Storing Fresh Fish

[HewesMan]

So after I bought some salmon from Costco, I got to thinking about how I have always stored fish. After the fish are fillet out I always keep them in a ziploc bag and put water over the fish. Well...it got me to thinking is this really necessary since grocery stored don't do it?

What do you all think? Any advantage/disadvantage?

[One Keeper]

I would advise a Foodsaver vacum sealer. Less space needed in the freezer, fish stays fresh for months, Thaws out in minutes. Good stuff.

[RHTFISH]

I would advise a Foodsaver vacum sealer. Less space needed in the freezer, fish stays fresh for months, Thaws out in minutes. Good stuff.

Ditto! Nothing beats vacuum sealing!

[tallykenj]

Which types of fish generally aren't good for freezing and eating later?

[littlejohn]

I don't like to freeze oily fish. (macks, blues, mullet, etc.) Only eat them fresh.

[HewesMan]

I know about long term storage but what about short term? Like you catch the fish on Saturday and want to eat it through the next week?

[FUTCHCAIRO]

IF WE ARE GOING TO EAT THE FISH INSIDE OF A WEEK , WE JUST PUT THEM IN A ZIP-LOCK BAG AND KEEP THEM IN THE REFRIG. IF WE PLAN TO KEEP THEM LONGER WE PUT THE FILLETS IN A ZIP-LOCK BAG AND COVER THE FILLETS WITH WATER, PRESS OUT ALL THE AIR WE CAN, THEN ZIP THE BAG SHUT, DOING IT THIS WAY WE HAVE HAD FISH KEEP FOR OVER A YEAR AND STILL BE GOOD. I MIGHT ADD THAT WE KEEP OUR FREEZER AT 10 DEGREES AND THE FISH FREEZE IN THE MATTER OF A FEW MINUTES.
PA
SEMPER FI

[onefishtwofish]

I do same as PA, but I only keep what I will eat shortly. If I have some in my freezer, I don't keep. Not even reds. I got duck and geese to eat all winter, so I don't like to load the freezer up to much.

[Rhettley]

Good question. Grocery store display their fish on ice for days, but a lot of what they do is based on presention from a marketing standpoint.

I've tried storing them in a baggy with water, in a pan with water, in a baggy with crushed ice, and just in a baggy on the shelf in the fridge. It seems like the water is the worst way to store as the fillet starts to break down faster. Treated city water vs country well water didn't seem to make any difference. Just my wild guess but I'd say I will probably next time try wrapping the fillet in cling wrap the put it in a baggy with ice in the fridge. Drain the water off and add new ice as needed.

[RCS]

The foodsaver/vacuum sealer is the best method I've found. Freezing the fish in water probably does just as good a job of keeping the fish fresh, but vacuum sealed fish are much easier to stack and store in the freezer, and they thaw much faster. I reuse my foodsaver bags as many times as I can.

[Rhettley]

I know about long term storage but what about short term? Like you catch the fish on Saturday and want to eat it through the next week?

I assume I was correct in thinking you were talking about keeping it fresh in the fridge short term until it was eaten?

Frozen is a whole different ball of wax.

[reelbad]

I think for a couple of days in the fridg is ok. I would pat the fish dry with paper towel, put in zip lock bag and store in a bowl with plenty of ice covering the bag. For the freezer, put just what you think you need in the vacum seal bags like One Keeper stated.

[reelbad]

We could all start a food exchange for our forum, If you have to much game like fish, deer, hog, etc. and need room in the freezer or it is about to expire someone else may be in need of what you have extra of. I would be glad to donate fish for your occasion if you are planning on a big event, or are just in need of extra food. I think it would be a good thing to do. What do you folks think.?

[HewesMan]

@Rhettley...you are correct...I was asking about short term.

[Rhettley]

We could all start a food exchange for our forum, If you have to much game like fish, deer, hog, etc. and need room in the freezer or it is about to expire someone else may be in need of what you have extra of. I would be glad to donate fish for your occasion if you are planning on a big event, or are just in need of extra food. I think it would be a good thing to do. What do you folks think.?

Not a bad idea. I assume as long as no money changes hands it would be legal. I always have a freezer full of venison but I don't have a single fish fillet in there right now.