Would like to know what method of freezing your fillets do you think is the best and which way will keep them longer? I vacuum seal sometimes, just aggravating locating everything.
Thanks
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Would like to know what method of freezing your fillets do you think is the best and which way will keep them longer? I vacuum seal sometimes, just aggravating locating everything.
Thanks
I have always put fillets in a zip lock bag filled with water. They will keep for a very long time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IBNFSHN
Ditto; seems to be the best method I've ever used.
Me too. freezer bag full of fillets and water.
I vacume seal, just let the fillets stiffen a lil in the freezer first
I am thinking about getting a vacumm sealer. Will somebody please tell me the pro's and con's of a vaccum sealer.
aka"Rag Fly Jig Man"
Hey you guys using bags and water must not of had one bust or leak and found it the next day...WOW...You talk about a MESS. For me that happened long ago and I gave up bags QUICK. I save all my 1 gal milk or water jugs. When I want to freeze fish, I just cut the top part of the jug off (just the top 3-4 inches, making a kinda tupperware bowl. I then fill it up with fillets and then FILL UP WITH WATER, allowing 2-3" of water to go over the fish-thereby protecting the fish and also having it frozen in a BLOCK OF ICE. When I thaw them out I throw the container away. Works great I can add water if needed. Much stronger than bags. JMO. If the power goes out they will last longer as they are a block of ice, and the container protects the the water from leaking out.
Cool Whip containers and the like work well too.Quote:
Originally Posted by sac-a-lait
I vacuum seal now and love it. Takes up a whole lot less room and I can easily tell how much fish is in the bag. I have a small food scale I use when throwing fillets in the bag. I've gotten it down and can seal several pounds of fish in about 5 minutes.
You don't need one of those big fancy sealers either. Buy the cheapo one and some generic bags.
I have a Tillia, but I guess it just how moch you wanna spend.
PROS:
1: you can use it for bulk meats, blanched garden produce.
2: keeps food fresh longer
3: bags take up less room
4: easy to label
5: make bags to whatever size you need
6: they have vacume seal containers also
CONS:
1: bags are a but pricey (I buy the rolls and make my bags)
2: inital cost is a bit expensive
You may want to keep this in mind: POWER OUTAGES.
Fillets froze in water will stay that way much longer than without water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gone fishin'
Good point! That's the way I do it buy hadn't thought of that.
fill gallon bag with fillets, add water then lay flat and squeeze all of air out and most of water. they lay flat and can stack 10 high in freezer
Hey DTG...I can promise you, if one of those fish bags bust you will NEVER....EVER...Stack them up like that. I'm trying to save some people some agony. I personally think plastic bags are THE WORST WAY YOU CAN GO for FREEZING fish!!!
When I do use a bag I have a bucket of water at the table and as I fill the bag I keep it in the water bucket and sink it to top off the bag and therefore have no air in the bag.Quote:
Originally Posted by DTG
I lay my bags in a bowl or pan until they freeze, never had a problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by sac-a-lait
yea i have a pan in my beer, I mean shop fridge thats in the top freezer for any busted bag incident
I have one of those vacuum food saver things. It dates back to when they first came out; do not remember when, like early 90's. It is the top of the line model. Some bags hold the vacuum some do not. Never could figure out why some bags lose there vacuum. I do not know if the new models are any better. I use water in plastic zip bags and I do not trust the cheap brand.
Try freezing the fillets just a little before vac sealing. I think your prob lies in that the water on the fillets is being pulled (sucked) across the heat strip preventing a good seal.Quote:
Originally Posted by WhitePerchJerker
I know what you are talking about. I do freeze before I vacuum pack. It does seal better. I have tyied a lot of different things including calling the company. They sent me a hold new lot of bags, did not help.Quote:
Originally Posted by stinkies daddy
Freeze in bags of h20, squeeze the air out and lay flat in a pan untill frozen.
Double bag any that leak while freezing.
They will stack nicely after freezing flat.
Flat bags thaw out beter than round.
I have had the water hurt the seal so I too pat the fillets dry then freeze a bit before I put them in the vacum bags. I had my freezer plugged into the wrong out let once and the circuit breaker popped. i didnt find this out till after my two week vacation. Talk about a time bomb when I got back. I know I run the chance of losing the fillets if the power goes out but I need the room in the freezer. I used the vacum sealer when I went to Iraq also BIG mistake when I tried to come back threw customs and had to open all those bags. I had just enough room in my duffle before I broke open the bags but when they were open I had a heck of a time re-packing.Quote:
Originally Posted by WhitePerchJerker
i use the 3 lb margarine containers for freezing my fish, i have a chest freezer in basement that i use only for fish so i stack them in there and they last forever, i just fill bout 3/4 way with fillets then fill it to top with water
I freeze mine in bags as well.
My fillets never get frozen the same day. I soak them in icewater in the fridge for a day then ziploc with fresh water. really helps with the stronger fish (whitebass/bass/cat).
I package mostly for meals. usally about 6 to 8 fillets per bag. Notice the vaccum packer NOT being used ,lol
I bag my filets and never had a Glad Zip Lok bust. Whole cleaned fish get the cutoff mik jug and water routine. Sometimes whole fish will bust or the fins will tear a zip lock then you have a mess. When using bags never fill them completely full allow room for the water to expand as it freezes.