what is best way to freeze fish

[jj7leaf]

I took a minute and read the filleting fish post and I remembered an issue that came up last month.
I took a package of walleye out of the freezer from this summer that was freezer burnt...  This was double bagged in freezer ziplock bags and was sealed while I held the bag under water so all air was pushed out but it still ended up with freezer burn on one side. 
I do have an older food saver vac sealer but the water on a cleaned fillet will get sucked up to the end and keep the seal heater from completely sealing the bag off so I have stopped using it for wet items. 

What is the best way to freeze fish to keep them long term?

Should I be investing in a newer vac sealer that will allow me to seal wet items better for long term storage?
If that is the best answer what models are fool proof for fish and other wet items.

jason

[HIMO]

lay a piece of folded paper towel across the opening of the bag just below the seal point and it will absorb the moisture. I always double seal. after the initial vac and seal, flip the dial to seal only and put another seal on the bag. just a handy tip.

                                                                              HIMO
                                                              Iceshanty & MFF Global Moderator

[addicted to ice fishing]

Freeze them in water.  Cover the fillets wirh water, but allow enough room for expansion.  Frozen this way, the fillets will keep for over a year.

[Raquettedacker]

I find the best way to freeze fish is put the fillets in a ziplock bag and  fill with water and freeze...   I have a new FoodSaver and still do the fish in the ziplock with water method...   JMO...

[cooper2]

i would go for a new vac sealer. They are the best!!

[Crash1433]

Def freeze them in water. put them in a ziplock and push all the air out the top and seal as best you can. that is how i do all my perch fillets and smelt as well. Somtimes in the summer we have a big fish fry and I'll put 50 or 75 smelt in a used cardboard milk container and fill until the water is just over the fish. fold the top over and seal with duck tape and you're good to go

[LoboWNY]

Freezing in water works great.  Can personally attest that they are in great shape even 6 mos to a year plus later.  Freezer burn is oxidation; cant happen if they're locked in ice.   Can take up a bit of space though.   Easy solution for perch - sandwich bag will hold bunch of filets; walleye you may want to chunk or get some really biiiig bags.

[jj7leaf]

Thanks guys.
My father used to do that same thing but I thought it was outdated.

j

[harrops26]

Love the food saver. It makes compact packages that stay fresh for an extended time. Had some pike last week that i caught last January. No freezer burn and it still tasted delicious

[Jigger Don]

I ve always done em in water and never had a problem

[reeleyz]

I have some plastic containers that I put the fillets in and fill the container to the top with water. That works fine. I do want to try vacuum sealing some this year and see if it is better.

[ICEROGUE]

If you freeze them in water they take forever to thaw. This is what I wad taught--- rinse your filets real good and pat dry with a paper towel (but don't dry them completely). Put them on a cookie try or plate and put them in the freezer uncovered for about 15 min or untill firm (not froze). Then zip vac them. By doing it this way no water can mess up your seal, and it won't take a week to thaw them.

[deadsmelthead]

If you freeze them in water they take forever to thaw. This is what I wad taught--- rinse your filets real good and pat dry with a paper towel (but don't dry them completely). Put them on a cookie try or plate and put them in the freezer uncovered for about 15 min or untill firm (not froze). Then zip vac them. By doing it this way no water can mess up your seal, and it won't take a week to thaw them.

I freeze mine in water all the time
I usually run them under warm water for about 5 minutes and they are good to go..

[ICEROGUE]

I freeze mine in water all the time
I usually run them under warm water for about 5 minutes and they are good to go..

im not saying its your method won't work, I'm just saying I found the way I do it works easier for me with less hassle

[SEF830]

If you freeze them in water they take forever to thaw. This is what I wad taught--- rinse your filets real good and pat dry with a paper towel (but don't dry them completely). Put them on a cookie try or plate and put them in the freezer uncovered for about 15 min or untill firm (not froze). Then zip vac them. By doing it this way no water can mess up your seal, and it won't take a week to thaw them.

Now that's an idea I'll have to try.  I always dry my fillets as well as I can but there always seems to be a few nooks and crannies that hold water that gets sucked up into my vac sealer.

I've tried the freezing in water method but it takes up way too much space.  Between all my fish, venison, and other stuff I need all the space I can get.

[bassomatic]

Freeze them in water.  Cover the fillets wirh water, but allow enough room for expansion.  Frozen this way, the fillets will keep for over a year.

X2

[jj7leaf]

If you freeze them in water they take forever to thaw. This is what I wad taught--- rinse your filets real good and pat dry with a paper towel (but don't dry them completely). Put them on a cookie try or plate and put them in the freezer uncovered for about 15 min or untill firm (not froze). Then zip vac them. By doing it this way no water can mess up your seal, and it won't take a week to thaw them.

This is a great idea thanks I will give this a try,
I will do some with the old method of covering with water also and see what works for me and my space.
Now we just need some real ice.
j

[trapper2000]

always  freeze  fish  in  water!  if  you  have  empty  milk  cartons    wash  them  out  good  put  your  fi8llets  in  them  then  fill  with  water  and  freeze  ....easy  to  store  after  and  your  fish  will  last

[ComfortablyNumb]

Must be nice to have enough fish to freeze. I rarely catch a meals worth!

[slekeith]

Fish wouldn't last that long in my house. If we don't eat it that day/night it is used within a week. 
But I would use the water trick if I had to.

[ryaneth]

i agree with the paper towel in the food saver method.   Have never had a problem.

[edddieo]

 ;)another trick is to wrap in plastic wrap an then put them in freezer bags you don't get air that way

[perchice]

This may be obvious to some but, if you put 1 lb of let's say perch fillets into a quart freezer ziplock bag, fill with water and zip all the air out. Next crack open a corner of the bag and lay your bag flat in the sink and push water out until you are satisfied with the thickness. I leave them about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. You will need to lay them flat in the freezer until they are froze, but after that they stack up like chord wood. I have tried the foodsaver thing, and this is the easiest and fastest way for me. IF a bag of fillets is in the freezer for a year, I have confidence that they will taste great and not be freezer burnt one bit!

[wranglerdrvr]

I have heard of people doing the "water freeze method" but with milk. What would be the advantages to that?

[ICEROGUE]

Must be nice to have enough fish to freeze. I rarely catch a meals worth!

Read more posts on ICESHANTY and you'll catch more fish. 

[oneida1]

try putting them in a meatloaf tray w/ water frezee into solid block then remove frozen block from tray and vacume seal they stack up nice in the freezer, warm water thaws them quick

[goosehonker]

You can partially freeze fillets first, on a plate for an hour or so.  Then vacuum seal, moisture will be frozen.....

[jobek75]

In a freezer bag, fill it up with H20 and your good to go!

[waldo24]

Yup....sounds like many of the fishermen on here do the same. I have been putting fillets in a zip lock freezer bag,filling with water and zipping it while keeping all the air out. While you are zipping it close ....water is being pushed out to make sure all air is out. I have done this for over 25 years and have never ever had a problem! with the walleye fillets I just cut fillets in half.....works great! 

[popnfish]

I have heard of people doing the "water freeze method" but with milk. What would be the advantages to that?

Have heard of people soaking fillets in milk to get rid of the "fishy" taste.
Would assume they then just freeze them in the milk as opposed to dumping it out.