Tips for Storing Fish

Storing fresh fish is rather simple and straightforward, written in this article is a few simple methods that allow you to store your fish.

Storing Fresh Fish

1. Rinse the fish with tap water and remove any organs and make sure they remove the main blood vessel that runs alongside the bone, which can be seen after removing the organs.
2. Wipe with a paper towel, wrap with waxed paper, and place it in a container and into the fridge.
3. This method could keep the fish fresh for about 2 – 3days.

Storing Smoked Fish

1. Cold-smoked fish is not cooked (not as flavorful as hot-smoked fish) and needs to be cooked before storing. It can be kept for a few days in the fridge or 3 – 4 weeks in the freezer.
2. Hot-smoked fish and fish that is salt-dried can be kept in the few days in the fridge or 3 – 4 weeks in the freezer.

Freezing

• Freezing in an ice block

1. Clean and wash fish in salted water.
2. Place the fish in a container and cover with fresh water.
3. Cover and freeze.
4. For fillets or steaks, separate them using aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
5. Cover with water and freeze.

• Freezing in layers of ice

1. Clean and wash the fish.
2. Freeze the fish unwrapped.
3. Once it is frozen, plunge the frozen fish into ice water and return to the freezer for the outer layer to freeze.
4. Repeat this process several times until it is covered with a layer of ice.
5. Once you have a layer of ice (1/8 – 1/5 inches), wrap the fish and keep in the freezer.
6. This method allows you to keep the fish up to a year.

Airtight-Wrapped Fish

1. Clean and wash the fish.
2. Carefully place the fish in a sealable freezer bag.
3. Be sure to remove all the air and seal the bag to prevent any air from reentering the bag.
4. Freeze in the freezer.

Using Lemon Juice

1. Lemon juice acts as a sterilizer for the fish which protects the fish and also adds a zesty flavor to the fish.
2. Place the fish in a bowl/container with lemon juice.
3. Let the fish sit for a while for the lemon juice to moisten the fish.
4. Turn the fish.
5. Repeat the process several times.
6. Wrap the fish and place it in a container and freeze.