Once you catch your salmon, you’ll need to decide how to prepare and store it.
Can you freeze salmon with skin on? Yes, you can freeze salmon with the skin on. The skin will help protect the meat from freezer burn. This means that freezing salmon with the skin on is safer.
However, there are many factors needed to be taken into consideration when freezing salmon with the skin on.
How to freeze salmon with the skin on?
Freezing salmon with the skin on is easy. But if this is your first time, you might know how to do it properly.
The steps below will help you freeze the salmon successfully.
Freezing salmon with the skin on is only possible if it’s fresh.
Make sure that you use long-term freezer bags and good-quality freezer paper.
Wash the salmon to avoid any bacteria then pat it dry with a paper towel before placing it in freezer bags.
If you’re freezing the fish whole, arrange it on its side in the freezer bag with the gills or bits of fat at one end.
If you’re freezing fillets, lay them skin side down and make sure they do not overlap (overlapping will cause the top fillet to lose moisture.)
Place the salmon in the freezer as soon as possible.
It’s important to label your salmon so that you don’t confuse it with another type of fish later.
Store your salmon at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. In general, the thicker the fish, the longer it will keep in your freezer.
Salmon with the skin on is good for up to 12 months if stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why do you need to freeze salmon with skin on?
If you’re packing the salmon in freezer bags, you should not remove the skin or the bones.
You can even freeze salmon with them head-on.
The reason is that the presence of fat and bone will help protect your fish from drying out during freezing. The fat and bone will help insulate the flesh, preventing ice crystals from forming.
How long does salmon last in the freezer?
Salmon with skin on can last in the freezer for up to 12 months.
When you decide to freeze your salmon, make sure that you are freezing them correctly.
First of all, you should only freeze fresh salmon that is not more than a few days old and avoid storing the fish in high temperatures.
Freezing your salmon at a high temperature will alter the taste and texture of your fish.
Before freezing your salmon, make sure that the flesh is firm and shiny.
Salmon freezes better when it is frozen right away.
If you are freezing salmon with skin, you can freeze the fish either whole or fillet.
Just make sure to wrap your fish in plastic wrappers first and place it inside a sealable freezer bag.
When it comes to freezing salmon with skin off, it’s better to cook the fish before freezing it.
How to thaw frozen salmon?
Once you decide to defrost your salmon, make sure that you are doing it correctly.
To do this, you can defrost your salmon at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
When defrosting your salmon inside the refrigerator, you should store it in a covered container or plastic bag to prevent spoilage.
It’s best that when defrosting the salmon, do not let it thaw completely as doing so will allow bacteria to grow fast.
You can opt to defrost your salmon overnight in the refrigerator or doing so right before cooking it.
If you must thaw it overnight, make sure that you store your salmon in a safe place away from any source of contamination.
Thawed salmon flesh looks the same as un-thawed.
The only difference is in its texture because when compared to frozen fish, thawed fish has a chewier texture.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, freezing salmon with skin on is possible.
By following the correct methods, you will be able to freeze your salmon correctly and safely.
If you are interested in freezing salmon with the skin off I suggest that you follow similar methods as those presented above.
By doing so, you can prevent any mishaps from happening to your frozen fish.
You can freeze it in a variety of ways as long as you make sure that the flesh is firm, shiny, and translucent prior to freezing your fish, then you should be good to go.
If you are interested in reading other articles related to this topic, feel free to visit this guide.
