A Guide to Buying and Cooking Flounder

Flounder encompasses several American flatfish species like gray, petrale, lemon sole, dab, fluke and plaice. The types are interchangeable when cooking, with the exception of Dover sole, a flatfish found only in European waters with firmer and tighter flesh than American flounder.

Flatfish are bottom-dwellers with wide, flat bodies. They swim on their sides and have both eyes on one side of their heads. (Halibut are larger flatfish.)

Flounders are sold as a whole fish or thin fillets and usually skinned, although the skin is edible. Whole flounder is good sautéed, steamed or roasted. Fillets are excellent sautéed with a coating of flour or light breading to crisp the soft flesh and prevent them from falling apart.

Substitute any flatfish.

Flounder Recipes

• Baked Stuffed Flounder
• Flounder Fish Salad
• Flounder Francese with Toasted Almonds, Lemon and Capers
• Lemon Sole
• Oil Poached Flounder