How much fish can be stored in the refrigerator?

Fish occupies a prominent place in our diet. It is this product that is a valuable deposit for the proper development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle for a person. Someone prefers ready-made smoked carcasses, someone - and is completely conservative, to spend less time cleaning and cooking. And only true connoisseurs of useful products or avid fishermen like to eat fresh carp, bream or pike, cooked according to a unique own recipe. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how much fish can be stored in the refrigerator without damaging the product and the consequences for one's own health. And this is a priority task, if it is necessary to maintain the freshness of not a single carcass. This article is devoted to all questions regarding the correct storage of fish in the refrigerator.

to the contents ↑

Useful properties of fish dishes

Most of us prefer to eat meat, not fish. But no one will argue that this product is necessary for our body. And it is necessary, at least once a week, because a correct and balanced diet is a guarantee of health for many years.

Many nutritionists suggest not to sit on diets that bring only a one-time short-lived result, but to compose a competent menu and come to a normal weight this way. And without fish dishes, the right diet is impossible. The so-called "fish day" should be once a week for everyone who cares about their health.

What is so useful for a small fish?

• Fish - marine or freshwater, a source of easily digestible protein, vitamins and trace elements.
• The most valuable thing in fish is the so-called fish oil, which is familiar to the older generation. It consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids( omega 3 - useful for the brain, and omega 6 - useful for the cardiovascular system), which are fully absorbed by the human body.
• Sea fish is rich in iodine, therefore it effectively normalizes the endocrine system.
• The phosphorus content in fish meat positively affects the human nervous system.

In the use of fish dishes, most of us do not need to be persuaded, so it is important to know how much fish can be stored in the refrigerator and how to do it correctly.

to the contents ↑

How much fish can be stored in the refrigerator?

Fish can be in different, let's say, "states".It can be fresh, freshly caught, freshly frozen, salted, smoked( hot and cold smoked), dried, it can be canned food and preserves. In addition, the terms and conditions of storage of whole fish and fillets are also different. So let's consider in detail what and how to save and how long.

to the contents ↑

How to store fish fresh and freshly frozen?

The most valuable for consumption in food is fresh fish, because the dishes from it will come out the most delicious and useful, in comparison with smoked and canned, for example.

Important! The quicker you use fresh fish brought from the store or brought from fishing, the better.

But if you can not immediately prepare this product, you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

How to store fish in the refrigerator?

• The refrigerator can store fresh fish for about two days, but this is provided that it is cleaned and gutted.

Important! In addition to the internals, also clean the gills - they multiply bacteria rapidly.

• Store fresh fish preferably in:
  • section Bio-fresh( available in Liebherr refrigerators), where optimal conditions for storage of such products are created;
  • in special drawers;
  • just on the middle shelf, where the optimum temperature regime.

Important! Remember that it is better to put dairy products away from the fish, otherwise they will quickly absorb the unnecessary smell.

Method # 1:

1. After cleaning, wash the carcass and blot it with a paper towel on the outside and inside.
2. It is better to keep the product in a bowl covered with a lid or food film.

Important! Just do not store the fish in a plastic bag. In such a container, it will deteriorate faster.

1. If you want to strengthen the safety of fresh fish, then salt it or sprinkle with lemon juice. These substances act as natural preservatives. Salt before the preparation of the dish can simply be washed off with water, and the lemon juice, like marinade, will only give the fillets of tenderness.

Important! Do not store the processed and not cleaned fish nearby, otherwise - from the dirty fish harmful microorganisms will move to the clean one.

Method number 2

Another way to extend the safety of fish - dipping it into a tray with ice. To do this:

1. Take a deep container and pour ice crumb to the bottom.
2. Then put the fish, and from above also pour the ice.
3. At the bottom of the vessel it is desirable to put drainage, so that when the ice melts, the fish does not float in the water.
4. Periodically drain the liquid, and add ice.

Important! It should be noted that this method is more suitable for cooling an entire carcass. The fillet may lose its juiciness.

