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[eddy]

I normally fillet the fish and then vacuum pack and freeze it.
After months in the freezer, I notice some discoloration, especially in the sockeyes and red springs.
How do you freeze store your fish?

[TrophyHunter]

Normally I do the same as you as long as I will be eating it whithin a few months, I have heard that you can freeze the whole fish in water and it will keep for extended periods of time, not sure if this actually works as I have never tried it
TH

[bbronswyk2000]

I do it the same way. Even vacuum sealed fish will eventually go bad.

[Nicole]

I vaccum seal mine... Just finished the last of the sockeye from the summer, and we now have about 4 coho left, and a 1/4 of a steelhead...

When sealing, do your best to get as much of the surface area in contact with the plastic as you can... I move around the filet after sealing to work any remaining air to one side. That way in 5 months you can easily trim off the freezer burned part... There will always bee some sort of damage if left that long...

The freezing in milk cartons is supposed to work very well.

Also, the natives freeze them guts in, and clean them when they thaw... that keeps the body cavity from being burned.

However, if not vaccum sealed as well, you'll see freezer burn actually prenetrating the skin, a few millimetres into the flesh.

Also, write the date of the fish on your bag, and re arrange the stock once the season is done, to put the newest stuff in the back of the freezer. If you want a premium freshie you can always go to the back, but at least you'll be encouraged not to waste fish when you discover the only fish left are the old burnt ones in the back.

Cheers,
Nicole

[mastercaster]

I do the same thing Nicole does, date, etc. but every year I vacuum one each of coho, sockeye, small spring, a pink if an odd yr. guts and all so that I can dissect them in my grade 5 class when we do the salmonid unit.  There's less freezer burn and the flesh is pretty much as good as it can get when freezing.  The only problem of doing it this way is it takes up far more room in your freezer.

When I do it the "fillet" way I trim off quite a bit of the stomach because that's where a lot of the stored fat is and fat goes rancid after awhile even in the freezer and gives the fish that fishy taste.  Surprisingly though, every time my son raids the freezer of older fish and bar-b-ques it up they they tell him it's the best fish they've ever eaten.  Of course their pallets aren't on par with people who get to enjoy fresh wild fish right out of the river, lake, or ocean.

[kingpin]

i just use a big zip loc bag like FF and put as many peices as possible and seal it and get as much air out as possible last a long time but all good things come to an end right

[cohokid]

i prefer a very intersting method, i take the fish, chop its head off, then put it in a black grabage bag. I then put it in the freezer as is. work wonders fresh for at least 2 years.

[stlhd4ever]

i prefer a very intersting method, i take the fish, chop its head off, then put it in a black grabage bag. I then put it in the freezer as is. work wonders fresh for at least 2 years.

come on now , other than flash freezing, vacuum sealing is the next best for freezing. And you might just get 2 years out of that. A black garbage bag no chance.

[DaN ThE MaN]

I've also cut some of my salmon into steaks but them in a freezer ziplock and filled it with water and a wedge of lemon. Lasted a while and stayed fresh. You have to make sure your freezer is really cold or it will take a long time to freeze the water, then your fish will become water logged.

[Geff_t]

I have been vacuume freezing my fish for years. Garanteed too last for 3 years mind you we always eat ours before the next season. Other methods (except flash freezing) last maybe 6 months. Invest in a half decent vacuum seal unit usually around $100 on sale and you will not be sorry.

[stlhd4ever]

I think 3 years is pushing it fly guy. I've had freezer burn just shy of 2 years.

[BladeKid]

I wrap my fillets in saran wrap about 3 times then do a double layer of that freezer king brown paper.... I find this works really well. If its a smaller i will put it in a large Freeser zip loc and fill it up with water till the fish is under water then freeze it that way.. Never had a problem with any of my fish, I just finished teh fish i Had form last year and it tasted awesome

thats exactly what i do

[DionJL]

Saran Wrap, Newspaper, Saran Wrap. Works good for me, but I never have enough fish to last me past january.

[cohokid]

i prefer a very intersting method, i take the fish, chop its head off, then put it in a black grabage bag. I then put it in the freezer as is. work wonders fresh for at least 2 years.

come on now , other than flash freezing, vacuum sealing is the next best for freezing. And you might just get 2 years out of that. A black garbage bag no chance.

The black doesnt allow it to get freezer burnt for some odd reason. Fish tastes fresh everytime

[dennisK]

You DO realize that black garbage bags have chemicals coated on them which come off on food. I'm taking a wild guess here, but I don't think the chemicals are intended for human consumption since we are talking about garbage bags which are not regulated as being food safe.

Just my 2 cents, but you're young so you could proly wrap fish up radioactive aluminum foil and still be sort of ok.