If you've ever thawed something for dinner and then had a change of plans, you're not alone! Most of the time, when you thaw something - refreezing isn't a big deal. But, when it comes to thawing and refreezing frozen fish, people rightfully doubt the process. Luckily, we're here today to tell you it's totally safe to refreeze thawed fish with the right process.
Food safety is of the highest importance when dealing with fish. So, knowing the right methods of freezing, thawing, and prepping is vital when handling salmon. Here is how you can safely refreeze salmon once you've thawed it:
How to Refreeze Thawed Salmon
Confirm it was thawed correctly.
Before you refreeze salmon, ensure it was thawed appropriately. If the salmon wasn't thawed accordingly, then your fish could be teeming with harmful bacteria. Therefore, refreezing it would not be wise, since your fish has already gone bad.
Frozen salmon should be thawed in the refrigerator or under cold water. You want to avoid allowing the internal temperature of the fish to drop to room temperature. This is when your salmon starts to spoil!
Once it's thawed, store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook. Be sure to use it within two days for the freshest and safest meal. If it was left in the fridge longer than that, you might want to throw it out. Whatever the case, consider how the salmon was thawed and stored before deciding to refreeze.
Determine if your salmon is still good.
If you feel like you thawed your salmon correctly, but are unsure if it's gone bad, take a look at this post. Any bacterial growth will stay on your fish if you freeze it, and it'll continue to grow once you thaw again. So, confirming your salmon is still fresh is a key step in this process.
Your salmon might be spoiled if it’s changed to a dull color, smells strongly like fish, or if the flesh breaks apart when touched. However, if the color and texture is still strong on your fish, you can likely refreeze! (For tips on keeping salmon fresh, check out our article, here.) Now, it’s finally time to freeze!
Portion salmon appropriately.
If you have extra salmon that you didn't have time to cook or decided you didn't need, you can totally refreeze the leftovers. But, when you freeze it this time around, pre-portion your filets, so you can avoid thawing too much again.
Later, when you decide to cook more salmon, only take the portions you need. This way, you avoid wasting food. And, you avoid thawing and refreezing your salmon a second time. Each time is a little riskier. Plus, refreezing several times will reduce the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of the fish.
Wrap and seal your salmon.
Now that you've portioned your salmon, it's time to freeze! Wrap your salmon in plastic wrap or parchment paper first. Then, put the portions in freezer bags. Vacuum sealing is a good idea as well, because the greatest enemy to quality when freezing anything is air! Whatever you do, try to get rid of as much air as possible.
Date the package.
Next, date your package. If you do this, you’ll know the exact date your salmon was frozen again. This is important because salmon will only keep for a few months in the freezer. Especially after refreezing! So, it's best to use your salmon within 2-3 months of refreezing.
Store it flat in your freezer.
It's time to freeze. Place your salmon in a freezer that gets at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the salmon is also flat on the rack to help your fish maintain its shape. The thinner the package is from laying flat, the faster it’ll thaw, too. That's a win-win for your next salmon cookout!
Plan to use it soon.
Remember, even frozen foods have a shelf life! The quality of your salmon will go down the longer it's frozen. So, grab that salmon soon, thaw it, and then cook it to your liking. And, don’t forget that you can eat your freshly thawed fish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner - salmon is so dynamic!
You can refreeze thawed salmon as long as it’s still fresh and packaged appropriately!
Sometimes plans change. And, that’s okay! If you planned to cook some delicious salmon, but changed your mind, simply repackage it safely and put it back in the freezer. No harm done. For the best results, be sure whatever fish you’re using is top-quality, like Oshēn Salmon’s ocean-farmed salmon.
And, if you can’t decide whether or not you want to cook it right away, don’t worry! Oshēn Salmon comes in frozen or fresh boxes that you can always decide to freeze later. Now that you know there’s no pressure to cook right away, give our salmon a try with the code FRESH for 15% off at checkout! We can’t wait to see what you’ll cook up!