How to Freeze Fish and Avoid Freezer Burn 

I flash freeze my fish right on the boat. I take a second cooler filled with ice, water, and a ton of salt. The salt in the water brings the temperature well below freezing and will freeze the fillets in about 30 minutes, maybe sooner but that was how long after that I checked on them and they were frozen solid. I just put them into ziplock bags, but I really like the idea of adding water to surround the fillets to keep out air. Well done!

Just thawed out some mackerel, frozen in water, from 8 months ago. The mackerel was perfect. The trick to thawing is a slow, controlled thaw. I place my bags of frozen fish fillets in a cooler, then cover it with ice. I do this inside my home at a room temp. of 70F. It should take about 30+ hours to thaw depending on quantity, content, etc. When you take the bags out.. the ice should fall right off the fillets in chucks, the fillets will be cripsy and flexible enough to skin, cut, etc. I keep the skin on my fish until I've thawed it, helps keep the fillets in one piece, easier to separate when thawing. For all you smarty pants our there: The freezing of any fish kills any bacteria and results in a less fishy odor. The fish is mostly water, so adding water on top does not affect flavor or consistency. Thawing in the fridge is too warm, so the inner layers will be frozen while the outer layers grow bacteria; however, most people prefer to do it this way.. its called 'pull thaw' like in restaurants.

Thank you , i wish i watched this sooner , great tip for next time , I just froze some halibut fillets, just rinced in fresh water and tried as best I could to get the air out of the bags , I'll definitely try your tips next time

After you rinse the fish wrap in saran wrap just a couple filets. Then put that in the gallon bag. The saran wrap seals enough moisture. And you can cook smaller portions rather than trying to thaw a gallon of ice fish.

Put that bag of fish and water into a tupperware or other square container to freeze it, so you end up with a rectangular block that stores with no wasted space. Run some water on the inverted tupperware to remove the frozen plastic bag, water, and fish, so you can use the plastic container for the next block of fish.

Thank you kind sir.

In the 2nd method do you want the fish to be dry or wet? And do you still rinse it in salt water first.

I have been using that first method for yrs. It works great. I use one serving size portions per bag so that I am not eating fish for days.

Can you keep your caught salmon or trout overnight on ice and fillet and freeze the next morning. For filleting do you just peel the skin off.

I use a ziplock bag, add fish. I almost fill the bag with water, then squeeze all air and water as you seal it. Allow for expansion.100% no air.🇨🇦

My mom has 23 year old fish in a bowl in her freezer. She said it's still good because it was covered with water. I'm thawing it out and it looks orange and white in most places. Will it be tasty? I hate to waste ingredients if it's going to be bad.

Smell it if it smell right eat it! but if you want to preserve fish for that long you can use oil and can it.

minnesota or Canada

I personally cyro freeze my fish..for my grand kids

How to defrost it later?

Don't recommend putting the fish in water to freeze. I tried it and when u thaw it it messes the texture of the fish and taste weird. Best way if u do t have a vacuum sealer is to Sean wrap and then foil.

Takes “dirty” fish out of container. Rinses in saltwater and puts it back in the same container.

can you freeze salmon in water too

i hate all the plastic. you can do the first one with glass Tupperware right?

Can you eat fish that have been frozen in water for a year?

No no you shouldn't freeze fish

there's no oxygen in water? guess my chemistry teacher was wrong.