Fish not tasting right

Try this. Bag some up WITH NO SALT but use normal water supply and then bag some with NO SALT and USE BOTTLED WATER (go buy a couple of gallons for this test). Put a big X on the No salt and a check mark on the no salt, different water and them. Then un-thaw the fish and see if there's a difference.

Why in the world are you soaking them in saltwater anyway?

Yes if you let the tap water sit out for a few minutes the chlorine will be gone. Also human flesh soaks chlorine up so why not fish flesh? Test your water to see how much chlorine is in it.

Saltwater doesnt have the same freezing point as water..it actually has to be cooler to freeze. Could it be they are partially thawing if the temp in your freezer rises (although still below freezing for your other products)? I agree though.. I wouldnt freeze in salt water.

I haven't checked this thread in a while so let me point out a few things:

1. I do not freeze them in salt water, I just soak them in it to remove some of the blood, they get rinsed and then frozen with enough water to cover the fillets.
2. My water and ice cubes taste fine and it is city water.
3. This funny taste only occurs every once in a while even though I do the same thing each time.
4. Fresh fish never have a bad taste so I think it is somewhere in the process.

Since my last post I started vacuum packing my crappie and will be testing the taste later this summer. I have also started using a different cooler if I have to leave them on ice for any amount of time. Thanks for all of the ideas guys.

Try thawing by soaking. Gently running cold water and continuing to change cold water over the fish as they thaw, instead of thawing in refrigerator, when ready to cook. Sorta like thawing frozen shrimp. It thaws better in cold water. Too, if you freeze in water, which is the way my granma taught me, be sure that the crappie are completely covered in water, utherwise, they will have an anmonia taste.

ive had good luck for years with this method wash filets after cleaning put them in a plastic bowl refridgerate overnight pour water out the next day rinse and put in plastic bags with water never use salt

It's the salt that makes it taste like chlorine. Salt is Sodium Chloride and it's the chloride that is the culprit easpecially when soaked in the solution for any length of time. Also, one way to remove a bad taste from fish is by soaking the fish in milk for an hour.

Keep a gallon or two uncapped jug of tap water in your house, the chlorine in the water will dissipate in a matter of hours and can be used to bag fillets. I do this for watering my indoor plants.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sac-a-lait

Also human flesh soaks chlorine up so why not fish flesh?

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How much human-steak do you have in your freezer and what's your best recipe? :eek:

I just rinse and put them a good gallon size freezer bag. I neve use salt or bag in water and I have never had a problem