As your summer plans begin to overwhelm you, you may want to begin freezing parts of your fish share for the long winter season when our co-op will be taking a break from bottom hook and line fishing.

 Please find below some tips to ensure that you preserve as much of that Off the Hook freshness as possible:

-Freeze your fish share portion as soon as possible. Meanwhile, chill it over ice or in your fridge.

STEP A- Rinse fish thoroughly under running water.

STEP B-  Freeze it. There are several possible methods:

• Place whole fish or fillets in thick plastic sandwich containers or milk cartons. Cover the fish with water before sealing to prevent drying or oxidation over time.
  
• Wrap whole fish or fillets tightly in a moisture and vapour-proof material such as plastic wrap.  Keep the package as air-free  as possible. Protect this layer of wrap with more packaging - ie freezer paper or aluminum foil.
• Place whole fish or fillets in zippered plastic freezer bags. Press the bag gently to remove air, or use a straw to suck air out of bag. Seal the bag. Protect this layer of wrap with more packaging - ie freezer paper or aluminum foil to protect the freezer bag.
• Place whole fish or fillets in a vacuum packaging bag without getting the sealing area of the bag wet. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for creating a vacuum and sealing the bag.

STEP C- Label it with the date and "This haddock/ hake/ pollock is OFF THE HOOK!"

STEP D- Store up to 6 months.

To thaw, simply store in the refrigerator overnight - about 18 hours for a 1-inch thick package. In a pinch, you can also run under cold water- about 1 hour for a 1-inch thick package.