The 10 Best Fish Skinners
Special Honors
Townsend 9000 Derinder Professional processing centers should consider this model, as it's capable of handling up to 7,000 pounds of fish per hour. The large plastic mesh belt keeps everything flowing smoothly, and the machine can also be used to prepare pork bellies and flat backs. pacificfoodmachinery.com
Bear Paw EFS Boasting a 3,000 RPM motor, this electric scaler isn't likely to quit on you, regardless of how big your catch is. It's been coated with Teflon to prevent guts from sticking to it, and it can resist saltwater, so feel free to take it out on the ocean. blessingsports.com
KT-S Electric The blade head on this model is protected by a splash guard, so you hopefully won't have to go home wearing your dinner. The internally-grounded motor is well-protected inside its stainless steel box, and the thin power cable is wrapped in four protective layers. autofishscalers.com
Editor's Notes
September 05, 2019:
While there are a variety of electric models that promise to automate the entire process, we found that simple, reliable models like the Maybrun's Regular were still the best tools for the job. The high-tech gizmos aren't quite as reliable, and can be dangerous, as they involve exposed blades moving rapidly.
The Skinzit Electric is the most ambitious of these models, as all you have to do is shove your fish through and let the machine do all the work. It's fantastic when it works — which is only most of the time. It also tends to leave a fair bit of meat behind, so we wouldn't advise using it unless you have quite a few fish to prepare.
Regardless of which model you select, you should always use a good pair of fishing gloves when preparing your catch. They'll protect your hands from accidental nicks and cuts, not to mention the possibility of encountering a stray hook or two.