If you fry two small yellow croakers until they are done, it will be a waste when you fry the third small yellow croaker.

You should first put two small yellow croaker in the pot, fry one side first, then take out one and put the other. When frying one side again, take out the cooked one, and then put it in, so that the two are cooked at the same time.

* * * Need: 1+ 1+ 1=3 (minutes).

Answer: It takes at least 3 minutes to fry 3 small yellow croaker.

So the answer is: 3.