Product Description
A fish kettle is a long, oval pot designed specifically for poaching whole fish without breaking them. The 62cm stainless steel body fits most whole salmon and large sea trout — a gutted, head-on fish of 2.5–4kg typically measures 50–60cm and sits comfortably on the draining plate. The kettle spans two hob burners, distributing heat evenly along the full length rather than concentrating it in the centre. A fitted lid holds in steam and moisture throughout the cook.
To poach a whole salmon, half-fill the kettle with court bouillon: cold water, a glass of dry white wine, a halved onion, a bay leaf, a few peppercorns and a handful of parsley stalks. Lay the fish on the perforated draining plate, lower it into the liquid, and bring everything up slowly to a gentle simmer — not a rolling boil, which will break the flesh. Allow 8–10 minutes per kilogram from the point the liquid reaches temperature. A 3kg fish needs roughly 25–30 minutes. The fish is ready when the flesh pulls cleanly away from the backbone at the thickest point near the shoulder. Lift the plate clear of the kettle and allow the fish to drain before transferring to a serving platter. For a cold buffet salmon, bring the liquid to a simmer, cook for five minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the fish to cool in the liquid — this produces a very moist result.
- Events and uses
- Wedding banquet buffets where a dressed whole salmon is presented as a centrepiece dish on the buffet table.
- Corporate gala dinners and formal hospitality events with a traditional seafood service.
- Summer garden parties where poached salmon is served cold with mayonnaise and cucumber.
- Marquee catering operations requiring large-format fish preparation in a temporary kitchen setup.
- Setup and use
Position the kettle across two hob burners to distribute heat evenly along the 62cm base. Slot the perforated draining plate into position before adding the poaching liquid and fish. Keep side handles and the lid handle clear of direct flame. The body holds heat well after the burner is off, so use oven gloves or a dry cloth when handling at any stage.
- Cleaning and return
Return all items clean and in the condition they arrived. Ensure all components are present before collection.
- How does delivery work?
Working out delivery costs is easy with Expo Hire — simply use our carriage calculator to find which of our branches is near to you. Tap your postcode in and it will confirm whether we cover that postcode, which of our 11 branches is closest to you, the cost for delivery from that branch, and any possible extra charges.
Once you have filled your basket and confirmed your delivery dates and postcode in the checkout, we will show you an itemised cost for delivery so you know exactly what you are paying for before you place your order.
Want to know when your delivery is coming? You can track your driver using our real-time maps on the day of delivery and collection. Simply enter your postcode and order number on our order tracking page and find out when our driver will arrive. We also send an automated text with a tracking link on the day.
Specifications
| Internal length | 62cm |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Includes | Draining plate with handles, fitted lid |
| Hob compatibility | Gas, electric and induction |
| Suitable fish size | Up to approx. 60cm (2.5–4kg whole salmon) |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What size salmon fits in this fish kettle?
The internal length is 62cm. A gutted, head-on salmon of 2.5–4kg typically measures 50–60cm and fits comfortably with the lid on. Anything above 5kg or longer than about 65cm will be too long for this kettle.
- How long does it take to poach a whole salmon?
Allow 8–10 minutes per kilogram once the liquid reaches a gentle simmer. A 3kg fish takes roughly 25–30 minutes. Bring the liquid up slowly — a rolling boil breaks the flesh. The fish is done when it pulls cleanly from the backbone at the thickest point.
- Can I cold-poach a salmon for a cold buffet?
Yes. Bring the court bouillon and fish up to a simmer together, cook for five minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the fish to cool in the liquid with the lid on. This gives a very moist result and is the standard method for cold buffet salmon.
- Can this kettle go on an induction hob?
Yes. The stainless steel base is compatible with gas, electric and induction hobs.
- Does the kettle include a lid?
Yes. Each kettle comes with a fitted lid to retain heat and moisture during the poach.
Technical
| Material | Stainless Steel |
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| Width | 195 mm |
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| Height | 115 mm |
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| Length | 710 mm |
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| Weight | 2 kg |
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- Large 62cm professional poaching vessel
- Durable, high-grade stainless steel construction
- Includes removable plate for easy fish lifting
FAQs
- What is the price including VAT?
This item is subject to 20% VAT and therefore you will pay £5.40 each for a standard 3 day hire at checkout.
As primarily a business-to-business supplier we advertise our prices ex-VAT as most businesses will be able to reclaim the VAT amount.
- Do you offer discounts for if the item is hired for less than 3 Days?
No. We recommend a minimum hire period of 3 days to provide enough time for set-up and break-down of your event, and to make sure that problems such as traffic or adverse weather conditions do not impact on your event. If you want to hire for a shorter period than this then we cannot offer a discount.
- Do you offer discounts for Long Term Hire?
Yes, after the standard hire perion of 3 Days you will be charged £0.90 per extra day up to day 7, £0.68 per extra day up to day 28 and £0.45 per extra day after that.
| Days Hire | Cost (ex-VAT) |
|---|
| 1 | £4.50 |
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| 2 | £4.50 |
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| 3 | £4.50 |
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| 5 | £6.30 |
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| 7 | £8.10 |
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| 14 | £12.83 |
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| 21 | £17.55 |
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| 35 | £25.43 |
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- How much security deposit do you charge?
Nothing! Unlike most of our competitors, rather than charging a large deposit, we provide a FREE 'minor deposit waiver' scheme to cover minor damage and loss. Excessive or negligent damage and loss will be invoiced at 10 times the standard hire price of the relevant items. Please read our terms and conditions for full details.
- How much do you charge for delivery?
There is a minimum charge of £40.00 for a distance up to 10 miles each way.
After that we charge £1.00 per mile each way and an additional £40.00 for each journey on a weekend or bank holiday.
We calculate the distance using driving directions from our local base to your event postcode, so it is important that you provide the correct delivery address at checkout.
You can use our Carriage Calculator to get a full quote.
- Can I choose a specified Time Slot?
We make deliveries anytime between 8am and 8pm, however we can offer early (8am - 1pm) or late (12 noon - 6pm) slots for an additional cost calculated at checkout.
We can not guarantee more specific times unless you pay for a dedicated driver. This is individually priced on request and are subject to availability.
- Can I collect from you warehouse rather than pay for delivery?
No. To ensure that your products arrive safely and correctly we offer a delivery and collection service only.
- Do you have a showroom where I can view the products before ordering?
No. As we are an online-only you can view all of our products on our website. To keep our prices as low as posssible our warehouses are not open to the public.