1. Store fillets better in a glass jar. Lubricate it with a layer of sunflower oil or cover with damp paper towels.

Important! All of the above works, provided that in your refrigerator the temperature is from 0 to +2 degrees( this is the standard for most refrigeration chambers).If in your refrigerator the temperature is from +3 and above, you can store fresh fish not longer than a day, otherwise it will start to deteriorate.

How to store fish in the freezer?

If you are not sure that in a couple of days you will start cooking fresh fish, then put it directly into the freezer. Here it can be stored for months, up to a year.

Important! Keep in mind that over time, the fat in the fish spoils and gives bitterness. The fatter the fish, the less it can be stored in the freezer.

In order not to face the unpleasant situation of a spoiled or forgotten product in the freezer, take note of such recommendations:

• In order not to lose sight of the storage time, stick a sticker with the date of the product's bookmark.
• Freeze preferably not cleaned fish. So it will better preserve its taste.
• If there are several fish, and then you will get one then one, freeze them in separate packages.
• If you do not want the carcass to lose shape and crochet among other products, then freeze it first on a tray, and then shift it into a bag.
• When it's time to get fish, do not rush to defrost. If you will hurry this process with the help of hot water, batteries, microwave ovens and other tricks, you will receive an unappetizing, shapeless and tasteless dish. It is better to remove the fish from the freezer in advance and transfer it to the refrigerator. For a day it melts, and you can cook something from it.

Important! To prepare fish soup is not necessary to completely defrost the fish. You can throw the fish in the soup, if it has thawed even half. For other dishes, full defrosting is mandatory. Exception - some species, which according to the recipe should only be fried frozen.

to the contents ↑

How to store ready-made fish dishes?

Fish dishes that have been heat-treated can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days:

• If you have fried, extinguished, baked fish and placed it on the table for consumption, try to hide the leftovers of the dish in the refrigerator as soon as possible. In the heat, the fish will deteriorate in a few hours.
• Especially careful should be lovers of sushi. Raw fish of unknown origin in general is undesirable to eat, as it can be infected with parasites. It is desirable to store freshly prepared sushi in the refrigerator in special sushi cases not longer than a day. And after the dish stood warm in the table "during its absorption," discard the remains without regret.

Important! Poisoning by a spoiled fish can even lead to death.

to the contents ↑

Storage of minced fish

Bought in the store or cooked with their own fish mince store in the refrigerator can be about 6-8 hours.

Important! The higher the temperature in the refrigerator, the shorter the shelf life.

What rules are acceptable here to extend the freshness of the product?- They are very simple:

• Chilled minced meat in a sealed undisclosed shopping bag can be stored for a day, no longer.
• If you do not plan to cook a fish dish right now, then put the stuffing wrapped in a plastic bag in the freezer. There he can lie up to three months.

to the contents ↑

How to store salted fish and dried fish?

• If you bought salted fish, for example herring, then it is desirable to immediately use it for food.
• If you bought in advance, then it can only be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Important! Remember that you can not leave salted fish for these 2 days in the package in which you brought it from the store. To prevent the fish from deteriorating ahead of time, put it on a plate and cover it with a film or cover to reduce air access. So your herring will be preserved, and the neighboring products will not permeate with the aroma of salted fish.

• For storage, you can wrap the carcass in parchment or wrapping paper.

Important! You can not use a newspaper for these purposes, otherwise the carcass will absorb the harmful lead that is contained in the printing ink.

