FOOD FACTS No bones about HERRINGS —if you treat them like this! How to bone herrings at table 1. Slit the herring down the back from head to tail, cutting in just far enough to touch the backbone. 3. Insert the knife under the backbone and lift it up gently. It will come clean away, as shown here. NO FAT NEEDED for these 3 ways to cook herrings Herrings are rich in natural oil, and require little or no fat for cooking. Here are three fat- savings ways of cooking them: (1) If you have a thick frying-pan, sprinkle it with salt, allow to get hot, and fry herrings without fat till brown and crisp on both sides.