Hey y'all,

What's the best way to freezer pack fish without the use of a vacuum sealer?

When fishing, I CPR 95% of the time.
If I do bring something home, its only enough for dinner that same night.

Thanks in advance

Cover in water and freeze...
Will help prevent freezer burn

You want to freeze to eat the same night ?

No.
It's just I don't get to hit the lakes or bays often, since gas money is what often keeps me from going. If I'm lucky, it's once a month. Most of the time, I'm at the local creek and ponds.

So I've been thinking maybe to bring home a limit (if im lucky) and store away the fillets for a good supply of dinner.

Also, I'm often getting pestered by friends and family for not bringing them any fish (just pics of my catches).


Would it be a good idea to sprinkle the fillets with salt & lemon pepper prior to freezing?

ziploc and water never tried seasoning frozen

I put in a freezer bag and add some salt then fill with water -- get the air out and freeze. I think the salt keep's the meat firm.

David

+1, vacuum packing is more expensive and a waste of time for fish and fowl. I just pulled some crappie out of the freezer from Nov 2011. Ate like they had been in there for a month.

I also use a couple teaspoons of lemon juice

I packaged a bunch of sausage the other day. I put it all in zip lock bags, then get a bucket of water. Dunk the full bags slowly under water as you do the air will rise to the top and the bag will shirnk up. Do this up to the zip, its a red neck vaccum seal. I think with fish water protects best. My grand dad would use old milk cartons and will with fish, salt, and water.

That is genius! Thanks for the Baggie trick.

"Red Neck Vacuum Seal"....that's AWESOME! And...I bet a lot faster and cheaper!

Cool, thanks for y'all's help

when I need a quick vacuum for freezing or just short term storage away from the air to slow spoilage I've found that a heavy duty drink straw (Sonic's work great)closed tightly in a ziploc bag, then suck the air out. When you get it collapsed pull the straw out while finishing the seal on the bag.

If you cut the straw to a point on the end that goes in the bag it is less likely get plugged by the bag. two cuts...point in the middle.

The best way to freeze fish, by far is to use zip locks and fill with water. Fish will keep for MANY months and you will not know the difference from them and the ones you ate the day you caught them. Like some of the other older guys on here before zip locks, waxed (before plastic) 1/2 gallon milk cartons were used and they worked great.