Catfish is a versatile protein staple, but its fat content is not a single number. Farmed catfish, wild catfish, baked fillets, and fried breaded fillets all have very different fat values per 100 grams. This calculator lets you enter the exact portion you ate, choose the preparation method that matches your meal, and instantly see the total fat, fat per 100 grams, calories from fat, and percent Daily Value.
It is designed for anyone tracking macros, counting calories, or managing a low-fat or high-protein diet. No need to scan a nutrition label or open a database: just pick your portion and preparation, and the tool applies a reference fat value per 100g based on common catfish nutrition data. You can also override the fat value with a custom amount from your own food label or recipe. The result includes a simple breakdown so you can see exactly how the math was done.
🐟 Catfish Fat Calculator
Find the fat in any portion of catfish, and see it standardized per 100 grams.
How the Fat per 100g Calculation Works
The calculator converts your portion into grams, then multiplies by the selected catfish fat density. The core formula is:
Total fat (g) = portion weight (g) × fat per 100g ÷ 100
If you enter 6 ounces of fried catfish, the tool first changes 6 oz to 170.1 g (1 oz = 28.3495 g). With a reference fat value of 10.8 g per 100 g, the total fat is 170.1 × 10.8 ÷ 100 = 18.4 g. Fat calories are calculated at 9 kcal per gram, and the % Daily Value uses a reference intake of 78 g of total fat from the FDA's 2,000-calorie dietary pattern. The "fat per 100g" output is the reference value for the preparation you selected, which gives you a standard number you can compare with other foods and log in your tracker.
Tip: Values are based on cooked and raw edible portions without added oil. If you pan-sear or deep-fry in batter, the actual fat may be higher depending on how much oil is absorbed.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Enter the amount of catfish you ate or plan to eat. You can use grams or ounces.
- Choose the preparation that matches your meal: raw farmed, raw wild, baked/broiled, fried/breaded, or smoked.
- Optional: tick Override fat per 100g and type a custom value if your package label or recipe gives a different number.
- Click Calculate Fat to see total fat, fat per 100g, fat calories, and % Daily Value.
- Use the breakdown box to copy a quick summary for your food diary or macro tracker.
Reference Fat Values by Preparation
| Preparation | Total Fat (g/100g) | Energy (kcal/100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Catfish, raw (farmed) | 7.2 | 119 |
| Catfish, raw (wild) | 2.9 | 101 |
| Catfish, baked or broiled | 6.4 | 134 |
| Catfish, fried and breaded | 10.8 | 200 |
| Catfish, smoked | 6.0 | 120 |
Values are rounded approximations based on USDA FoodData Central entries for channel catfish. Actual values vary with fillet size, farmed vs. wild origin, and cooking method. For the most precise data, use the override field with a nutrition label, or look up a specific product in the USDA FoodData Central database.
Worked Examples
Example 1: 150 g baked catfish fillet
Fat per 100g = 6.4 g. Total fat = 150 × 6.4 ÷ 100 = 9.6 g. Fat calories = 9.6 × 9 = 86 kcal. %DV = 9.6 ÷ 78 × 100 = 12%.
Example 2: 8 oz fried catfish
8 oz = 226.8 g. Fat per 100g = 10.8 g. Total fat = 226.8 × 10.8 ÷ 100 = 24.5 g. Fat calories = 24.5 × 9 = 220 kcal. %DV = 24.5 ÷ 78 × 100 = 31%. This shows how frying roughly doubles the fat compared with a wild raw fillet.
Example 3: Custom label value
A breaded catfish product label says 14 g fat per 100 g. For a 200 g serving, total fat = 200 × 14 ÷ 100 = 28 g, and fat calories = 28 × 9 = 252 kcal.
Farmed vs. Wild Catfish
Catfish can be farm-raised or caught from the wild, and the fat content differs significantly. Farmed catfish typically contains more total fat because the fish are fed a higher-energy diet and move less than wild fish. Wild catfish is leaner and firmer. The FDA's Daily Value guidance recommends 78 g of total fat per day for a 2,000-calorie diet, but your individual needs may be higher or lower depending on energy requirements and health goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to convert ounces to grams before calculating. The tool does this for you, but double-check if you convert manually.
- Using raw weight for fried catfish. Breading and oil absorption add significant fat and calories per 100g.
- Ignoring added sauces. Tartar sauce, butter, or a butter-based topping can add 5–15 g fat per serving.
- Assuming all fish are the same. Lean white fish like cod has under 1 g fat per 100g, while farmed catfish can have 7 g or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is catfish considered a fatty fish? It falls in the moderate range. Wild catfish is quite lean at about 2.9 g fat per 100g, while farmed catfish contains more fat. By comparison, salmon typically has 13 g or more per 100g, so catfish is not as high in fat as oily fish.
How much fat is in a standard catfish fillet? A typical raw farmed fillet weighs about 89 g and contains roughly 6.4 g fat. The same fillet breaded and fried can contain about 9.6 g fat before added sauces.
Does catfish contain omega-3 fats? Yes, catfish provides modest amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but less than fatty fish such as salmon or mackerel. The exact amount varies with diet and whether the fish is farmed or wild.
Using This in a Meal Plan
Catfish is a good source of protein and provides some heart-healthy unsaturated fats, but the fat per 100g changes dramatically once it is fried. For lower-fat meals, choose baked, broiled, or smoked catfish or wild-caught raw fillets. If you are tracking macros, you can use compare with halibut calories to see how another white fish stacks up, or use this tool in combination with the daily fat limit in your calorie-tracking app. The fat per 100g value is the useful part for building a personalized nutrition database: once you know it for your usual brand, you can log portions quickly without re-weighing every time.