two-Hour Rule

Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."

How to tell if cooked fish is bad? ›

The best way to tell if fish is bad is to use your senses. If fish has gone bad, it'll likely have an off smell and feel slimy. Both raw and cooked fish usually keep for up to two days in the refrigerator. You can freeze raw fish for six months to a year, but cooked fish shouldn't be frozen for more than three months.

How to tell if fish has gone bad? ›

The best way to determine if fish has gone bad is to smell it. If the fish smells sour or spoiled, throw it out. If the fish has a mild ocean smell, it's likely safe to eat—but if you aren't certain, there are other signs you can look for. For example, it's bad fish if it appears or feels slimy and/or has a dull color.

How to tell if fish is off? ›

How to tell if fish has gone bad
  1. Overly fishy smell.
  2. Slimy texture.
  3. Grayish or bluish tint.
  4. The flesh has lost its firmness (for raw fish)
Mar 1, 2024

Can you fry already cooked fish? ›

You can use the stovetop to reheat fried fish if a fishy smell does not bother you. Use the same method of cooking if you are reheating sautéed fish or a fish stew. Heat the skillet on low, then add oil and fried fish.

Can you eat reheated cooked fish? ›

The most stringent recommendation is only to reheat fish once to avoid bacteria growth, which can lead to food illness. However, some experts claim that fish reheated multiple times can retain its taste. Reheating seafood often is safe if the meal is reheated at a suitable temperature for the appropriate time.

Can you freeze cooked fish and reheat? ›

It is true that fish is never going to be better than it was when you first cooked it. It is also true that it is very easy to ruin fish while reheating it. BUT not only is reheating frozen seafood perfectly safe but it can taste absolutely delicious (depending on who's prepared it), and it's simple to do.

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