Does Tilapia Have Bones?
There are boneless fishes. The blobfish and the jellyfish are examples. Other fishes, such as the Shark and Catfish, are cartilaginous, while Tilapia is calcareous.
Moreover, just like other freshwater fishes, Tilapia is a vertebrate – meaning it has a backbone and scales on its skin. However, it has a complex structure, unlike other fishes. Its lower pharyngeal bones are shaped into a single tooth structure. The muscles are designed to allow both the upper and lower pharyngeal bones to be used as a set of jaws for the fish.
Tilapia is not a mutant fish as rumors would have it. These are just mere rumors and maybe some myths. Tilapia is native to Africa, particularly Egypt, and found along the coast of the River Nile. It can also be found in Australia and has the same name, “Tilapia,” worldwide. It is naturally a freshwater fish, but it’s being farmed worldwide for food.
China ranks first as the largest producer and the largest consumer of Tilapia. China has climatic conditions that favor tilapia cultivation, producing 1.3millions tonnes per annum. In 2016, China’s tilapia cultivation reached an all-time peak of 1.9million metric tonnes. Egypt follows closely with 0.5million tonnes per annum. This fish is the 4th most populous and consumed fish in the US. Most people prefer this fish because of its low price, mild taste, and easy separation.
Is it safe to eat Tilapia?
Debunking rumors that Tilapia is a mutant fish, it is a freshwater fish cultivated worldwide in ponds on farms where they’re fed with vegetable pellets. This fish is not dirty, as rumors say.
Tilapia has a mild taste and natural flavors, which makes it a good meal on the table for those fond of fish, though. This fish is rich in proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to enrich our hearts and thus make us healthier. To make you feel safe when it comes to eating Tilapia, it is low in Mercury compared to other predator fishes.
It would help if you deboned the fish before setting it on a plate. However, that depends on whether you caught the fish or picked it up from some grocery store. The chances are that you won’t have to debone if you bought from groceries store since it has been deboning.
Steps to deboning Tilapia
Since Tilapia is among the most common fin fishes consumed by humans and has many bones, deboning is very important. However, I guess no one likes picking bones before having a yummy bite of that delicious chunk right before you. There are three steps to deboning a Tilapia.
Step 1: Cleaning the fish
When you just caught a tilapia or bought a fresh one from the store, you’ll need to wash it and clean it under cold water (not ice cold). Place the whole fish on a flat surface while you hold its tail. The main aim is to remove its scales. You can use a knife or a spoon to do this. Scrape (not peel) the scales from the tail you’re holding to the head. You might need to add a little pressure depending on how fresh the fish is for easier and faster scraping. Continue in that fashion for both sides till no scale is left unremoved on the fish. To avoid peeling off the skin, use the other side of the knife for a better outcome.
Step 2: Slitting and Cutting
After cleaning the fish with no scales left:
Make a slit on either side of the dorsal fin (the back fin).
Slit from the start to the end with a little deep cut.
Hold the fin firmly and gently pull it out.
All muscles joining the fin to the fish will cut loose.
Turn the fish and make another slit right from the fishtail cutting through its belly till you get to the gills just before the head.
Open up the fish’s belly and let out all its innards. Wash under cold water till it becomes fresh and clean. Use your hand to remove the remaining innards in the fish. Do this till the water is clean.
Step 3: Removing the backbone
In this step, some would prefer to chop off both the head and tail first. Some would prefer to leave it as it is in the second step. However you choose to debone it, the main aim is to remove the backbone and have some fillets, and chopping the head and tail seems necessary since both are connected to the backbone. Slit the fish from the tail to the head, cutting through the gills. The backbone will become visible. Do the same for the other side. Gently lift the backbone from the fish. The fillets will become evident. Cut the fillets into your desired sizes or grill the whole fish as you wish.
It will be ironic to still consider Tilapia as a mutant fish after knowing that this fish is a freshwater fish, and can be farmed all over the world.
Farms feed this fish with vegetable pellets, plus knowing the origin of the fish gives you an assuring sound that this fish is safe to eat.
Tilapia being a vertebrate, like other fishes have a complex structure, yet it can easily be deboned just for you to have a proper bite.
No doubt, Tilapia does have bones. And that’s the answer you’ve been looking for.
