Love eating fish? Fresh from the water? Surely you have faced the horrors of having to remove those irritating and smelly flakes, called scales from the fish when eating. I know I have. Well, the suffering ends the moment you get yourself a fish scaler, and banish those stubborn scales for good from your delicious, gelatinous, beautiful fish skin.
Why a fish scaler?
To get to the why, let’s look at what it is, shall we?
Traditionally, it has a body, somewhat similar to a rasp, it has a head (normally, wider than a rasp) with serrated or saw toothed edges or spikes, that pulls out the scales as you glide the scaler against the orientation of the scales (tail to head). Gifted with a huge variety of size, color, material, edges, this design is efficiently tailored to pulling out scales, letting you pull out all the scales with half the time and energy.
Let’s go see the best fish scaler for you:
Top 9 Best Fish Scalers – Comparison Table
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Best Traditional  
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Personal Choice  
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Best Electric  
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Premium Choice  
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1. Gnker Fish Scaler Skin Brush
The Gnker Fish Scaler descales fish with virtually no mess. With a plastic lid on its top, it catches almost all the loose scales coming its way. The skin remains intact too. So, clean freak squad rejoice, because this is a game changer in fish scaling tradition.
Jokes aside, this is a very good fish scaler, with smooth efficiency. It’s very easy to clean as well (just wash off the container on the head). Its aesthetically, ergonomic handle accounts for comfort and non-skid function. The hanging hole lets you store it away too, somewhere away from the kids.
Now comes the downside of the lid, it’s a bit bulky. Even though it’s light, it has a bulk, which some might not appreciate.
Pros
- No mess (That’s literally a dream come true)
- Light
- Easy to store and clean
Cons
- A bit on the bulky side
- Might struggle a bit with the lid initially
2. Sea Strike SSFS1 Fish Scaler
You’re a fisherman, need something light yet durable as an addition to your gears in your fishing trip? This is the right fish scaler for you. While being one of the most affordable ones of the list, the Sea Strike SSFS1 Fish Scale Remover, is amazing at descaling fish.
With a design similar to an angler’s knife, this fish scaler has a one piece body made of steel, with sharp serrated teeth, making fish scaling a breeze. The handle however might fall a bit short and slip a bit ( as there is no texture on it).
The hands might be in direct contact with the tooth while scaling. You might need to be a bit careful there.
Pros
- Durable
- Light weight
- Sharp tooth
- Best for small fish
- Is versatile
- Customer Care promise
Cons
- Short handle (a bit slippery)
- No protection against spikes
- Not dishwasher safe
3. Copora Fish Scaler Brush
Made of 304 stainless steel, our list starts off with Copora Fish Scaler Brush. It has a sturdy and lightweight build along with being completely food safe.
With a beautiful aesthetic, its non-slip handle is designed with an ergonomic sturdy shape for easy turning without hurting you. Its sharp saw tooth makes it easier for fish scales to be pulled off.
Coming to the head, it’s got a beautiful design for you to avoid making much of a mess. However, because the teeth are a bit on the smaller side, it isn’t really the best for large fish scales, but for small fish scales? It’s the best.
Pros
- Food Safe Material
- Lightweight and sturdy
- Has a non slip ergonomic design
- Anti rust
- Efficient
- Low Mess Design
Cons
- Head might bend a bit
- Might hurt yourself on the edges
4. GiniHome Fish Scaler Brush
Recommended by a huge number of professionals, the GiniHome fish scaler brush is one of the best if not the best scale removers out there. This brush aids you in effortlessly removing fish scales without damaging the fish’s skin.
It’s made of high quality stainless steel (304 stainless steel), making it completely food safe and rustproof. That’s not all. GiniHome also takes a look at the comfort of the user. With an ergonomic stainless steel grip, it’s designed to provide you with utmost comfort while scaling fish along with an anti-slip design, keeping your hand safe and sound.
Overall, If you’re looking for anything with a low mess, while efficiently doing the job, GiniHome is the way to go.
Pros
- Food Safe material
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Anti-rust
- Ergonomic; Non-Slip design
- Efficient and Versatile
Cons
- Might make a bit of a mess, albeit a lot lower than most fish scalers
5. Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler
Now, this one here is a unique one. The name magic fits this new design of modern fish scaler.
The Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler is complete plastic body, light, and with a new type of head with protruding small finger like structure with a blunt tip, slanted into a slight edge right below the tip, which hooks onto scales and neatly pull it out, without causing much of a mess.
Perfect to carry along to fishing, to scale your freshly caught fish, without doing the slightest damage to the skin. The handle is a bit or the shorter side… Will be uncomfortable initially for large palms. You’ll get used to it shortly though.
Pros
- Lightweight
- No rust (Plastic)
- Efficient
Cons
- Small Handle
- Plastic Head might slide a bit on the fish
- Cleaning it might be a hassle
6. Kwizing Fish Scaler Brush
Japan, the world hub of exotic fishes, just the name creates a photo of beautiful sushi in our head. Kitchen equipment from that hub is a monarch among the equipment of the same type. One of these monarchs is the Kwizing Fish Scaler.
Made with the traditional Japanese design for fish scaling, it has a brass head with an ergonomic wooden handle that while giving you comfort and will allow you to have a really good grip. The 32 serrated saw tooth on the head has a large surface coverage, letting you remove scales with ease.
It’s a really good fish scaler for large fish (its large size might be an inconvenience for too small fishes). The three grooves it has been designed to catch the loose scales decreasing the mess by at least tenfold. Careful. You might be too much in love with this.
