Thawing Fish

[Craigums]

Ive got a bag full of walleyes that froze on me before I could bring them back and fillet them. My questions is, What is the best way to thaw these unfilleted fish so that I can cut them up? I was thinking about just heating the garage to 50*F and letting them sit out, or soaking them in cool or warm water for 30-60 minutes, or letting them sit in a refridgerator for a couple days...

Also, Once Im able to get these fish filleted is it ok to refreeze them until I'm ready to use them? Ive got about a dozen and don't feel like fish tonight.

Thanks,

Craig

[MJ1657]

I bring mine in the house and run some water on them in my laundry room wash tub when they are froze.

It is fine to re-freeze them.

[Spearing Machine]

Put them in a sink with warm water or a bucket, leave them warm up and thaw out, fillet, refreeze. Do it all the time and never have any problems.

[croixflats]

Set them in a bucket inside until they are partially thawed then fillet then freeze the fillets in water. Shouldn't take long to thaw out. I wait till I can bend the fish with little bit of force. I find it easier to fillet a fish partially frozen.

[Zelmsdawg]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think its best to run or let soak with cold water, not warm? I'll be interested in others opinions as this happens to me from time to time and if theres a better way to do it, I'd like to know.

Zelmsdawg

[eyebjim]

I leave them in cold water til almost thawed. You don't have to deal with as much excessive slime if they are still partially froze when filleting.

[HookEmHard84]

I thaw mine in cold water too. Altough I have no evidence backing up the benefits, I was taught that they should be kept as cold as possible till you cook them. I'm sure its fine with warm water though.

[LightningBG]

Cold water here too. For thawing anything I use cold water, preferably running water (just a trickle). The running water keeps the overall bucket or sink at 40 degrees or whatever the tap come out at, with stagnant water, the bucket will get right down near freezing temp and slow the process.

[JoeR67]

Hope you've got 2 licenses for those 12 walleye.

Just sayin.

[traveler]

It's been my experience that the warm water turns to cold water pretty quick when you put the frozen fish in! Bit I usually just let mine thaw on the table on newspaper...no water at all.

Once they're somewhat pliable, a good rubdown with newspaper removes most of the slime. Filet..eat or freeze.

[reinhard1]

the best way to thaw out anything is to plan ahead and put what you want thawed out in the fridge and have a slow thaw. i know other ways are faster, but may not be the right way to do it. just sayin. good luck.

[big_walleye22]

Do not thaw in warm water, you will start to cook the fish, cool running water or cool water in the fridge is best

[Hookey]

I vote for cold water then filet when they start to bend easy then refreeze.

You will have a bit of slime to deal with might I suggest you try using corrugated cardboard as a filet board you will be amazed how much slime it will soak up and it beats the heck out of using news paper or slippery plastic. Just try it once you will be sold !

[reinhard1]

one thing about fish. they should never be refrozen. catch or buy and freeze. never freeze, thaw and then decide to prepare them later and freeze again. not a good thing to do. just sayin. good luck.

[herefish101]

Thaw them in the sink in cold water. So long as the fish were frozen right away you'll be fine to fillet them and refreeze, but if the fish spent time in a bucket in a warm shack then they were frozen, then you'll want to thaw them out, fillet them, and eat them, or refridgerate and eat soon.