When was it when I suffered the most for not having Fillet Away Fish Mat? A few weeks ago, I think.
I was trying to fillet a trout on the boat. It was a good catch, but I didn’t look happy. I left my cutting board home. The fish was laid down on a newspaper and it stank like a sewer.
That was my first time filleting a fish on newspaper. Little did I know, I’d have to bear with the smell for the entire trip.
At that time, I didn’t even know something like Fillet Away Fish Mat existed. I swore by my good old cutting board, though I couldn’t take it with me on trips as it was way too bulky for that.
So, when I came back home, the first thing I did was…
Well, cooking the trout. It was delicious, by the way. Priorities.
After that, I started looking for a portable stink free mat that’s easy to clean. Soon, I stumbled upon a Fillet Away Fish Mat. And I was blown away, to say the least.
“If this thing does even half of the things the manufacturer claims, I’m sold!” I said to myself.
But what is it anyway? Simply speaking, it’s a rubber mat that is designed brilliantly to excel in the only thing it does – holding the fish in one place as you fillet it.
Now, let’s cut straight through to what actually matters.
How Fillet Away Fish Mat Makes Your Life Easier?
#1 – It doesn’t slip
Before I start, let me ask you this.
Do you often find yourself chasing fish around your working surface while it keeps slipping? The fillet knife missing your fingers by inches?
That won’t be the case anymore. Once you place this mat on the surface, it won’t slide around no matter how much action is taking place on it. One may even get the impression that the mat’s been superglued to the surface, the non-slip feature is just so good!
Thanks to the angled pegs, this mat grips the fish extremely well making filleting fish a piece of cake.
But that’s not where the magic ends.
#2 – Excess doesn’t pile up
The cutting mat is thoughtfully designed in a way that when you’re processing fish on it, the slime and blood would drain below the pegs. Even if you’re going on a spree, the accumulated excess wouldn’t cause any issues.
#3 – Hassle-free cleaning
And last but not the least, its cleanability. I don’t think you’re going to believe what I’m about to say next.
Need to clean it? Rinse off the mat. Or throw it in a dishwasher. That’s all.
The material absorbs neither oils nor smells, making it ridiculously easy to clean. Not to mention, the rubber-like UV resistant material makes it a very durable mat as well.
The Only Flaw in Design
All that sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, can’t blame you, I felt the same too. But when I finally came across the only flaw it has, the mat felt a bit more real.
It’s not that big in size.
While it can grip fish that are bigger than itself just as well, the uncovered area under the fish would get grimy. Now, one can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. This is the only major flaw I’ve found in the design, which fortunately can be fixed by placing multiple mats next to each other.
Technical Specifications of Fillet Away Fish Mat
- Size: 19 x 14 x 0.5 inches.
- Weight: 1.3 lbs.
- Construction material: Santoprene TPV, an oil, chemical and UV resistant thermoplastic rubber.
- Color: Black
Pros
- Holds the fish perfectly still while filleting.
- Easy cleaning, dishwasher safe.
- Easy storage – can be rolled up and put away when not in use.
- Made of landfill-friendly recyclable material.
Cons
- The size is only good for small fish like trout. Bigger ones like Salmon may require you to use two mats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Fillet Away Fish Mat easy to clean?
Yes, it is.
As it’s made of non-stick TPV-based material, nothing really sticks to the cutting mat, be that grime or fish slime or whatever. Just place it under a running tap for a few seconds, it’ll be squeaky clean and totally odor-free.
Fillet Away Fish Mat is dishwasher-safe as well.
Can I fillet fish that are larger than Fillet Away Fish Mat?
Impressively, this fishing mat easily holds even fish that are larger than itself in place despite its small footprint. So, you actually can fillet the bigger ones on it.
But, there’s a small catch.
The size of the mat being smaller than the fish means the rest of the area that the mat won’t be covering would get dirty, which may be inconvenient for some.
However, a simple solution would be to just use multiple mats to make sure the entire surface under the fish is covered.
Can I use Fillet Away Fish Mat for other purposes?
While this mat is originally designed for filleting fish, it can be used as a regular cutting mat too. So, the answer is yes.
Being an anti-slip mat, it’d come helpful especially in those situations when you need the mat to stay in one place. Cutting something big like watermelons for example.
And last but not the least, this non-stick mat can make a great drip pan as well.
Final Words: Go or No-go?
Now that you know all about Fillet Away Fish Mat, it’s finally time to come to a conclusion.
Is it worth it or not?
If we check out the other alternatives – cardboard and newspaper come with significant health hazards like harmful bacteria that can survive on them. Carpets are very hard to clean effectively. Fish fillet board is a good contender, but they don’t offer enough flexibility and are not very portable either.
The fact that this portable cutting mat doesn’t have any such issues is more than enough to make it superior to the other options. On top of that, it’s packed with some wonderful features that make filleting fish a breeze. As you’ve read this far, you know I’m not exaggerating about that.
It isn’t certainly flawless, but again, the only flaw it has can be fixed easily as we’ve seen.
So, what’s going to be my verdict? I’d recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a decent fillet mat. While that is totally my personal opinion, I strongly believe anyone who’s used the mat for some time would agree with me wholeheartedly.