Emma Miller
Buying fish, not always plan to cook it immediately – often we leave it “for later”, putting it in the fridge or freezer.
How to store uncleaned fish and is it possible – the secrets are revealed
In fact, before you choose a particular place of storage for fish, the product must be prepared:
- gut the insides – they begin to spoil in the first place;
- rinse the carcass under running water – be sure to wash off the dirt;
- Rub the fish with paper towels – remove moisture;
- put in paper bags – not plastic, otherwise, the fish will “suffocate”.
All these steps must be done carefully – negligence will lead to a rapid deterioration of the product. One of the most important steps is to wipe the carcass with towels. Remember – the more moisture remains – the more likely the fish will go rotten.
How long can you keep fresh fish in the refrigerator – terms and rules
In order to keep your mouthwatering fish as long as possible, find it the coldest place in the refrigerator. The ideal, of course, is to store the fish on ice. That’s what they do in stores – you can use crumbles or ice cubes. Just find a deep container, pour ice into it, put the fish on top, and fill it with ice.
If this option doesn’t work for you, use the very top shelf of the refrigerator – it’s the coolest there. Wrap the fish in a paper bag or wrapping paper and leave it on the top shelf. Alternatively, put the fish on a dish and wrap it in cling film. You can store the product for 1-2 days (in the case of ice, the period increases to three days).
How long can you keep fish in the freezer – tips and tricks
A piece of fresh fish or its carcass can be frozen, but it is not recommended to do so. The fact is that fresh fish loses a huge amount of nutrients when frozen at home. Despite all the power of household freezers, they are still not comparable to industrial freezing.
If you have to freeze, then do it properly – clean the fish from the insides, rinse it with water, and dry it with towels. Then put it on the tray and put it in the freezer for 3-5 hours. After the fish freezes, take the carcasses off the tray and put them in a bag. By the way, it is better to store only small fish, because it is better to cut large fish into pieces or fillets. In the freezing state, the fish can be stored for 3 to 12 months – depending on their variety.
How to keep fish long without refrigeration – proven methods
If for some reason you can not or do not want to store fish in the refrigerator (freezer), it can be preserved from spoiling in other ways:
- Salting – rub salt into the fish, put it in a bowl, cover it with salt, and put it in a cool place (storage time – 4 days);
- To dry – to salt as above, and then to hang up on hooks in a cool place (storage life of dried fish – up to 90 days).
Fish carcasses can also be pickled. Cut them along the backbone and sprinkle them generously with salt. Then wrap it in a flap of cloth soaked in a vinegar solution (2 tsp. sugar per 0.5 liters of vinegar) and put it in a cool place. The shelf life of marinated fish is 7-10 days.
IMPORTANT: no matter what method you choose, the fish must be gutted, and removed from the gills. By the way, some people think that fish can be stored in water – this is not true. Dead, it will decompose even faster in liquid than without it.
