Smelt, Vacum Packing Tips

[Jeremy]

Anybody got any tips for packing smelt in a foodsaver? Should i freeze them first? Thanks for the info

[CAGEY]

Hi Jeremy, i have been packaging fish with the vacum food saver for years and the best way i have found is to clean them (unless they are bait} vacum seal them and pop them in the freezer. They keep for months that way. I have also done herring the same way and beleave it or not a year later they still look and smell fresh. If you are doing bait then do them without washing them first.

[This message has been edited by CAGEY (edited 03-07-2001).]

[rcl187]

Depending on the type of food saver you may have to freeze the smelt for about 1/2 an hour so there is no moisture. Just spread them out on a cookie sheet or put them in the bag however you want them and stick em in the freezer. When they are firm then you can seal up the bag. This is how its suppose to be done with machines that heat up and melt the two sides of the bag together. This ensures that the seal is complete and no air can get in (moisture in the seal prohibits the two sides from sticking together).

[Jeremy]

I put a paper towel in the bag with smelt and it worked great to soak up all the extra juices and didnt get into the vacum pump. Didnt have to pre frezze them or anything, thanks for all the tips though