Redfish is a healthy and tasty product, however, if stored improperly, unpleasant consequences are possible. If you’ve purchased salmon but aren’t planning on cooking it right away, you need to take care that it doesn’t spoil. But do you know “How Long Can You Freeze Salmon?”
Fresh and salted fish are stored differently – this is important to consider. Also, if necessary, you can resort to freezing, but in this case there are some nuances.
How Long Can You Freeze Salmon?
It is not recommended to keep the fish on the shelf for a long time – even if it does not have time to deteriorate, its taste may become worse. In addition, without preparation, salmon can lie in the refrigerator for no more than a day.
If you need to extend the shelf life, you can resort to some tricks.
- When buying a whole carcass, it is advisable to gut it before putting it in the refrigerator. Fish entrails are the first to go bad, so it’s a good idea to remove them to slow down the growth of bad bacteria.
- Optimal conditions – from 0 to 2 degrees. Make sure that the correct temperature is maintained in the selected compartment of the refrigerator.
- The fish must be tightly wrapped. For this, it is better to use paper, not bags or plastic wrap. It is necessary that the salmon “breathe”, while the wrapping material must absorb excess moisture.
You can ensure the safety of products with the help of ice. This method is used in stores, but it is also suitable for home conditions. The fish should be placed in a container filled with ice. This allows you to maintain the optimum temperature.
If the ice does not melt, then the fish will be able to lie in this state for 2-3 days.
How long does salted salmon keep?
Salting is a popular canning method. Fish in brine can be purchased at the store, in which case the manufacturer usually indicates the expiration date on the package, so the buyer just needs to familiarize himself with this information. However, salmon can also be salted at home to extend its shelf life. If you decide to resort to this method, then pay attention to the concentration of salt.
It depends on this how long the fish will be stored:
- The slightly salted product can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 6 days;
- Fish in a solution of medium concentration is stored for up to 14 days;
- Concentrated brine allows you to increase the period by up to a month.
Keep in mind that salted salmon has a strong odor, so it’s best to keep it in a sealed container so that the flavors don’t spread to other foods.
Shelf life of smoked steak
Smoking allows you to store food for quite a long time. Store-bought fish can keep in the refrigerator for about two months if the integrity of the vacuum packaging is not violated. The exact date is usually indicated by the manufacturer, so it is better to check the dates before purchasing the product. If you have already opened the package, then it is advisable to eat the fish within five days, otherwise, it will deteriorate.
Hot smoked salmon can be frozen at temperatures down to -30 degrees. In this state, it is stored for about a month. It is not recommended to freeze cold-smoked fish: from this, it will lose its taste.
Can it be stored in the freezer?
Freezing food has its own characteristics. So that the melted fish does not turn into gruel or turn out to be overdried, you need to do everything right. First of all, it is important to use only a quality product. If you notice that the salmon is starting to deteriorate: an unpleasant odor has appeared, a film has appeared on the surface, or the color has changed, then you cannot freeze it.
To store the fish you need to prepare:
- remove the remnants of scales and skin, rinse and remove excess moisture with paper towels;
- cut into portions, wrap with cling film;
- Place in an airtight container with a tight lid and place in the freezer.
In this form, the fish can be stored for 4-6 months. To avoid problems, you need to take care of the correct defrosting of salmon when you want to get it. This process should be slow – move the fish from the freezer to the refrigerator so that the ice melts gradually. This defrosting will help preserve the taste and freshness of the product. If you have purchased frozen fish from the store, but do not want to cook it yet, you should immediately put everything in the freezer. Re-freezing after defrosting is not allowed.
If necessary, the shelf life of salmon can be significantly extended, especially if you freeze it in compliance with all the rules. It will not take much time and will allow you to have a tasty and healthy product at your fingertips.