I need your help!! I've started keeping fish for a fish fry, and I'm not sure how I should freeze them. After cleaning the fish I've been putting them in a zip-lock bag with a small amount of water. I don't know why or how I came up with that, but I wondering if that was the right thing to do.

I usually just freeze them in a zip lock with no water.

_________________
I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself.

depending how long you keep the fish I would invest in a vacuum sealer they are a little bit pricey but worth their weight in gold...especially for bait you catch and freeze until winter when there is none around

I use the Glad Press-and-Seal stuff. Its similar to regular plastic wrap, but one side is a little 'sticky'. Put your fish on the sticky side, fold up the side (or put another piece over it), and press down all around the fish to form a tight, air free pocket around it. Its worked pretty well so far.

_________________
Tarpon 140

When in doubt, poke it with a stick.

The vac sealers are great! if I cant use one of these, I will freeze them in a zip lock bag with a little salt water I mixed up. Just put the fish in the bag and fill with saltwater and zip it almost to the end and squeeze out the air and finish sealing it. The reason I use saltwater is it freezes at a colder temperature than just plain water and it thaws out super fast when put under running water. Remember when people bought rock salt to throw on the frozen ground to melt it. Does the same thing. Also the saltwater does not get into the meat and cause it to get salty. Hope this helps . Tight Lines KR

_________________
Liquid Logic
Manta Ray 14


An adventure is simply a well planned trip gone awry.

I save milk jugs. Cut to top out and leave the handle. Put the fish in and cover them with water. Worked for my grandma and it works for me.

_________________
Do what you say.
Do it when you say you are.
Do it right the first time.

May be wrong but understand that you get freezer burn as a result of air inside your bag/jug/box.

_________________

Hey CadiYak....I have always heard good things about the vacuum sealers that suck out the air!! As was said above, that seems to be the main reason for freezer burn and spoilage.....

Somewhere, I read about putting as many fillets as you can into tennis ball plastic cannisters........then filling them with water, putting back on the plastic tops, and sealing them with tape!!
I did that for awhile and it seemed to work fine...kept all the air out....and it worked great for smaller fillets like whiting, sea bass, croakers, and trout....

As a rule, I never freeze fish, but I know you are "hoarding them" for a fish fry....Good Luck on keeping them "kinda fresh"
JohnYaksJax

John, be careful about storing foods in plastics that aren't approved for food use. You might be consuming some nasties that you didn't intend to. You already get enough of them from the food approved plastics. Hell, some of them may act as preservatives, so it could be a good thing. In freezing, air is the enemy. The freezer bag with just water added and then push it all out until just a thin layer covers the fish will do about as well as vacuum packing. Fish with higher oil content will not freeze as long and taste good because the oils go rancid no matter how it is frozen. Flounder and Whiting will freeze well for a longer time while trout doesn't last so long frozen. Redfish is somewhere in between.

Hey Kev.....thanks for that info....appreciate it!!

I NEVER freeze fish, but when I used to, maybe this comment from you may have helped me get this old:

"Hell, some of them may act as preservatives, so it could be a good thing"

Guess I'm pretty well "preserved" right now...LOL!!
Thanks!!
JYJ

Half gallon or gallon PAPER milk or juice containers. put your fillets in add a couple of teaspoons of kosher salt. fill with water, close, shake to distribute salt and freeze. Will keep for about a year with no freezer burn.
When ready to use tear the container off, thaw and cook.

_________________
Proud Father of Fernandina Beach Commissioner
ERIC CHILDERS

Ocean Kayak Big Game (For Sale)
Liquid Logic Manta Ray 14 (For Sale) PM or Call for info
Pioneer 220 Baysport T-Top 175 Suzuki "PIRATE QUEST"
24 year USAF Veteran
Retired

Place fish in zippered plastic freezer bags. Press the bag gently to remove air, or use a straw to suck air out of bag. Seal the bag. Over-wrap packaged fish with freezer paper or aluminum foil to protect the freezer bag.

_________________
Vigrx Plus reviews

I agree.

_________________
Hobie Mirage Outback
Cape Horn 19/200 HO Etec