• If you cooked herring, salmon, salmon, etc., but did not eat all the fish, put the remaining pieces in a glass jar, fill with vegetable oil and close the lid. So she can lie still for a few days, without losing freshness and taste.
• In brine( brine) in which salted fish is cooked, it can not deteriorate for 15 to 30 days at a temperature of about 0 degrees. Salt is an excellent natural preservative. Accordingly - the more salt, the better the fish are stored. But without the brine, the shelf life is reduced to 2-3 days.
• If you purchased salted fish packed in a vacuum, the shelf life can be up to 30 days, of course, with unbreakable packaging. Store this product in the refrigerator section where the temperature does not exceed +3 degrees. Do not forget to check the date of manufacture of the product. If the package is opened - then this fish can be stored no more than 2-3 days.
• The herring, by the way, can also be stored in the freezer. To do this, clean it and cut into small pieces, place it in a plastic food container. In this form, you can store it in a freezer for up to 6 months.
• Fish preserves in unpacked form can be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures from 0 to -8 degrees 3-6 months( storage times usually indicate on the package).But if you opened the jar, try to eat a fish for a couple of days. When you open the preserves, do not discard the liquid. If you do not use all the food, the remaining pieces of fish will be better preserved in this oil( brine, marinade).
• You can store dried fish for a long time. Salt prevents the decomposition process. But the influx of warm air and sunlight can shorten the shelf life, and even spoil the taste.
• Thoroughly salted and well-dried fish can be stored for up to a year. But for this, it needs to be wrapped in parchment or wrapping paper, and then put in a cool, dry and dark place.

Important! Some recommend storing dried fish in a linen pouch or tin can under the lid.

• We do the same with dried salted fish.

Important! If you do not follow the rules of storage, then the fish can become saturated with moisture and begin to deteriorate, can dry up and become like a stone. Then it is necessary, as in the old Soviet films, to knock it on the table before use. Or the so-called "fish oil" can rancid.

to the contents ↑

How to store smoked fish?

Storage of this dish depends largely on the method of smoking fish:

• If the carcass was smoked cold( the process under which thermal and preservative treatment takes place under the influence of smoke), then the storage times are as follows:
  • in vacuum packing - about 20 days;
  • without vacuum - up to 10 days at a temperature of 0 to -4 degrees.
• If your fish was subjected to a hot smoking process, then it can be stored only 2-3 days.
• Renew for a week the safety of smoked fish can be, wrapped it in a cloth soaked in salt water.

Important! Some believe that this way you can store smoked fish for up to a month, but do not take chances. It is better to eat it as soon as possible, until it has lost its taste qualities.

• When winter is outside, you can smack the smoked fish on the balcony, if the temperature is kept there from 0 to - 5 degrees. In the fresh air it will be kept even better.

to the contents ↑

How to choose the right fish?

When buying fish, you need to carefully examine it, so as not to get a spoiled specimen.

What are the points to look for when choosing fresh fish?

• Odor. Fresh fish should emit a faint smell of the pond( in the case of sea fresh-frozen fish - the smell of sea, iodine).If the fish has an unpleasant odor - do not buy the product, do not risk your own health.
• Appearance. Fish should have elastic fillets, shiny elastic scales, bright convex translucent eyes and light gills.

Important! If the fish offered by the seller looks at you with dull gray eyes, the stomach is puffed, and the gills are yellow or brown - go by, this product is spoiled.

Choosing a frozen fish

Choosing the right frozen fish is a little more difficult, since ice can camouflage an unpleasant smell and stained places of stale fish. So when buying such a product, be especially careful:

• On the carcass must necessarily be a layer of glaze( ice crust).It protects the fish from damage and weathering. This glaze should not be too thick, otherwise - to consider the quality of the product will be problematic.
• The fish itself should be smooth, with pink or red gills, the surface should not have doubtful spots( white, yellow and others).

Important! The sturgeon family is allowed bruising.

• There should be no smell of rancid fat. If there is one, it means that the storage conditions have been violated.
• If the fish inside the glaze is deformed, there is a high probability that it has already been thawed, and possibly more than once.
• Pay attention to the storage date.
• Defreeze the fish brought from the store gradually, preferably on the shelf of the refrigerator. If you force events - you risk losing taste, and the appearance will be spoiled thoroughly.

To preserve all the useful qualities of a fish product, do not ignore the rules for storing it. Always consider how much fish are stored in the refrigerator, since each dish has its own terms. Be careful when buying fish products, because a poor-quality product entails health problems, and there is no point in talking about any benefits.