How To Clean, Split and Bone Round Fish

How to clean, split and bone round fish in six easy steps:

1. Wash the fish and scrape off the scales with the back of a knife, working from tail to head.
2. Cut off the head just behind the gills with a sharp knife. Cut off the fins and tail with scissors.
3. Slit open the underside of the fish to the vent and scrape out the innards. Wash in cold running water and pat dry with a paper towel. Rub the flesh with a little salt to make it less slippery and easier to handle.
4. Open the fish out and press down on a working surface, skin side uppermost. Press hard along the backbone to flatten the fish.
5. Turn the fish over and lift the bone away with the flat of a knife.
6. Wash in cold running water and pat dry with a paper towel.