Fish and seafood can certainly be fast and simple, or maybe more involved. Any way you serve it, fresh fish is delightful, so long as it is done with care. 

Fresh fish can be cooked in a number of ways. 

• Fried

Frying fish is straightforward. Heat some oil in a heavy frying pan. While that heats coat your fish with season flour. The seasoning can be as simple as pepper and salt, but there are many herbs you can use to complement.   

• Steamed

This is best accomplished by purchasing a fish steamer, but there are simple and delicious ways to steam your fish covered with foil. Season your fish with pepper and salt, wrap in foil, place on a baking pan, and bake at 350 to 375 degrees for approximately a half hour. 

• Broiled

Some fish do well when broiled. Season the fish with salt and pepper along with your favorite herbs. Broil on each side. This is a quick method, so set the timer for approximately 4 or 5 minutes. You will want your pan about 5 inches out from the heat. As fish varies in cooking time, the best way to tell when it is done is always to test with a fork. It'll flake easily when ready. 

• Roasted

A simple way is to slather your clean and dried fish with oil, and season with pepper and salt. Lay your fish on a baking pan and roast in a hot oven of about 425 degrees. Start checking for after 10 minutes. The fish will flake when cooked. 

Lemon is the queen of flavors when it comes to fish and seafood. Serve an attractive wedge of lemon along the side of the dish for garnish and to give a little freshness to the meal. The recipes listed, all have a simple seasoning, but there are many flavorful herbs and vegetable that will give your fish interest. Garlic is a homey flavor, and when done sparingly can also add wholesomeness to the dish. Cajun seasoning is often a favorite too. These can be blended at home or purchased already mixed at the store. Blackened fish is a wonderful dish, and also this blend can be a made at home or purchased at the store. Some seafood needs nothing but drawn butter, while others may require a little extra to bring out the flavors 

Find a fish store you can trust. One of the most important things to consider is always to smell the fish. It should never have a strong odor. The eyes should be clear, and the gills a nice red color. The skin of the fish should look fresh. All this takes practice. Seafood, such as lobster, ought to be alive and lively.