Thread: Thinking of frying tonight...help please

Originally Posted by Mamba334

The Crappie we caught yesterday around 3 p.m. I didn't have time to cook/clean, so I put them in a zip-lock deep freezer bag. I had planned on taking them out and letting them thaw and clean them and then fry them.

My concern is; do I need to just toss them in the trash or is it safe to do this? I've read yes and I've read no. Anyone else ever done this before? I usually clean and freeze when I catch but I didn't have time. Is the bacteria going to be an issue? I don't want to get food poisoning. Thanks.

- M

You should be OK ... If you froze them, take them out of the freezer and let them thaw out in the refrigerator (overnight would be best) ... then clean them and cook them as you normally would.
The meat may not be "flaky" like fresh caught & cooked, since freezing breaks the tissue cells open ... but, the taste won't be much different.

I've done the same thing, several times, and never had any "bacteria" issues. 300+degree grease for several minutes will take care of that !!

... cp

Thank you for taking your time out to reply back! I won't be doing this again. Next weekend it's supposed to be 57 instead of 51 degrees, and I want to go back! I will clean them as soon as I get them home this time.

I'll take them out and put them in the fridge for overnight and clean tomorrow. I am reading to put them in water, but I didn't put them in water - I just placed them in the bag and put them in the freezer.

Originally Posted by Mamba334

Thank you for taking your time out to reply back! I won't be doing this again. Next weekend it's supposed to be 57 instead of 51 degrees, and I want to go back! I will clean them as soon as I get them home this time.

I'll take them out and put them in the fridge for overnight and clean tomorrow. I am reading to put them in water, but I didn't put them in water - I just placed them in the bag and put them in the freezer.

Yeah, generally it's "already cleaned" fish that are put in water, before freezing ... so as to prevent the possibility of freezer burn.

In your case, even if you do or don't filet them before you cook them ... they won't have been in the freezer long enough to get freezer burn.

... cp

So what do you recommend as for type of grease? Seasoning?

you can keep fish on ice for 2-3 days before cleaning them. I do it all the time. As far as frying them, there are numerous ways. Just do a search on this sight or look at some recent threads

Well, I got them in a ziplock bag (whole). I haven't cleaned them yet. I was going to clean them today. Now, when I clean them, I need to go ahead and cook them right?

Originally Posted by Mamba334

Well, I got them in a ziplock bag (whole). I haven't cleaned them yet. I was going to clean them today. Now, when I clean them, I need to go ahead and cook them right?

Not necessarily ... they're good in the fridge (after cleaning) for a couple more days.

Most seem to prefer peanut oil for frying ... and what you coat them with is up to you. Some like dry coatings like corn meal, while others like batter coatings.

I use peanut oil, iron skillet, 300deg temp for a little over 2mins/side (for fillets) ... and no more than 3mins/side for good sized "scaled/gutted" fish. I coat with yellow corn meal & nothing else. That's the way I've always had them cooked, since back when I was a kid, so I'm just carrying on the tradition.

There are some other threads in this forum that have recipes, & opinions on coatings and oils and cooking temps. Most pan fry, deep fry, or bake ... in accordance with their preferences, or regional & cultural tastes.

... cp

up here in wisconsin, the fish freeze solid all the time in the winter before they get cleaned, its not a big deal at all. you catch one and toss it on the ice, it freezes solid. it doesnt take very long to thaw them in some warm water, and they fillet out the same. while it would be best to clean them the day of catch, i have never heard of anyone having any kind of issues with fish that get filleted within a couple of days. just my two cents p.s. a half-frozen crappie is easier to fillet than a completely thawed one, in my opinion. seems to be less mess, and the meat is more firm and easier to handle.