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    Home » Recipes » Fish and Seafood

    Basic Fish Batter

    By Chula King · May 13, 2022 · Updated: Jul 4, 2024

    Jump to Recipe
    Basic Fish Batter

    Basic fish batter contains only four simple ingredients but produces the crispiest battered fish that you can imagine. Unlike many fish batter recipes, this basic fish batter contains no beer. Also, it doesn't contain spices that will mask the delicate taste of the fish.

    Fried cod with mushy peas and fries.

    The Best Fish To Use

    Traditionally, at least in the UK, cod and haddock are used for battered fish, i.e., fish and chips. One reason is the availability. Another reason is that both of these fish have a mild taste and white flesh with a large flaky texture.

    For fried battered fish then, both cod and haddock are excellent choices wherever you live. Other fish that works well when battered and fried includes grouper and scamp.

    Unless you live in an area where the fish is locally caught, your best bet is to purchase the fish frozen. This is especially true for cod and haddock, both of which are cold water fish. The reason is that the large fishing boats are equipped to package and freeze the fish during the fishing expedition, ensuring the freshest tasting fish possible.

    The best way to tell if fish if fresh is to smell it and look at it. Fresh fish has a delicate, sweet smell and the flesh has a translucent look. If the fish smells fishy, then the fish muscle has started to break down. This is true whether frozen or purchased from a fish market or grocery store.

    Personally, I like to purchase frozen wild caught Alaskan or Norwegian cod.

    Why Use Vinegar or Lemon on Fish

    If you've ever ordered fish and chips you've likely been asked whether you want malt vinegar. In addition, you may have noticed that fish is often served with lemon slices.

    Why is this? The answer has to do with science!

    Fish contains something called amines. Amines are chemicals that are produced when bacteria start to break down the amino acids in the fish. Amines are similar to ammonia in that they are alkaline and produce an off-putting odor and flavor. Therefore, as the fish ages, the amines cause the fishy taste and smell.

    Both vinegar and lemon are acidic. When added to aged fish that is alkaline, vinegar and lemon neutralize the amines and get rid of the fishy taste and smell! Tarter sauce has the same neutralizing impact.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Simple: With only four ingredients, this recipe is amazingly simple to make. In addition, it uses ingredients that you likely already have on hand.
    • Basic: This is a basic fish batter with the only seasoning being salt. Therefore, the batter will not mask the delicate taste of the fish.
    • Versatile: This basic fish batter can also be used to make delicious battered shrimp, battered onion rings and battered potatoes.

    How To Make the Basic Fish Batter

    1. Start with four basic ingredients - all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and water. I said that this was basic!
    Ingredients needed for basic fish batter.
    1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
    Whisking together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
    1. Next, add the water to the dry ingredients and whisk everything together until the batter is smooth. That's it!
    Fish batter in a bowl.

    How To Make Battered Fried Fish

    1. A key to making battered fried fish that is crispy, but not greasy is to ensure that the oil used for frying is hot. Therefore, as a first step, I heated oil in a skillet over medium-high heat to 360°F.

    Once the oil had reached 360°F, I dipped the fish in the batter, and added the battered fish to the skillet. I used wild caught Alaskan cod which I purchased frozen from Publix.

    Adding battered fish to pan with hot oil.
    1. I cooked the fish until it was golden brown on the first side. This took about 5 minutes.

    Then, I turned the fish and cooked it for another five minutes or so until the other side was golden brown.

    Frying the battered fish in hot oil.
    1. Once the fish was golden brown, I removed it from the oil and drained it well on paper towels.

    Since it's only the two of us, I made two pieces of the battered fried fish.

    Draining the fish on paper towels.

    Dinner tonight was fish and chips in the UK tradition. Therefore, I served the fried battered fish with mushy peas and fries, a.k.a. chips. In the true UK fashion, I included malt vinegar on the side.

    Even though the fish had no fishy taste at all, the Master Taster still added malt vinegar. The reason is that he likes the taste.

    The Master Taster, who is from the UK, commented that the fish was as good as he remembered growing up in the UK. I agree that it was as good if not better than what I had ordered in the UK. Yum!

    Battered cod.

    Recipe Tips

    • This basic fish batter should be relatively thick. For example, it should be thicker than pancake batter. If you prefer a thicker batter, either reduce the amount of water or increase the amount of flour to achieve your desired consistency.
    • Unless you can purchase locally caught fish at a local fish market, your best bet for freshness is to purchase good quality frozen fish and thaw it right before cooking. My favorite fish to use is frozen wild caught Alaskan or Norwegian cod.
    • I like to use peanut oil for frying because of its high temperature quality. However, you can also use regular vegetable oil. I would not, however use olive oil in this recipe.
    • If you have any unused basic fish batter, I would recommend discarding it.
    • For traditional fish and chips, serve the batter fried fish with mushy peas, French fries (a.k.a. chips) and malt vinegar on the side.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you use beer in the batter rather than water?

