Fish is one delicious meat since it has a delicate flavor and cooks into fine white meat. On the other hand, it has a relatively low shelf life which means people need to store the fish properly or simply freeze it. But again, does freezing fish ruin it? In the article below, we are sharing more details on the matter!
Does Freezing The Fish Ruin It?
No, freezing the fish doesn’t ruin it, as long as you are using the correct storage and freezing methods. Keep in mind that frozen fish will be ruined if you just toss it into the freezer. So, in the section below, we have mentioned the right freezing methods.
1. Vacuum Sealing
To begin with, you have to remember that air is the biggest enemy of fish, and if the package has some air bubbles, the texture and flavor of the fish will be ruined. For this reason, you should opt for vacuum-sealing when you’ve to freeze the fish. It means you have to invest in the vacuum sealer (it’s actually a handy kitchen tool, especially if you are big on freezing food).
2. Glazing
This is another secure method of freezing the fish, particularly if you have fresh fish. For this purpose, you have to dip the fish in cold water and place it on the sheet pan. Then, place the sheet pan in the freezer and wait for the water to freeze. After this, pull out the fish, dip in freshwater again, and place it in the freezer (yes, in the sheet pant). You have to keep repeating the method until the fish has ¼ inches of glaze on the fish. Then, just toss fish into the plastic bag, date it, and put it in the freezer. Honestly, it is time-consuming, but it helps preserve the texture and flavor of the fish.
3. Wrapping
Wrapping is the third way of freezing the fish. For this purpose, you only need the plastic shrink wrap and wrap it around the fish as tight as possible. Once the fish is wrapped in the shrink wrap, put them in the freezer bag and try to remove air before you seal the bag. Once done, just write the date on the bag and freeze it.
Let us tell you that writing down the date is essential to ensure you don’t use fish after too long (shelf life is important). This is because, after a certain period, the flavor and texture will start deteriorating, even if you have used the correct freezing methods. So, date the bags, and you will be able to keep track of the fish’s freshness.
Shelf Life Of Frozen Fish
If you use the correct freezing method for fish, it will stay fresh for around six months. However, keep in mind that salmon and trout can only be frozen for three months. On the other hand, if you are freezing some fatty fish, the texture will be changed, but the flavor will remain intact (it will be fine for pasta and fish cake).