Whether or not to buy vacuum packed frozen fish depends on the individual and their budget. Vacuum packed frozen fish is available in most supermarkets and many restaurants, providing you can afford the luxury of having fresh fish delivered to your home. Vacuum packed fish is incredibly convenient as you get exactly what you want, without having to think about cooking or having enough space for leftovers. As with most food shopping, prices vary by supermarket and restaurant and can be fairly high – especially if you buy an expensive cut of fish.
So how long does vacuum packed frozen fish last? Let’s find out!
The Best Way To Store Fish
The most efficient way to store fish is refrigeration. The ice crystals in the refrigerated air can damage the texture and flavor of your fish, so it is best to keep your fish as chilled as possible. Refrigeration also extends the shelf life of fish, providing you can keep it that way. Finally, storing fish in the fridge prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi, which live in warm, moist areas and could potentially cause health problems for you or your family if consumed.
On the other hand, freezing is an option, too. Freezing can be a quicker and more convenient way to store fish, as well as be more energy efficient. Depending on how you package your fish, the freezing process can be more or less damaging. Most fish are sold in vacuum packages or vacuum packed, so you can be sure that the air is removed completely from the package, as well as the moisture. Vacuum packing and freezing can extend the shelf life of fish, providing you do it correctly – which means removing as much air as possible during the process. It is also important to store your frozen fish in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator as low temperatures will slow down the growth of bacteria and fungi that may be present on the outside of the food packages due to high temperatures outside the fridge.
The Effects Of High And Low Temperatures
Let’s say you bought a whole pack of Arctic Char, a very popular fish in Australia. After you remove the ice from the fish, you notice it looks a bit dry, therefore you decide to re-wet it before you eat it. You want to re-wet your fish to make it more suitable for eating raw, so you place it back in the fridge to re-wet it. Unfortunately, you placed the fish on top of some ice cream, which turned out to be slightly melted, resulting in some of the fish being slightly wet and some dry. Now, if you had placed the fish on top of some ice cream in the first place, everything would have been fine, but your laziness resulted in the problem. The important thing to note here is that the ice cream caused the fish to become wet, so it would be best to avoid putting any wet foods on top of any other foods, especially ones that require different cooking procedures. Otherwise, you might end up making things more complicated than they need to be – like in the example above!
So, being careful where you place your fish will save you from lots of problems, as well as ensure that it is stored at the right temperature. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not your fish is fresh, you should avoid purchasing it if you are on a budget, as it will most probably be close to its sell-by date. If you are on a budget but still want to eat fresh fish, you should look into buying it frozen, as it will keep for a much longer time than the seafood sold fresh at the fish counter. Finally, make sure you purchase only what you need and want, as leftovers will simply go bad and you will regret buying extra portions – especially if they are not needed. So, always buy only what you need and want, as leftovers will simply go bad.
How Long Does Vacuum Packed Fish Last?
Once you remove the ice, vacuum packed fish will keep in the fridge for up to three days, depending on the thickness of the ice. If you put the ice back in after taking it out, the fish will remain frozen and will need to be stored in the freezer. After three days, the taste of vacuum packed fish starts to deteriorate, so you should throw it away or return it to the store for a refund. In the end, if you are left with any, you should eat it within a few days as it will deteriorate further if stored for longer.
So, being economical with your seafood purchases is important, but so is being selective about the types of fish you buy and how you store it. Always check the sell-by date on the packaging, as well as the freshness of the product before you buy it. Also, make sure you remove as much air as possible from the packaging during storage, as well as keep it well chilled. You should also only buy what you need, as leftover portions will simply go bad.