There are several ways of preparing fish but fish poaching appears to be the most delightful. That’s why you need the best fish poacher to make incredible poached salmon dishes for that next event you’re hosting.
If you like going on fishing trips, you know what would make a great companion? Yes, you guessed right – a fish poacher! Cooking fish can get tricky at times, but with the right fish poacher, you’re looking at having an amazing meal.
For those who are not familiar with fish poachers, they are like a long or pot-like container, usually made of stainless steel with perforated racks. This technique involves cooking fish in a poaching liquid at low temperatures which helps to retain some moisture and preserve the flavor.
Fish poachers are a great way of preparing fast and luscious fish dishes and we’ve compiled a list of some of the best fish poachers in the market. How about you ride with us, let’s take you on a smooth, jolly ride of discovering your next fish poacher.
Top Pick
Our top pick is Norpro Stainless Steel Fish Poacher. This product is durable and has a brilliant design that entails a perforated insert for draining so you can poach your fish in one piece.
Its versatility can be explored, using it to cook corn.
Budget Pick
No other product qualifies as our budget pick other than the Progressive International Fish Steamer. It is a very portable product and will come in handy if you’re always on the go.
It comes with an adjustable steam control and is dishwasher-safe.
Fish Poacher Reviews
1. Norpro Stainless Steel Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- Durable
- Versatile
- Brilliant design
- Spacious
Need a spacious fish poacher to make dinner for your family? This product might just be the one for you. It is made from high-grade stainless steel so it’s going to last until you’re tired of using it!
The design entails a perforated insert to drain the poaching liquid and a lid to cover. Trust us when we say it will more than get the job of poaching your fish done – it will retain its delightful flavors while maintaining a low-calorie count.
Besides poaching fish, you can also use it to cook veggies or corn. It would make a great addition to your kitchen and would also be a nice wedding gift.
2. RSVP Stainless Steel Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- Spacious
- Durable
- Easy maintenance
- User-friendly
This fish poacher is for those in need of a product that’s easy to use and convenient to carry around – all thanks to the two handles on both ends of this long, rectangular masterpiece.
It is made from stainless steel to ensure its durability and is compatible with ovens and stovetops. The design features dimensions of 20″ length, a width of 7″, and is 4 ½” in height to provide you with all the space you need to make healthy and awesome dishes.
Worrying about maintenance? Well, don’t! It is dishwasher-safe and can also be cleaned manually. With this product, you can conveniently make tender and flavorful poached fish dishes.
It would be an excellent choice should you decide to go for it.
3. Emile Henry Fish Steamer
Highlighted Features
- Made from high-fired burgundy clay
- Can be cleaned easily
- Even-heat diffusion and retention
- Durable
- Temperature change and scratch resistance
This is a highly durable product made from high-fired Burgundy clay using HR ceramic by the manufacturers. What might first catch your attention is its sleek design, but it also boasts of rare features such as heat retention and even-heat diffusion – this means your dish will be kept hot for a longer period.
Are you searching for a product for daily use? This product is perfect for you. No matter how long its operating hours is, it was built to resist high temperatures and can go up to 520F in the oven. Also, it doesn’t scratch and craze.
This product is compatible with your broiler, microwave, and refrigerator. Maintaining it is also easy, just wipe clean with soap and water or simply use a dishwasher.
Without a single doubt, it is a great product and will give you a run for your money.
4. Cestari Microwave Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- Very portable
- Multi-purpose
- Safe
- Easy to use and clean
The Cestari Microwave Fish Poacher is that little companion you keep in the kitchen. This product’s selling point is its versatility; it can be used to steam vegetables, make omelets, roast meat, and of course, poach fish.
It cooks your veggies within 3 minutes with just a little addition of water. As for omelets, you can make them easily; just chop your veggies in the pod and add eggs and cheese, then put in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
No need for foil or parchment paper, you can roast your chicken right inside this pod – just place in the oven and wait on the magic. To poach your fish, just place in the pod with few drops of broth or juice and microwave or bake to perfection.
This product is made from the safest food-grade silicone and maintaining is as easy as ABC. It is foldable and be carried along anywhere you intend to go. It is perfect for outdoor trips or quick meals.
5. Nordic Ware Multi-Cooker
Highlighted Features
- Multi-function
- Non-stick
- Spacious
- High-quality
Here’s your solution to your indoor or outdoor fish poaching issues. With this product, you can poach any fish of your choice anytime and anywhere. That’s so cool!
