vacuum packing smelt

[Tagster]

I just bought 50 pounds of Cowlitz smelt from Tony's Seafood Market in O.C. for .99/lb.

My question is: What is the best way to pack these little guys? Should I freeze them first, then vac pack them or vac pack first, then freeze?

What about curing them? Does it matter?

Thanks,

Tag

[David Johnson]

Keep them fresh.

partially freezing them might keep them from sliming up your vac packer. You could maybe have them vac packed by Tony's. I've had Sausage Kitchen vac them for me before.

[Pilar]

I use the foodsaver/tilia vacuum sealer. Two methods.

1) 12" x 12" bag seal on 1 end. Add 1 -1/2 lbs of smelt. Put bags in the freezer. Arrange smelt so bag has a regular shape when frozen. Once frozen vacuum the bag and seal the other end.

2) Same as above except wipe inside of bag end after adding smelt. Carefully vacuum the bag and as soon as liquid starts to head for the seal hit the melt button. Don't wait any longer than that or the liquid will chill the plastic and it will not seal.

You can also roll up one sheet of paper towel in the bag to catch the liquid as it heads for the seal. Use unscented towels.


Either way let the bags sit around for 1/2 hour to check for leaky bags before freezing.

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Pilar ]</p>

[finclipped]

I don't think you need to vacuum pack them. I freeze them in a gallon ziplock with water and they do fine. Kind of like a giant smelt-cicle. They require a couple days to defrost in a fridge.

[Fishalot]

I have done it both ways, It depends on how long you want them to keep? when you are going the Vac rought lay them out on news paper and cover the top side with the paper also, press down a little to help obsorb the moisture and slime. when you are bagging take a old plastic 1 gal. jug and cut the bottom out, then cut the top down so it works like a funnel. Doing it this way keeps the slime off the bag sealing area, it also helps slide the little guys into place. I don't bother to lay them out like you see in some com. packed smelt I thing that is just a sales gimmick.


Fishalot :wink:

[new boat]

Done it both ways myself. Easier, quicker and less mess to just use zip-loc freezer bags. The smelt seem to get a little slimeier in the bags this way, but they seem to work better for catching fish than the vacumn packed fish do. :smile: