How to Keep Eggs Several Days Before Curing?

drifter · 11-18-2002, 09:08 AM

How do you keep eggs for several days 5-10 without curing them??? Is refrigation enough? Can you do a simple cure and freeze? Will this allow you to cure latter?

This question came up for me on a recent Alaska trip. I brought home alot of eggs (silvers and reds) but also spent too much time in Alaska curing, drying, packaging and freezing. Would these eggs be ok in the refrigator for 5-10 days? Is there a simple way to freeze them, but still cure tehm latter?

BTW - Just got done reading the new Amato book on Curing Eggs. Excellent book, but did not answer this question. Thanks, in advance, Drifter.

RogueFishr · 11-18-2002, 09:28 AM

this is a good question. I have heard to soak them in a super concentrated salt water brine if you can't cure them for a while. I have no idea if this works though, just what I had heard. Hopefully some of the others here can offer some advice.

RF

Captn · 11-18-2002, 09:38 AM

Don't do it. Cure them on the River. It is a lot better to take some gallon freezer bags with you and a couple of bags of egg cure, and cure the eggs after cleaning the fish. That is what I do while in Alaska. It isn't a perfect way to do things, but any extra draining or drying I take care of when I get back to Oregon. I am sure others will have an opinion on this, but I think the best method for egg curing is ASAP. Any other thoughts?

Grant Scheele · 11-18-2002, 10:04 AM

I agree with capt. Cure them on the river in a cure that doesn't require much maintenance like Amermans.

Butterfly the eggs, put the cure on and pack them in ziplocks to take them home. Just that simply. They will take 3 days to cure anyway and it doesn't hurt them to sit in the juice a few days longer anyway.

It takes just as much time to do anything else with them and you get a much better egg curing on the river.

The only other choice is to freeze them immediately and cure them after you get home. Not what I would prefer to fish with later.

drifter · 11-18-2002, 10:50 AM

Can eggs sit in a cure for several days without harm? Say, for example, Amerman's or Procure. Eggs have juiced up good. Can eggs stay in their own juice for 5-10 days? Most cures I have seen recommend taking the eggs out after 12-24 hours. What if you froze the eggs in the cure and thawed out when you got back? I have not done this because I was concerned that "overcuring" might harm the eggs. Perhaps not. Thanks, again, drifter.

Silver Hilton · 11-18-2002, 02:40 PM

I cure them on the river, too. I use Procure, and use the jar method described on the label. I just put them in the ziplock bags and keep them cool. They juice up, and then the juice gets reabsorbed, and the eggs get a nice sort of gummy bear consistency. They have kept fine for a couple of days this way.

fishing is life · 11-18-2002, 11:13 PM

drifter, i let my eggs sit in the juice until i will use them. i like the juice so when i freeze them it will protect freezer burn. when you are ready to fish i would drain and dry if you want a tougher egg. if you are fishing in tidewater never drain and use as is. and dont forget to save that egg juice to cure prawns in.

p.s. i sent you a message about your float video.

SKP · 11-18-2002, 11:16 PM

Once eggs are in the cure and juice up, the eggs will reabsorb the juice in 48-72 hours depending on egg size and temperature. Once they are cured, they can remain many months refrigerated. If you cure them immediately, you can keep them the 5-10 days to get back into town.

It's best to cure them immediately, and freeze them later.

SKP

Grant Scheele · 11-18-2002, 11:43 PM

Leaving cured eggs in juice when using Amermans or Procure will not harm them. In fact, it does help reduce freezer burn and tidewater bites. Grant

mallard0311 · 11-19-2002, 08:19 PM

I have learned in Alaska that Oregon and Washington eggs will outfish 90% of the people and guides on the river. You could put on a clinic with cured eggs up there. That is why the Oregon, Wa. and Idaho guides are the best in AK. I noticed on the Kenai many AK guides anchored or boondogging with raw eggs. If your staying in a motel take them back to the room and put them on ice untill you can cure them in the bathtub. Take your cure with you. You might take some bleach too, because the tub looks like a crime seen. The smell is bad too. I might bring home eggs I caught on my last outing, put on ice, fly home, then cure with no problem.

Thumper · 11-20-2002, 06:50 AM

Mallard --- I'll bet they love you at the Kenai Motel 6! The gift that keeps on giving.......

Master Baiter · 11-20-2002, 07:06 AM

I have pushed this refridgeration envelope before and it is a slippery slope! I you absolutely cannot cure them right away, then about 5 days is the max. You must keep the juices drained out to slow down the spoiling process and maybe wipe them down with a paper towel daily. Never rinse with fresh water! The smell test will tell all, if there is any rancid smell toss them, not worth the risk of fishing tainted eggs and turning off the fish.

I leave my eggs in the cure indefinitely unless I want a dryer egg.

MB

AtWorkALot · 11-20-2002, 07:08 AM

I always carry a couple of 2 gallon buckets when I go. I cured a batch in my hotel last weekend. I never let them sit for more than a day. At the very least, I'll put the stock cure on them and seal them in freezer bags until I can finish them up.

mallard0311 · 11-20-2002, 10:44 AM

Thumper,
How did you know that's where we stayed. Our huge ice chest was full of Halibut we had caught on an all day trip out of Homer. Decided to get some sleep and take the fish to be flash froze in the morning. Someone left the drain plug out and it drained on the carpet in the same room. Maybe you had the same room. We bought I love my carpet and air fresheners before we left the room.