How in the world do you "clean" a Sting Ray?

[Quisling]

OK, I've had a long break from the straight dope but I searched and searched the web and just CAN NOT find a good answer. Last night, in Pensacola, Florida off a pier I caught about a 40lb. Sting Ray! I know they can be eaten and I personally am not a big catch and release person. I don't waste fish either so I proceeded to gut the fish and found the stomach to be generally where it should be and then encased it in some plastic and have it in the deep freeze. I would really like to know what is the best way to clean these things efficiently and maybe even a recipe or two?

Thanks a lot guys!

[kanicbird]

Have never caught a sting ray but have caught a scate - they look somewhat simular. The meat came from hte 'wings' while the body was discarded. I didn't do it myself though so can't offer much.

[Gartog]

I know this is probably not what you're looking for, but have you tried asking your local fish monger? They may be able to help.

I wouldn't normally post saying have you asked someone else, but you say that you have searched already and also this has almost dropped off the first page so you could consider this a *bump*

[Spritle]

k2dave is on track. The "wings" are muscle and edible. In fact, these are often cut into little circles and called Deep Sea Scallops.

Cut off the wings, skin them, cut the meat into pieces and cook.

Skate wing is good grilled, broiled, baked or fried.
Steaming or sautee-ing makes it a bit rubbery.

bon appetite

[chalicesmoke]

Yup you eat the wings...

[cmburns]

This bowfishing site has a short description and a couple of pictures of the process.

http://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/features/livehunts/stingray99/

[donkeyoatey]

Originally posted by Spritle
In fact, these are often cut into little circles and called Deep Sea Scallops.

Perhaps,butthis site (http://www.gotosnapshot.com/DeepSea_Scallop/SeaScallop_catalog.html) shows a real deep sea scallop.

[ScriptAnalyst]

As with any automobile, you can clean a Sting Ray (or Stingray, as it was rechristened in 1969) simply by taking it to an automated car wash. However, you probably do not want to hand over such a classic vehicle into the mercy of some soulless mechanical device, so hand-washing may be preferable. And of course, if you're the proud owner of any version of the Corvette Stingray, you probably want to wash it yourself, so that you can observe the envious gaze of your neighbors.

http://home.earthlink.net/~sbiodrowski/_uimages/corvette.jpg

Steve Biodrowski
http://www.thescriptanalyst.com

['Uigi]

Cookie cutter the wings to your favorite shape (snowman, horsey, dancing bear, etc.) Concur with the above "don't steam" advice; the result is a bit B.F. Goodrich-ish.

[bibliophage]

Originally posted by Spritle
k2dave is on track. The "wings" are muscle and edible. In fact, these are often cut into little circles and called Deep Sea Scallops.See the thread Are sea scallops really made from shark/skate? (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=90183)

[KidCharlemagne]

Try club soda

[Spritle]

I worked as an assistant chef in some of the finest seafood restaurants on Solomon's Island, MD. Local fishermen would come by every day around and try to sell us their catch (happened in every place I worked). We would often buy a lot of their catch, but never their scallops. We knew that they were skate/ray. (Ain't a heck of a lot of scallops growing in the Chesapeake Bay.) At any rate, I was told by many a fisherman that the practice of "stamping out scallops" was widespread. He estimated that 50% of the scallops served in restaurants were skate/ray.

That "stamped scallops" were common place was mentioned in culinary school. Differences in color, taste, and texture were illuminated.

Granted Bay watermen might not have their collective finger on the pulse of restauranteurs around the country...

[Quisling]

Hey guys thanks a lot this was actually EXTREMELY helpful :) And for all you doubters up there I got about 10lbs of filleted meat from the stingray they we grilled with lemonpepper and it was very very good :)