What's your fillet formula?

Just thought I'd bounce this around and get everyone's feedback. When I bag fillets, I write the number of fillets in each bag on the bag itself before freezing. My thought is that, when frying, I would fry up about 10 fillets per person to ensure that I had enough.

Now obviously there are variables such as the size of the fish, appetite of a man compared to a woman or a child, what else is being served, etc., but what formula do you use to determine how much fish to thaw/fry?

Just curious ... my 10 fillets per person may not even be right. I do like to keep a few for leftovers, though. Cold fillets for breakfast, mmmmm.

i freeze 10 fillets per bag i think 10 fillets per person is way too many
probablly 3 -4 per person is plenty just my thoughts

Imwith you, LOZ. I ussually try to go with atleast 10 per person, knowing ill have some to chomp on the next couple days. I put 20 fillets in a bag along with what kind of fish, and cook 1 bag per 2 people.

ten fillets is good for a meal for 3 in my house and still have some the next day

I use the 5 fillets per person method, I will usually make sure more are on hand for left overs.

I thought I eat alot of fillets but 10 is a holelot of fish

Sometimes it depends on the number of bags I have. :)

Mike
"Jackpot"

i have fed a lot of people but abput 1 and 1/2 pounds per person is about right.
My wife and i eat a lot of fish and i bag 8 fillets in a bag that is enough for 2 people with some left over if you serve with potatoes hush puppies and beans. that is plenty so 4 fillets are plenty per person.
if you serve 10 they had better be very small fillets or you will have a lot of waste. Thats 5 whole fish per person.

I agree with Sticko. You can alway take two packs out if need be. I do not put up with wasted fish, or food.

I bought a small food scale for vacuum sealing large quantities of fish. (unfortunately I haven't had to use it lately!) I try to get a little over a pound in each bag. That way it's easy to thaw out as much as you need for any size meal. Makes it easy to use your fish in recipes also.

I just "wing it". No formula involved

I probably put 20 per bag and all I really ever mark the bag with is the date so they have a first-in, first out rotation in the freezer. As for how many to thaw, again I wing it. I look at how many people I'm serving and look at the bags and just sort of give it the old "that looks about right" guess. I always guess on the side of having too much so we can have leftovers, and we always do.

Same here. Leftovers mean crappie sandwiches for lunch the next day.:D

When freezing (fillets or whole fish) I just hold up what I think I'll eat plus a couple, then the wife, my girl, and my son. Then I'll add a few more cause I like the cold fish the next day as well as I like the fresh fried ones that nite. None goes to waste at my house even though they usually arent all eaten at that one meal. BTW, when it comes to fried fish we usually gorge ourselves on them. :D

I put mine up in one pound and three pound bags. That way I can take out one lb for the wife and I. Or mix them to feed a lot.
Pete

I bag them in ziplocks with water. Write the qty, date, and type of fish on the bag. I always seem to thaw too much for one meal but always enjoy the leftovers. Exception is at deer hunting camp, never any leftovers there. Usually figure six pieces per person plus a few extra.
I have started using a vacuum sealer on venison and might try it on fish next.

We used to freeze 10 fillets to a bag but lately we freeze 2 lbs of fillets to a bag.

I like to put 10 fillets per bag, just about right for me,wife and son, and take out another bag per every 3 folks coming to eat. Always put month/year and what body of water caught from. We have a slight warning on fish caught from Miss River chutes and stuff and recommend not eating more than 1 to 2 times a month and most fish caught from Sardis or reelfoot don't have warning, just like to know where i'm eating from. Only keep crappie when fishing so no need to put species.

I bag mine by weight. At least 1lb. per pack.(depending on the total weight) I use the double seal freezer bag in the qt. size. I use a felt marker to write the type, weight, and mo/yr of the fish. I fill the bag about half full of water then the fillets, squeese out air and excess water, lay in freezer 1 layer until frozen.

Last cookin I had, there were 16 people. I write how many fillets are in the bag before freezing, and I count 6 per person. Then add 6 more just in case. Everyone saw the fish and said "man, your gonna have leftovers for sure". Then they tasted em and well, all is well that ends well.

Next day leftovers are great! LOL

three-eighths of a pound, per person, is just about perfect. that is plenty of meat to go with some fritters,potatoes,ear of corn. most of you will get a leftover enough for a sandwich. go by weight, not number of fillets, cuz the size varies too much to go by number, i think. just my .02 ND

I count 'em out as I bag 'em for the 4 in my family. I'll lay a few out and say that'll be enough for that person, then another and another. Once i'm finished I'll add a few more to make sure there's a few left on the back of the stove for watching TV that night. I always cook more than needed but none ever go to waste, even if I eat on 'em the next day. We NEVER throw fried fish away. They get eaten.

I freeze in 3 lb & 1 lb plastic coffee cans and 3 lb margarine tubs. Just me & Mama here so the 1 lb can gets automaticly considered as Meal 42 (for two)
on freezer tape on lid. Bigger containers get Meal 43 or 44.
I also freeze more than that many, will eat for leftovers.
Works for us.

4 fillets should be enough unless you have some power eaters or something---we have cooked for fifty folk and with plenty of other sides we have never run out of fish

i write the number and date. But I don't use bage, I use 1 gal left over water or milk jugs. I cut the top open, slip in my filets and then some water and I'm ready to go to the freeze at that point. The old milk or water jug act as tupperware bowl. I used to use bags but after one leaked into my freezer NEVER again. once these freeze, they stack nicely.

i use old butter containers.. the 3 lb ones like shedds spread and do the same put in fillets add water and date

I just fill a quart bag full.They always get eat!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HEMPHILLCREEK-1

I just fill a quart bag full.They always get eat!

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Same here...just fill it till its full...have one of those machines that sucks all the air out and then it seals it (use it for sweet corn and peppers). Haven't tried it for crappie but plan on doing it this winter some.