    Often, fish batter such as this uses beer rather than water. In fact, I historically used beer in the batter. However, one time, I didn't have beer, so I tried using plain water. It worked like a charm and tasted just as good. Bottom line, if you want to use beer, you can, but it's not at all necessary based on my experience.

    What about using club soda in place of the water?

    In some circles, there is a view that adding a fizzy liquid like club soda (or beer) enhances the batter. My experience is that you can use club soda if you like. However, I have not been able to discern any difference from just using regular water.

    Shouldn't the fish be fried in a deep fryer?

    I used to use a deep fryer when making this fried battered fish. However, I've found that's not really necessary. In the deep fryer, the fish tends to float to the top, so it needs to be turned during cooking. Using a regular deep skillet works just as well, at least for me.

    Isn't the batter bland with just salt?

    My experience is that this batter works perfectly if the fish is fresh and doesn't need any additional seasoning that would mask its delicate taste. If the fish isn't fresh, then you'd be better off using a highly seasoned batter!

    Isn't it better to purchase the fish at a local fish market rather than using frozen fish?

    Unless the fish is locally caught, the fish available at a local fish market is likely to have been frozen and then thawed for display. Therefore, my preference is to use frozen fish and thaw it right before use.

    Can the unused batter be refrigerated and used at a different time?

    I am not a fan of refrigerating the unused batter. The reason is that it will ultimately contain a fishy taste. Therefore, I just discard what I don't use.

    Can a different vinegar be used on the fish?

    Malt vinegar is traditionally served with fish and chips. However, any vinegar will work, e.g., balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, etc.

    I hope you liked this recipe for Basic Fish Batter as much as I do. If so, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. Also, if you'd like to receive notifications of new posts by email, enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

    Thank you so much for visiting Pudge Factor. I hope you'll come back!

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    fried fish in fish batter

    Basic Fish Batter

    Basic fish batter contains only four simple ingredients, but produces the crispiest battered fish that you can imagine. Unlike many fish batter recipes, this basic fish batter contains no beer. Also, it doesn't contain spices that will mask the delicate taste of the fish.
    4.94 from 46 votes
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine British
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 71 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces all-purpose flour (¾ cup plus 1 Tablespoon)
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¾ cup (6-ounces) water (See Tip 1)
    • 6 pieces (3 to 4 ounces each) fresh cod or other white fish (See Tip 2)
    • Peanut oil for frying (See Tip 3)

    Instructions
     

    • Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add water; whisk until the fish batter is smooth.
    • Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat to 360°F. Dip fish into batter, allowing excess to drip off. Place in hot oil. Cook until golden brown on one side, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side until golden brown, another 5 minutes. Drain well. (See Tip 4)
    • Yield: 6 servings. (See Tip 5)

    Tips/Notes

    1. If you prefer a thicker batter, reduce the amount of water to 5 ounces.
    2. Unless you can purchase locally caught fish at a local fish market, your best bet for freshness is to purchase good quality frozen fish and thaw it right before cooking.
    3. I like to use peanut oil for frying because of its high temperature quality. However, you can also use regular vegetable oil. I would not, however use olive oil in this recipe.
    4. I would recommend discarding any unused batter. 
    5. For traditional fish and chips, serve the batter fried fish with mushy peas, French fries (a.k.a. chips) and malt vinegar on the side.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 293mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Basic Fish Batter, Fish Batter, Fried Fish
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @PudgeFactor or tag #pudgefactor

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bud says

      February 03, 2023 at 11:23 pm

      Perfect ,simple , delicious you get
      5 star from me . My go to batter
      from now on

      Reply
    2. Anonymous says

      January 30, 2023 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      So yummy, worked just as you described. One suggestion is to use a nonstick frying pan if you use that method.
      Will try peanut oil or ghee next time.

      Reply
    3. Michael Thorpe says

      January 30, 2023 at 5:06 pm

      5 stars
      Really worked a treat ! and I'm an ex coalminer from Yorkshire UK....True Fish and Chips country !

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        January 30, 2023 at 8:33 pm

        Hi Michael,

        You made my day with your comment on the fish batter! So glad that it worked out for you.

        Chula

        Reply
    4. Vikky says

      January 29, 2023 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      This made for a delicious batter!!! First time out I didn’t season the batter ~ it was still great tasting!!! Will season it the next time. Thank you for sharing your recipe

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        January 30, 2023 at 12:44 pm

        So glad you liked the batter!

        Chula

        Reply
    5. Janine says

      January 16, 2023 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      Just added a little more water. BEST EASY BATTER I’ve come across. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        January 16, 2023 at 10:27 am

        So glad that you liked the recipe Janine!