It provides 3 home or outdoor cooking essentials – steaming, grilling, and baking. Trust this product to keep your food moist at all times while also delivering tender and juicy results.
This product is non-stick to make it less messy and easy to clean. It has enough space to make dinner for the whole family and picking it would be a good decision.
It is also guaranteed to last long as it’s made from quality materials and even comes with a 5-year warranty.
6. Eglaf Fish Steamer
Highlighted Features
- High quality
- Large capacity
- Multi-purpose
- Extra accessories
Like so many others, this fish poacher is made from stainless steel to provide you with a long-lasting product that dissipates heat quickly and evenly.
You sure would enjoy using this product, not just because of the value it offers – it’s so easy and convenient to use. For instance, it comes with a heat-resistant handle so you can safely carry your fish poacher around.
It boasts of a large capacity that can feed a big family poached tilapia or salmon. Another exciting feature is that it is multi-purpose and can also be used for steaming cornbread, veggies, and potatoes, just to mention a few.
The makers were generous to include additional cooking parts such as ceramic plate, stainless steel rack and chuck, and glass cover. Whether you have an induction cooker or use a gas stove or an electric ceramic and halogen stove, it works well with all of them to deliver excellent fish poaching results.
7. Progressive International Fish Steamer
Highlighted Features
- 2-in-1
- Very portable
- Non-stick
- Adjustable steam control
- Capacity of 1 quart
If you’re really busy and have to whip up quick meals to take on the go, this product is perfect for you. It allows you to steam your fish to perfection and can also be used for vegetables.
There’s a vent in the lid which serves as an adjustable steam control by allowing steam to escape during the cooking process. The entire product is non-stick for easy cleaning.
You should know it’s totally safe to use this product as it is BPA-free and is compatible with microwaves. Maintaining won’t be an issue at all – let your dishwasher do the magic.
It has a capacity of 1-quart which is enough to cater for individual needs.
8. Beka Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- Long-lasting
- Compatible with all stove types
- Spacious design
- Dishwasher-safe
If you have a special preference for stainless steel products, why not check this out? It provides quality fish poacher pan with a great design made from stainless steel to ensure its durability.
The rack is perforated to ensure you get the very best poaching results. It also comes with heat-resistant handles on both ends to allow safe lifting from your stovetop to your countertop.
What if we told you it’s compatible with all sources of heat? Well, it is. It works with any kinds of stovetop including induction cookers. You won’t have to stress about maintenance as you might have guessed, it’s dishwasher-safe.
It is an amazing product that will last long and give you one of the best-poached fish meals.
9. Cook Pro Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- Spacious
- Roasting rack
- Riveted handles
- Easy to use and clean
Get this product to cater the needs of your family, parties, dinner, or holiday gatherings – thanks to its spacious design, it can hold small or medium-sized fish. It makes tender and delicious poached fish thanks to the perfectly designed steamer plate.
Besides fish poaching, it can also be used for roasting turkey or chicken. If you’ve never used a fish poacher before, don’t worry you’ll get it right at first try – it’s super easy to use.
Its stainless steel handle is riveted to allow safe lifting. It works well with ovens to deliver you with quality meals. It is easy to clean and would be a great addition to your kitchen wares.
10. HIC Porcelain Fish Poacher
Highlighted Features
- High-quality stainless steel
- Spacious design
- Dishwasher-safe
- User-friendly
- Easy to clean
We’re just going to say two things – get the fish of your choice, get this product and watch the magic happen.
To enjoy well-made poached fish dishes, you might want to consider this product. The long, narrow design is spacious enough to care for your needs.
It consists of the poacher pan itself, the insert or perforated tray, and the lid. Using this product is as easy as it gets and doesn’t require prior knowledge of fish poachers.
Good news for all dishwasher users, this product is dishwasher-safe preventing you from the stress of manual cleaning.
It is a durable product that will last long. You won’t regret putting your money on this.
Buying Guide
In this section, we would highlight and discuss some of the important features you need to look out for while shopping for a new fish poacher at stores or on the internet. Reliable answers to some of the frequently asked questions will ensue.
Material
If you really want the best fish poacher then you must check to make sure it’s made from high-grade materials – can’t stress this enough. More importantly, if you’re looking at everyday use, then you should take the material selection seriously. That way, you can get something that would continuously work for you without damaging or wearing out.
Most of the products we reviewed above are made from stainless steel and other materials like high-fired burgundy and polypropylene. They are all great materials; the high-fired burgundy for instance will last really long and is scratch resistant. Unless you have a preference, fish poachers made from stainless steel are one of the best ones – they offer great quality and are easy to maintain.
Racks
Most products come with racks, but just to be sure, check if there are perforated racks. For easy maintenance, they should be removable and should come with handles for easy and safe lifting. Racks are important in making excellent poached fish meals and if the product doesn’t come with it or an equivalent, avoid such product at all cost.
Capacity
Look out for capacity considering your needs. If the purchase is for an individual, fish poachers that can hold small or medium fishes will be okay. For large families, however, you should consider large sizes.
If you happen to go on fishing trips regularly or just like fish a lot you’d also have to settle for medium to large capacities. One more thing, don’t just look at the shape of the product and assume its capacity. Get specific details of the capacity so you can be sure you’re settling for the right product.
Ease of use
While searching for a quality product that offers value, it is also important to consider the ease of operation. No one wants to get a product that will be cumbersome to operate. Any product that all its cooking parts can be easily put together and use should be top on your list.
The handles on the pan and racks or any handle whatsoever should be insulated to allow safe and easy lifting.
So to avoid confusion on how to operate your product, get one that is easy to operate – you can tell from the reviews. Better still, look out for the ones with manuals that have clear instructions on how to use the products.
Compatibility
Before you make a purchase, be sure the product works with your heat source. Depending on the product, some work with specific cookers while a few are compatible with all.
Some products don’t require heat sources and works with microwaves and oven instead. So ensure to know this and go for the one that suits you best.
Versatility
If you’re the type that likes products with multiple functions you can sure go for them. Some products offer other functions such as grilling, roasting, and steaming veggies and other foods. The fact that a product offers other functions apart from the primary one you need it for doesn’t mean it’s a bad product or won’t last, but if you strictly want a product for fish poaching and poaching alone, you can go for them.
Whether single or multi-function, as long as the product serves the primary function of poaching your fish well, you’re good to go.
Cleaning
For a stress-free cleaning, you can get a fish poacher that is dishwasher-safe. Luckily, most of the products we reviewed above are dishwasher-safe, so happy shopping!
However, if you don’t have a dishwasher it’s still all good, you can clean them using towel and water. For harder stains, however, you can make use of soapy water.
Why do I need a fish poacher?
The answer is simple – convenience and healthy cooking. There are other methods to poach your fish but this product will conveniently do it for you without you having to stress much while at the same time ensuring you get healthy and flavorful fish dishes. They also provide even heat distribution to give you the best-poached fish quality.
How does a fish poacher work?
Generally, fish poachers are easy to use. Before you start, however, you have to remove scales from your fish using a fish scaler. After that, you can decide to line your fish with aromatic ingredients for an extra kick.
When you’re done preparing your fish, place it on your poacher’s perforated rack or insert and then place into the poacher. Pour some broth or court-bouillon on the fish and then place the poacher on your heat source.
Bring to a simmer and then poach per inch of the fish’ thickness. The poaching can also be done using an oven, preheated up to 300F.
What are the benefits of using a fish poacher?
There are many benefits to using a fish poacher. First, it provides a simple technique to make poached fish. Secondly, it provides healthy cooking by reducing the excess fat in fishes and reducing the oil content hereby preventing high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
Studies show that the body digests poached fish easily. It is also one of the best ways to make your fish outdoors as it is super convenient and fast.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a new fish poacher for the first time? That sounds like fun! Now you might get confused about what to pick from the so many options available but don’t worry about it – we’ve got you covered.
We provided useful and relevant information coupled with our expert opinion on 10 different fish poachers. To select the best, you’ll have to make a clear decision considering the factors we stated in our buying guide.
For the best fish poaching experience, the Norpro Stainless Steel Fish Poacher is the one for you. It will provide you with highly flavorful poached fishes with incredible aromas and non-stop quality. It is also versatile providing you with functions such as steaming veggies.
However, if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend much, the Progressive International Fish Steamer would be a good pick. It will also provide you with excellent poached fish dishes and is a very portable product – it will come in handy if you’re always on the go.