Pros
- Best for large fish
- Brass head is corrosion resistant
- Has grooves to catch loose scales
- Ergonomic Wooden Handle provides great Grip
- Handmade in Japan
Cons
- Not suitable for small fishes
- Wooden Handle might come off after long usage
- Not Dishwasher safe
7. Speder Electric Fish Scaler
This is where the past meets the future, turning it into the present. Now comes our Speder Electric fish scaler. With a rotation of 6000 rpm, it’s bound to literally effortlessly remove any and every scale there is in a fish, turning a 15 minute worth of cleaning fish into 2. With a 2000 mAh battery, it’s supposed to last over 2 hours, which should be more than enough to scale down all your fresh fish. Its IPx7 rating suggests it’s virtually waterproof.
It can withstand for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter underwater, allowing it to be washed underwater with no worries. The change-able spinning direction of the motor allows it to be suitable for both left handed and right handed people.
Things to stay careful about- firstly, it’s an amazing piece of equipment. Too amazing. Excessive pressure will ruin your fish as the blades are very sharp and fast. Just holding it against the fish will let it do its job perfectly. It’s bulky body might make it a bit uncomfortable for very long use to some.
Pros
- Very fast
- Cordless
- Long lasting battery life (2-4 hours after fully charged. With one month standby)
- Waterproof
- Food Safe Material
Cons
- Very bulky
- Can damage the fish skin and meat
- A bit messy
8. POWERAXIS Fish Scale Remover
With a beautiful, modern aesthetic, Poweraxis fish scale remover brings you the best of everything at once. Even with its sleek ergonomic design that provides you with the utmost comfort and grip. It’s a heavenly technology that has special blades designed to minimize damage to fish skin and you. Just don’t apply too much pressure and keep your fingers away from the blade and you’ll be fine.
That’s not all.
It’s the ability to change the motor speed that makes it completely versatile, letting you remove fish scales with maximum efficiency. Its IPx7 waterproof rating increases its versatility even more by allowing it to submerge underwater (increase in cleaning ability). And the fact that it’s wireless with a long lasting battery makes it the best for taking along to fishing for preparing your best fresh fish. Personally, I love the Poweraxis more, compared to all other electric fish scalers mentioned here.
Pros
- Very fast and efficient
- Cordless
- Long Lasting rechargeable battery
- Waterproof
- Food safe material
- Adjustable speed
- Aesthetic
- Ergonomic Handle
Cons
- Can damage the fish skin and meat
9. Bear Paw EFS Electric Fish Scaler
Moving into the zone of the premium, it’s got an exciting blade capable of rotating at 3000rpm, letting you scale fishes of every shape and size.
Its Teflon coated blade accounts for the utmost efficiency in removing the scales while maintaining the huge feasibility of cleaning the equipment. Works like a charm on removing scales off of tough varieties of fish like bream, bass, walleye too. The scaling head revolves and deflects scales downward without damaging the fish or causing injury to your hands.
This is a masterpiece of equipment worth its money. Given its high quality, it can also be used commercially.
Pros
- Scaling head revolves and deflects scales downward without cutting the fish or causing injury to the hands
- Features an extra hard Teflon impregnated coating for quick and easy cleanup
- Resists saltwater and rust
Cons
- Very Expensive
- Has a cord attached
- Only supports Socket type B
A Mini Beginner’s Fish Scaler Buying Guide:
If you have read the whole thing, by now, you probably already have a good idea of what you might be looking for to be your best fish scaler. And, in case you buy a fish scaler yourself, this guide might come in handy.
TYPE:
With the evolution of technology, everything around us has grown to have two versions of itself – manual and electric versions. The same happened for fish scalers too. These two variants have taken upon themselves a good list of pros and cons for us to choose from.
Manual (Traditional):
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Electric:
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Material and Build Quality:
The durability of your fish scaler depends primarily on this – what is it made of? There isn’t a lack of materials it can be made of. Steel (strong but can get rust), and Stainless Steel (anti-rust and food safe) are the most popular, while wood (wood will decompose at long term exposure to water) is the most comfortable to handle.
The plastic ones end up being the cheapest. Here’s another important part to check for about its build – the comfort of the grip and shape of the teeth. Because that will determine how well you will be able to scrape fishes with the utmost safety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How do I scale a fish without a scaler?
Knife. Using a knife is definitely harder to use than a scaler. The chances of damaging the skin or flesh are higher to a significant extent for people with no experience. But, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Just angle the back of your knife to a 15 degree against the scales and run through them.
Here’s a video to help:
Are fish scales edible?
Yes. Fish Scales are edible. The only problem is, not many people like its taste, and there have been cases of people choking on them. But, if you’re someone who likes crunches, keep them on your fish while frying them. They’re very good for crunches.
Can fish scales be used in any way?
Actually, yes. Fish scales contain a huge amount of gelatin, which you can use to make a variety of items, starting from jelly to even delicious chocolate mousse. The gelatin can be extracted by heating it in distilled water at 160° Fahrenheit (70° Celsius) for 1.5 hours.
Pro fish scaling tip:
- Scaling the fish underwater will not make any mess
- If, scaler or knife is unavailable, a spoon should do the trick
- Cooling the fish down in ice before scaling makes the skin less prone to damage
Final Words
That was all about the best fish scalers in the market. Let me quickly give you a recap on what’s been discussed so far quickly.
We’ve explored the top nine fish scalers. Some of them are traditional manual fish scalers and the rest are electric. Each type of fish scale remover has its own pros and cons that have been discussed.
As always, I’ve answered some commonly asked questions about fish scalers in the FAQ section and threw in a buyer’s guide too. I hope they will clear up your misconceptions if any.
I’ve tried to recommend the very best fish scalers in my article, whichever you pick, don’t forget that the point is to have fun. Happy fishing!