Why Descale Fish Before Cooking?

One of the reasons you want to descale a fish is to remove the outer slime coat. If you have ever held a fish in your hand you know what we're talking about. Also, one thing to keep in mind is not to remove the scales until you are ready to start cooking your fish; this will keep it nice and fresh.

Is it OK to eat scales from fish?

You can safely eat the fish scales without causing any harm to yourself. That doesn't mean you would want to though. The fish scales do have some minerals and healthy fats in them. ... If you eat the fish with the scales removed your body will still get a healthy dosage of these minerals and fats.

What are the purpose of scales on fish?

Scales protect fish, much like a suit of armor. All fish have a slimy covering of mucus. This substance allows the fish to swim through the water with very little drag and also makes it difficult for other organism to attach to the fish. So mucus is also a protective feature.