        Chula

        Reply
    6. David says

      December 23, 2022 at 5:40 am

      Have used and wasted so many beer batters. This simple batter coated beautifully. I lightly floured the fish before dipping. Results beautifully crispy battered fish. Prawns and mussels here we come.
      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        December 23, 2022 at 10:28 am

        David,

        So glad that the Basic Fish Batter was a success with you!

        Chula

        Reply
    7. Pasquale says

      December 11, 2022 at 6:02 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for a basic batter without having to use beer and came across your blog on google. I tried it last night with fresh wild caught haddock fillets and came out best I have ever made. No kidding I have saved you blog in my food folder for future uses and to see what else you offer to teach us. Well done thank you for sharing!

      Pasquale
      Woodbridge,Ont

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        December 11, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        Thank you so much Pasquale! I'm so glad that the recipe worked for you.

        Chula

        Reply
    8. K. Jacobs says

      December 08, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      I hope I'm not over Stepping here, but to the one's who had trouble with the batter. Just wanted to say to make good battered fish the steps are important. Dip fish in wet ingredient like milk,buttermilk or beaten thinned eggs, then dredge in well seasoned flour, followed Chulas recipe dip in the batter and deep fry. It will come out PERFECTLY.
      K Jacobs

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        December 08, 2022 at 2:06 pm

        Thanks so much for adding your steps for making good battered fish! I'll definitely try them the next time I make battered fish.

        Chula

        Reply
    9. K. Jacobs says

      December 08, 2022 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      I couldn't get a picture my husband ate it so fast. Lol
      This recipe was perfect it battered 4 sections of Tilapia. Will definitely put this recipe in my arsenal.
      Thanks for sharing.
      K. Jacobs Ohio

      Reply
    10. Bruce Kreamelmeyer says

      November 27, 2022 at 8:25 am

      A pretty good recipe, but I couldn't get the batter to stick to the fish when I put it in the pan. I noticed you didn't dredge the pieces in flour before you dipped into the batter. Would that have helped the batter stick to the fish?
      I used flounder, and the fish turned out good, just had a bunch of floating pieces of crunchy batter to go with it. Didn't look as good as the pictures...
      Anyway, thanx for a good basic batter. I'll try the dredge method the next time.

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        November 28, 2022 at 10:55 am

        Bruce,

        Sorry that you had a problem with the batter sticking to the fish. I agree that dredging the fish in flour before dipping the fish in the batter could help. Another idea would be to rinse the fish to remove any "slimy" residue and blot it dry with paper towels before dipping into the batter.

        Let me know if dredging the fish in flour solved the problem!

        Chula

        Reply
    11. Amy says

      November 01, 2022 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      Yum.

      Reply
    12. JimmyB says

      October 06, 2022 at 10:57 am

      2 stars
      I love to leave 5 Star ratings but sadly can not do it this time. I don't know what went wrong. I followed the recipe exactly. I used cod fillets which I had thawed out and patted dry. I dipped them in this "batter" and might just as well have dipped them in a glass of milk. There were no batter on the fish. I would have been better off pan frying them in butter. My fish had absolutely no crust on it. Sorry to leave a poor review especially as I get so much enjoyment out of leaving a glowing review.

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        October 06, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        I'm so sorry that the fish batter didn't work out for you. The only thing that I can think of is that you didn't actually weigh the flour. There's so much variability in measuring flour that I've found that the only way to ensure that a recipe works out is to weigh the flour.

        Again, I'm sorry that the fish batter didn't work.

        Chula

        Reply
    13. Anonymous says

      August 28, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      Yes, indeed, very simple and nice recipe! Thank you very much for sharing!

      Reply
    14. Laurie says

      August 16, 2022 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      Hey,
      I had great results with your recipe. I will use again. !!

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        August 16, 2022 at 2:23 pm

        I'm so pleased that the fish batter recipe worked for you Laurie!

        Chula

        Reply
    15. brenda says

      August 11, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      excellent so easy and delicios !!!

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        August 11, 2022 at 7:43 pm

        So pleased that you liked it!

        Chula

        Reply
    16. Eileen in Tallahassee says

      May 14, 2022 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      I'm sure this would be good for fried shrimp too. Really miss Appalach oysters....must find some farm-raised. Of course homemade in best, but our favorite restaurant Fish & Chips is Cracker Barrell fried cod. YUM.

      Reply
      • Chula King says

        May 14, 2022 at 8:45 pm

        Eileen,

        The last time that were were in Apalachicola was about a year ago. We tried to order oysters and were totally dumbfounded when told there were none! It's taken me a number of years living on the Gulf Coast to conclude that the freshest fish to purchase is frozen - and our local fish market is world famous! The fresh shrimp, however, is awesome!

        Anyway, I've tried a number of different batters for fried fish and this is not only the easiest and most basic, but also the best!

        Chula

        Reply
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