# Whole Salmon on the Grill **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801 "2011-07-21T02:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801/41 "2011-07-23T15:09:45Z")
> [@Snake\_Plissken](#): > > Sorry for the snark, but salt crusting is alot more laborious than scaling a fish. It’s also passe’. My point was, if you are buying it retail, there is no reason they cant clean it for you. Passe is as passe does, there are no real food fads if you cook what you like. I happen to like making salt crusted fish, or even doing a classic begger’s chicken with clay [but then again not many people have access to food grade clay nowdays] And some people may not want to get scales sprinkled [or tossed] all over the kitchen\ though I have been known to have a stringer of fish living in my tub overnight until I can process them. People are all different =) ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801/42 "2011-07-23T15:19:21Z")
> [@Snake\_Plissken](#): > > Sorry for the snark, but salt crusting is alot more laborious than scaling a fish. It’s also passe’. I had no idea that Bobby Flay doing a salt crusted fish on a show within the last year was such a heinous offense. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801/43 "2011-07-23T19:11:28Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I had no idea that Bobby Flay doing a salt crusted fish on a show within the last year was such a heinous offense. Yeah…I forgot just how cutting edge Bobby Flay was. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801/44 "2011-07-23T20:27:04Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > While treated wood does exist, the reason western red cedar is used in a lot of outdoor applications is because it is naturally resistant to decay. I have never been to a lumber mill that sprayed their wood with anything. > [@simster](#): > > But unlike the wood at the grocery store, it is stored around other chemicals that may be unintentionally (and even unknowingly) put on it - that would be my only concern with picking a plank up at lowes vs. krogers - I agree in general that either would be fine, but sometimes its worth it to be a little more cautious. Both valid points and a better explanation than my original one. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801/45 "2011-07-23T20:31:26Z")
Oh and to remove the skin from cooked salmon you don’t even need to salt crust it. I just bake a side skin down and when it’s done slide a knife along the bottom to remove the flesh from the skin. The only problem is that I lose a good bit of the dark flesh next to the skin where all of the oils are. My kids think this is a benefit as the dark flesh is really much stronger than the pink. I suppose this wouldn’t really work with a whole fish though. Don’t get me wrong, I like salt crusting fish, I think it’s a good technique. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-salmon-on-the-grill/589801.md?page=2)