#SALMON FREEZER BURN HOW TO#
#SALMON FREEZER BURN PROFESSIONAL#

“Since fish is pretty delicate, in general, it is best not to refreeze fish that has already been frozen,” says Swan. Related: 7 Items a Prepared Southerner Always Has in Their Freezer Frequently Asked QuestionsĮver take out a piece of fish from the freezer to cook a specific meal and then your plans completely change and the next time you’ll likely be cooking is several days away? If you’re thinking about putting the fish back in the freezer, you may want to reconsider. “When vacuum-sealed and properly stored in the freezer, fish can last for as long as a year,” adds Malivert. You may be surprised that vacuum sealed fish can last a while in the freezer. “A leaner fish like halibut will last up to six months.' “In a home freezer, fatty fish like tuna, salmon or sardine can last up to three months,” he says. But for Malivert he makes a distinction on whether it’s a fatty or lean fish and if it’s vacuum sealed or not. Chefs offer up some guidelines: “Generally, I like to consider fish stored in a home freezer for 3-4 months to be the maximum amount of time,” says Swan. The answer depends on the type of fish and how it’s stored. “Next, lower the bag into a pot of cold water as the bag gets lowered, water pressure will push air out of the bag through the small opening. “Place your fish inside a freezer Ziploc-bag, then seal the bag, leaving just the last inch or so of the seal open,” explains Malivert.

The second option is to use freezer bags. “Personally, I prefer the vacuum seal because it is fast and helps to pull out extra water so it doesn't break up the fish's cells too much as the ice crystals form,” she says.

With less oxygen, there is less oxidation and breakdown of the fish.” Swan agrees. Vaccum SealĪccording to Malivert, “The best way to package fish to freeze is to vacuum seal, with a vacuum sealer this reduces the amount of oxygen the fish will be exposed to. If you have a vacuum sealer, you’ll definitely want to use it for storing fish. There are a couple ways to package fish to store in the freezer. 'The freezers used to freeze fish industrially are very cold, so the ice crystals form very quickly and are therefore very small and less likely to break down the cells of the fish,” Swan says. “Fish is often frozen immediately off of the boat, or even on the boat, in some cases so there is little to no aging.”īecause home freezers don’t compare to industrial freezers, the way fish freezes can be different. “Most groceries sell fish that they receive frozen, so if you know you aren't going to get around to cooking the fish right away, ask the butcher to provide you with something frozen,” says Swan.

Some questions to ask: When was the last fish delivery? Has the fish been frozen before?įresh fish is typically frozen before it makes its way to customers and sometimes right after it's been caught from the sea. Before choosing fish at the seafood counter, you may want to ask some questions, explains Tiffany Swan, Retreat Chef and Food Scientist. Herve Malivert is the Director of Culinary Affairs at the Institute of Culinary Education.ĭo you go to the fish counter or head straight to the frozen section for fish? The answer may surprise you.

#SALMON FREEZER BURN PROFESSIONAL#

Tiffany Swan is an executive chef, food scientist, and nutritionist with 25 years of experience in professional and development kitchens. Here’s what you need to know about how long fish lasts in the freezer. This will influence the texture and flavor.

#SALMON FREEZER BURN HOW TO#

There are several things to consider before purchasing fish as well as how to package it and freeze it.

Encountered a good deal at the fish counter while doing your weekly grocery shopping and you decided to stock up? Maybe you picked up fish for several dishes for the week but then your meal plans got sidetracked and you’re not going to have a chance to cook up the salmon or halibut you purchased, so you plan to freeze it.įreezing fish is a good option to have healthy proteins available without having to plan in advance or make a last-minute trip to the supermarket.

Salmon freezer burn