FoodSaver

[CAMOMAN]

Going to be heading to Canada for a week long trip and was wondering about using a Foodsaver for keeping the fillets fresh. Need to keep a 1" patch of skin on the fillets and was wondering if using a Foodsaver will help keep the 'fishy' taste off of the meat. Last time we just froze fillets in zip locks for transport, then thawed, cleaned up and froze in water when we got home. Thanks for any input.

[Surface Tension]

If you package them in water and ziplock or vacuum pack them and freeze right away you should be fine. I dont like fish sitting in a bag with the skin on unfrozen. For identification purposes freeze them flat and not stacked with one fish(2 fillets) per bag.

[NateEboy-1]

I have been using a food sealer for years and I can't understand why more people don't use them. They are the ultimate for freezing fish. The small patch of skin will not make the fillets taste fishy and do not add any water to the bag. Lay your fillets flat in meal size portions so the skin can be seen and the fillets can be counted. Freeze them and don't let them thaw out on the trip home. Your fillets will stay fresh for 2 years. I just had a package of crappies that got lost in the freezer from march 2000 and they had no freezer burn. Ken

[IFallsRon]

Most grocery stores offer salmon packaged in vaccum-sealed bags. It's the air inside that leads to freezer burn and fuzz. Best to quick-freeze the packs, too. I use an Extreme Cooler to transport. These coolers will keep cubes for five days in 90-degree heat.

[BarryG]

I agree with Nate. They are great for preventing freezer burn! Thats the only way I freeze fish or meat anymore.

[The Chemist]

Good luck trying to vacuum seal them in bags if you are leaving water in the bag. Unless there is a trick that I don't know about it always seems to suck any liquid out of the bag.

[HOGEYE]

I don't know it to be possible to vacum seal a bag with water in it. A good trick is to put a folded paper towel in front of wet fish before sealing. The towel will soak up the water before it fauls the seal.

[CAMOMAN]

I think we are gonna give the Foodsaver a shot this year. In the past, we have frozen up there with no water - 2 fillets per bag, flat beside each other. Would then thaw, clean up and freeze in water when we got home. I think we will plan to use the Foodsaver and freeze one time while on the trip without using the water. Thanks for the input... Camo