Fish fillet storage???

[ozzie]

Here is a question for all of you that fish and keep a little to eat later. How long can you let a fillet sit in the fridge before it goes bad? I don't like to freeze fish very much so after fishing I clean them and stack the fillets in a bag (no water) and for the next week I will cook up a few at a time. I have had them in there for a week but never go longer what are your thoughts and when do you know when a fillet has gone bad?? Thanks in advance!!

[Walleye Guy]

Generally I will freeze the filets if i am not going to eat them within 48 hours. In the freezer I know they are going to stay good and the chance of them absorbing any other refrigerator smells is eliminated.

[Tyler Holm]

I don't know squat about how long they will last, but I know my grandparents and wife would never eat fish that has sat in the fridge more than about 2 days. I usually freeze all my stuff. I wouldn't stretch the limits anymore than you already have (unless somebody with more professional knowledge than I says so).

[Kab Dreamin]

I never used to be big on freezing fish until I bought a food saver vacuum sealer. They are pretty slick units and they eliminate all freezer burn. We had some walleye a couple of weeks ago that I caught in November of 2004 and it was like eating fresh fish.

[Guest]

I freeze fish in Ziplocs full of water. No freezer burn.

[NE angler]

Best way is either like skindog said or vacuum seal. Fish that goes to restaurants and the freezer section of your grocery store get a water mist glaze on them then blast frozen very quickly - keeps out the freezer burn. Normal self life we tell cutomers is 6 months but if you use the above methods you can get one year out of them. The higher the fat content(i.e.Catfish) in the fish the less time you can freeze it since they will get rancid much quicker and have a off taste. Fattier fish cut that time in half.

[sakazulu]

I always go with the water in a ziploc freezer bag but I try to work all the air out that last half inch before I finish the "zip". Year old fish I thaw out and place in milk for about 8 hours in the fridge and then batter and deep fry. The wife even will eat 'em! Always the Norten and Smalians left for this meal. The Food Saver system is the "bomb" and will now use this for long term storage.

[Kaz]

I vote for the Food Saver.. I have one large one and a smaller version, got a deal at Fleet Farm, that I can take with me on trips to Alaska. Salmon fillets stay very good for a year when vacume packed and flash frozen daily... Walleye are tasty up to a year too, but they never last that long... I can't say enough about the Food Saver and how it has extended the great eating of my catches.... Kaz

[Animal]

My fish either go from floppin to frying or I freeze them. I use freezer bags, push the air out and then cover with foil. I just ate a laker Icaught last January and it was almost like fresh. For some reason this method doesn't work well for muskie..........or eagle meat.

[Mike89]

Ozzie, time to start using the sealer you have!!! I also freeze mine in water in freezer bags. But I do use my sealer to. coming up anytime soon Ozzie? Mike

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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push the air out and then cover with foil.

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What does the foil do?

[BLACKJACK]

When you guys use your Food Saver, how do you keep from sucking liquid into your food saver? Bigger bag? Paper towel in the bag?

[Bobby Bass]

Another vote for the food saver, works well. I also use my food saver to store paint brushes and rollers in between jobs the wife puts her foot down as far as storing them in the fridge.... If I am going to eat fish in the next day or so I will wash and place in a bowl, cover with tinfoil then cover the tinfoil in ice. Was given that tip by a cheif who said the key is to keep the meat well chilled.

[Animal]

PierBridge

I have no idea. However, I've used this method for years with great sucess.

Animal

[Jeremy airjer W]

I would vote for five days in the fridge. I know that a week is two long. Once your fish smells like fish its too late.

You need a vacuum sealer! I have a food saver and can't imagine not having it. The trick to meats and fish is to freeze it first. I usually put whatever it is in the bag then stick the bag in the freezer before I seal it, let it freeze overnight, then vacumm seal it. No juices to worry about.

The last thing to remember is to open the bag, release the vacumm, before you thaw out the meat. If you forget your hamburger might end up tasting like sawdust!

[Guest]

I use to freeze in a ziplock or 1/2 gallon paper carton and fill with water,no freezer burn.I bought a vaccumm sealer and you cant beat it.Use it for almost all wildlife.Great for venison.

[ozzie]

Hey guys thanks for the replies!!! Looks like I need to get one of these vacuum sealers...but I don't like to freeze fish cause you loose the flavor but the way it sounds vacuum sealers keep the taste. I have kept fish in the fridge up to a week and they have yet to go bad but I always am skeptical on if I am pushing the limits but the other day a great trick I found was before I cooked them I let the fillets soak in water for 15 mins or more and fried them up and they were very moist inside yum!!!!!

Mike89- I have only been to Osakis once this past winter so I believe you have me mistaken for another person......but if the invite is open I will be come up again if you are willing to show me some tips to that lake cause it was hard fishing there this winter!!!

[Fishing-Around]

The misses and I picked up the new one out there "game pro" and it has a little tray that the bag end goes in. It collects all thw water, merinade ect.. then you just pull it out and throw it in the dish washer.. works great!! It would be difficult to get water in the vacume part of the machine.

[Mike89]

Ozzie, I know some one else buy that name so I'm sorry. But as the other Ozzie knows, our place is always a good place to stop. where are you located? mike

[Bobby Bass]

Foil. Air will go through most plastic wrap that is why foil is used as another layer and or freezer paper. Paper is nice because you have something to write on.

[SCUMFROG]

Food Saver, I can't live with out it now..

[Big Bobber]

Where can I purchase the "Game Pro" machine?

Thanks

[SCUMFROG]

Do a search on line for food saver. I'm sure the site will give you a list of places to buy them.