food saver vacuum sealers

[aurora]

does anyone use one of these? i got one a couple of years ago and i have been using it to package fish fillets. i took some fish out of the freezer recently that were vacuumed sealed, probably for around six months. i noticed that they had an awful odor and they certainly didn't taste very good at all. Also, about one out of every five bags loses its vacuum. i have eaten fish that have been vacuumed sealed before but for only a couple of months. Anyone have any ideas about what is going on?
thanks

[Virg]

I also have a vaccum sealer I found the same thing on fish if you
donot fat them dry before you seal the juice will pump up to the seal and it will not do the job hope this helps.

Virg

[Virg]

I also have a vaccum sealer I found the same thing on fish if you
do not pat them dry before you seal the juice will pump up to the seal and it will not do the job hope this helps.

Virg

[charlie k]

I've used one for a couple of years and have noticed a couple things;

1 - Only use the HEAVY guage plastic for making bags. Food saver brand seems to work best.

2 - Visually verify before freezing that you do indeed have a good seal. I've had to re-seal a seam several times on the same bag before to get a good, air tight seal.

3 - Put a rolled up paper towel above the fish, just below the final seal. This absorbs liquid when pulling the vaccuum and helps get a better seal.

Following these 3 things, I've frozen fish in excess of 1 year and still been happy with the results.

Good luck - Charlie (skipjack)

[aurora]

thanks for the advice. i just opened some more tonight and had the same problem. the fillets seemed to have taken on a yellow color and smell almost like pickeled herring. i try to use a minimal amount of water to clean the fillets so the packeage would seal better. maybe i'm not washing them thoroughly or something, i don't know. its pretty depressing to have to throw six nice fillets away. thanks for help

[BobEaton1]

I have one and just love it. At the start I had the same problems but my tournament partner told me the secret is to set the open bag of fish in the freezer over night and seal the bag the next day. No water and no air in the bag and the seal is perfect every time. Tried it and what a differance. Fresh fish a year later. Works for me hopefully it will for you.
Bob
Omaha,NE

[Lunker]

Don't know what's up with your vacuum sealer but here's what I do instead. I just drop my fish filets in a zip lock, fill it with water, force any air out and zip it closed. This prevents freezer burn and I've kept fish, grouse, chicken breasts and other food items for months and months without getting any freezer burn or odors at all.

[Kevin B]

Ditto with Lunker's post.

[rabble rouser]

What I do with fish is put them, about 3#, in a cardboard half gallon milk carton. Fill it with water, till it covers the fish, and freeze it. The fish taste, just like they were caught, a year later. It beats plastic bags.

[Lundy]

Ditto to what BobEaton1 said except what i've found out is you
can pre freeze all night or you let it stay in till the fish is just about froze and then vacum seal.
You should'nt have any problems goin this way.
Good Luck
Lundy