View Full Version : keeping fillets fresh
how do i keep fillets fresh, i was told to freeze them in camper freezer in a ziplock with water but it seemed to make them "rubbery". any better way? thanks in advance
water_wolf
06-22-2001, 12:46 PM
vacuum seal....keeps em fresh up to 2 years. I have done bullheads with ziplock bags & water when I was up home for the weekend once last year, and my parents dont have vacuum sealer. Freezing in water worked well but no comparison with vac seal.
Rich Ferguson
My buddies and I are into the Hook and Cook method. We always just keep 1 or 2 fish apiece, that way theres never any left to worry about...Mama fry them in a pan...Baby eat them like a man.
I found this somewhere, can't remember where.
FREEZING YOUR WALLEYE Fish tastes best when it's fresh. The Lindy pros encourage anglers to keep just enough for a meal and release the rest.
However, if you do plan to freeze some fish, here's a great tip, courtesy of the Food Science Department of North Carolina State University.
Stir one envelope of unflavored gelatin into a mixture of one-quarter cup of lemon juice and 1 ¾ cups of cold water. Place the mixture on a low heat, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved. Dip the fillets in the mixture, shake off the excess and place in plastic freezer bags.
The protective dip provides an air-tight glaze that prevents freezer burn. According to the experts at North Carolina State, fish can be frozen for six months to a year when protected by this dip.
The vacuum bag machines (around $100, I think) do the best job I've ever seen. Found some fillets in back of the freezer from two seasons back, and they were as good as if they were frozen yesterday.
Hans
Gumbo
06-23-2001, 07:27 AM
Is is worth it to get the more expensive models? Or is the cheaper one adequate? I've been thinking of getting one. Thanks.
I didn't know there were different price levels.
The one we have cost about $100, and it works great. Has a vacuum pump which evacuates the air and free moisture, then seals the bag.
Don't know what else you'd get for more money.
Han
ristorapper
06-23-2001, 11:47 AM
Poor mans way:
I like to dry all my fish on paper towels before I put them in freezer zip type lock bags before tossing them in the freezer. Now you will know why.
Place the fillet in the baggy, zip the freezer baggy half closed, insert a straw and zip the baggy all the way closed except for the straw. Now suck all the air out through the straw and slowly pull out the straw while ziping the baggy shut. Don't forget to pat dry those fillet, that juice in the bottom don't taste so good: but you really don't have to insert the straw all the way down to the bottom BUT when you get all or most of the air out, you might get a taste!!
I then wrap the fillet inside the baggy in freezer paper. This will keep reasonable well for up to a year.
My neighbor complains about the price of bags for those vacuum seal machines so don't think that just the cost of the machine is expensive. The bags are specialy made so that air can be completely sucked out so that they do their purpose. He charged his hunting guide for the baggies when we sealed up some fish fillet for him so you know they are expensive; but so then are hunting guides I guess!! Check out the price of the bags before you buy the machine.
BW(ND)
WAeyes
06-23-2001, 04:03 PM
Curt, what do you mean by rubbery? Before cooked or after cooked? I freeze my fillets in water in a ziplock freezer bag, but if there is an obvious better way, I'm all for it. For you guys that are vaccuum packing, is it a noticeable difference in quality of taste?
> For you guys that are vaccuum
> packing, is it a noticeable
> difference in quality of taste?
Yes, it is DRAMATICALLY and noticeably better, plus the fillets last much longer than any other freezing method I've ever seen.
There are a lot of cheaper methods, but my fillets are too important for "cheaper".
Hans
Mike1700
06-23-2001, 06:20 PM
Wal Mart has the "Food Saver" vaccuum sealer that you see on TV for $100.00. My family got one this year and they are the slickest things ever. Just dry off the fillets, seal them up and then wrap them in freezer paper. I will never go back to any other way of packaging fillets. Once you have the machine The extra cost for bags is worth it. Whats $10.00 on top of a $1,000 fishing trip.
Tennessee Jed
06-23-2001, 09:08 PM
You were cracking me up! I'm thinking I'd give up the beer for a while and use the money for the vaccum machine.
One taste of raw walleye juice would be one too many for me!
Lundy
06-24-2001, 04:34 AM
Ditto to the food saver vacum sealer
FireTiger(dr)
06-24-2001, 07:30 AM
Got one , Get one
Jeffro
06-24-2001, 08:40 AM
Dennis,
Yes, spend the extra money. I returned three of the least expensive models because they quit working after the third or fourth use. The most expensive model has a stronger vacuum and operates easier. One tip on packaging fish- Be sure to pat it dry before sealing so as not to suck any moisture into the vacuum motor.
Jeff
Downers Grove, IL