Thread: freezing your catch?

I used to use a food saver but found the fish got freezer burned after about 6 months so found a post about using butter tubs or a cake pan and freezing your catch in a block of ice. so I am trying that now I tried both ways i filled a cake pan half full of water added fish the topped of with water tell i had a1/4 inch for ice to rise then after it frooze i flipped it out wrapped twice in aluminum and then freezer paper. the other ones i put in butter tubs and froze. so just wondering how long do you think i have to eat them?

JJ

should be good foar a year

i've ate fish 2years old and still tasted good

I use Quart freezer bag with eight to ten fillets then filled with water and like speckfinder said they will be good two years at least.

I have kept fish 3 years that tasted fresh like they were just out of the water. The secret is to freeze them in water with no air in contact with the ice or else or self defrosting freezers will melt enough ice to freezer burn the top layer.

If you are using tubs of some kind, put a layer of saran wrap right on top of the water and lay it flat with no air in it before you put the lid on. (I do this with anything where I want to keep ice like my home made wild turkey broth or stock.) If you are putting the fish in freezer bags, like I normally do, fill the bags with enough water to cover the fish, seal the bags leaving about a 1/2" to 1" gap on one side and press the bag until water starts coming out of that gap. Seal the gap while the water is still coming out and lay the bag down to make sure there is no water in it.

Personally, I don't freeze my fishin water anymore. I have found that the flesh is spongy--not as firm--whenever I thaw it to cook. It's just not my preference.

I have had no problem with using ziploc vacuum bags (no water). I usually don't let my frozen fish get more than six months old. I date my bags and use the oldest bags first. The flesh is firm and just like the day it was caught.

aj

I date my bags, too, but my crappie taste just as fresh and firm if I freeze as I mentioned above. It may depend on the type of fish and when they were caught. My oldest son had caught some catfish, he fileted most of them but had a real hoss that he skinned and froze whole that were mushy. I'm not sure if it was the fish or how they were frozen, but I would defy anyone to tell if my frozen crappie filets were fresh or not.

I still use the Foodsaver,but get most of the water off the filets first on a towel.Then I seal twice. Used to freeze in water, too much room taken up in freezer.Never really noticed any taste difference.Have heard some good reports on the Ziploc bags.

Originally Posted by blairarnold

I have kept fish 3 years that tasted fresh like they were just out of the water. The secret is to freeze them in water with no air in contact with the ice or else or self defrosting freezers will melt enough ice to freezer burn the top layer.

If you are using tubs of some kind, put a layer of saran wrap right on top of the water and lay it flat with no air in it before you put the lid on. (I do this with anything where I want to keep ice like my home made wild turkey broth or stock.) If you are putting the fish in freezer bags, like I normally do, fill the bags with enough water to cover the fish, seal the bags leaving about a 1/2" to 1" gap on one side and press the bag until water starts coming out of that gap. Seal the gap while the water is still coming out and lay the bag down to make sure there is no water in it.

I think he means "lay the bag down to make sure there is no AIR in it."
and this is exactly how i freeze my fish too - and they're good for at least a year, but in my house, they're all gone at the one year point (usually sooner), so I can't speak for how much more than a year they're good for.

Originally Posted by joejv4

I think he means "lay the bag down to make sure there is no AIR in it."
and this is exactly how i freeze my fish too - and they're good for at least a year, but in my house, they're all gone at the one year point (usually sooner), so I can't speak for how much more than a year they're good for.

You're exactly right. I did misspeak or mistype as the case may be.