Ive always frozen my crappie in ziplocs filled with water. Has anyone had much experience using a vaccuum sealing for crappie? My refrigerator has a small freezer and I was wondering if vaccuum sealing is just as good?
Ive always frozen my crappie in ziplocs filled with water. Has anyone had much experience using a vaccuum sealing for crappie? My refrigerator has a small freezer and I was wondering if vaccuum sealing is just as good?
The best method I have heard was to freeze the fillets and mist with water from a spray bottle to form an ice film. Then vacuum seal. I have not done any fish. I have done beef and chicken, and vegetables. It does draw a lot of the blood and juice out of a steak. They still cook up fine.
I still freeze mine in water
You can put a paper towel in with the fillets in your vac sealer bag. It grabs all the moisture and prevents it from getting sucked up into your vac sealer. Makes a great seal every time and easy to do.
Went from water bags to vacuumed seal a long time ago. Fish stay fresher and really reduces clutter for storage in freezer. I rinse mine and pat dry before sealing. Some prefer to partially freeze on cookie sheet before sealing.
How long have you had them keep for?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cray
in bags with water here. I do way too many to fool with the vac. that thing usually only comes out for deer season or smoked salmon batches.
I vacuum mine, Have keep fish up to 1.5yrs. And they are still good.
Ice glaze them...lay the fillets out on a cookie sheet , freeze for 2 hour, then dip them in ice water to form an ice glaze, then drop them in a ziplock bag for your freezer.The fillets will be individually coated in ice. The beauty of this is, you don't have to thaw out a whole bag of fish, just grab what you need for your fish fry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly4panfish
I bag mine and lay flat in the freezer for 2 1/2 - 3 hours prior to vacuum sealing, eliminates the juice being sucked during sealing and causing poor seals.
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Good ideaQuote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy1
I lay fillets on a towel and fold it over and press to remove excess liquid. Vacuum seal and they last at least two years for me.
Dry breading,Cookie sheet,freezer, vaccum packed. Grab a packed of fish,pry the fillets apart with a butter knife in to the pan or fat fryer still froze.Freezer to the plate in twenty minutes.
That is fast.
You sir are a genius! I like this better than packing my fillets in bags with paper towels. I'll use your method from now on!Quote:
Originally Posted by usafret99
I use the ziplock bag and water method, had fish get lost in the freezer for over 2 years and still were like fresh fish. A method to store multiple quart bags is to drink a lot of beer and save the 12 pack carton, then use the carton cut in half , you can get 4 or 5 bags in one depending on how much water or fish you put in. I mark the outside of the carton with date and what kind of fish. The bags just come to the top of the box and make storage a lot better
My “Pop” used to freeze crappie in ½ gallon cardboard milk cartons. He’d save them up, and when he caught fish he would place the fillets in the carton, top it off with water and put it in the freezer
You can vacuum seal using a 5 gallon bucket and freezer bags . Fill bag and slide down the bucket wall . The air will be forced out of the bag . Zip it shut and you are complete .I find this or water works well . I bought a small freezer for deer /fish or the vacuum would be my choice . Water takes up space but vacuum seal to me does not improve taste . I also put up fish to have 2 times a month for three people and over a 5 yr. study I need no more than 75 crappie a year along with 75 bream 50 Catfish . Those females that spend a spring in a freezer is bad management . :twocents
I’ve used those screw top plastic containers for about 10 years now. Put your fillets in, rinse and fill with water. Leave an inch of head space so they don’t pop open when they freeze. Always worked out good and they stack up nice In the freezer. I did however buy a food saver that I’ve been using for everything else and I’m going to try it with fish this spring.
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Sir I liked your last sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle 1
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