Put and Take Sverige
Freezing and storing rainbow trout
A newly caught rainbow trout is one of the finest ingredients you can get, but the quality is decided long before the fish hits the pan. What happens from the moment you kill the fish until it lies in the freezer means more for flavour and texture than most people think. With a few simple habits you look after the catch fully.
Chill at once is everything
The most important step is to chill the fish quickly after killing it. A fish that lies in heat and sun breaks down fast, loses freshness and can pick up a dull off-flavour. Take a cool bag with ice packs or ice to the water and put the fish in as soon as it is killed. If you can gut it already at the water it keeps even better, because the guts otherwise speed up breakdown. Fast chilling is the single best thing you can do for the end result.
Gut in time
Gut the fish the same day, preferably as soon as you can. