Pollock (sometimes spelled pollack) is a variety of white fish similar to cod. You can eat it fresh, but Koreans also dry it out for later use. The best is dried by sea breezes in the sun. When it’s completely dried, the fish is very hard, like a stick of wood. In the old days, it had to be pounded to soften it before it could be shredded, but these days most dried pollock sold in Korean grocery stores is shredded and ready to use.
There’s no need to wash it, but if the strips are too long, cut them into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container or zipper-lock bag in the freezer for up to 6 months.
I watched a recent episode of Oh! My Baby where the Ra twins eat dried pollock without any cooking. I found some dried pollock at a local Asian market and was very excited to try it for myself. However, it says that it must be cleaned and cooked. I’m attaching a file of the packaging. Is this something that I need to clean and cook, or can I eat it like I’ve seen on those shows? How do I clean something like this? Thank you for your help!
The front of the package…
It’s already cleaned. You can eat it right from the package or grill it slightly and eat it. You don’t have to wash it but it depends on what kind of dish you make. If you want to grill it with seasoning sauce, you will have to soak it in cold water to make the fish a little softer before cooking.
Separate the flesh part from the bones and shred it with your fingers and make soup. https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/bugeoguk
Hi Maangchi, I am wondering whether I can eat the dried shredded pollock as snacks? cause I have watched a lot korean dramas in which some people ate some kind of dried fish when they drink. I am not sure whether the dried fish they ate is dried pollocks or not. However,I would like to know whether the dried shredded pollock can just eat like that without cooking it.And aslo I have seen the soul market at my place selling whole piece dried pollocks. How should I shred it by myself?
yes, you can eat it as snacks. Dip it in hot pepper paste, yummy!
Thanks a lot! Maangchi! that is definitely a good news to me..yummy!
Can you tell me how long this stays fresh once the bag is opened? I made the soup awhile ago and I am wondering if the rest of the fish is still OK to eat.
Dried pollock should be kept in the freezer.
Oh no, now I have to throw out half a bag :(
At least I bought the smallest package. Oh well, I know for next time. Thank you.
At Ranch 99 they have a fish that looks just like this, but it’s labeled “Stock Fish”. Will this substitute for Pollack? Thanks!!
I looked up the word “stockfish” in the dictionary on the internet for you.
Stock fish: any fish cured by being split and hung in the open air to dry without salt, as cod, haddock, etc
If you want to make dried pollock soup with my recipe, you can try it out but I can’t guarantee the result.
https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/bugeoguk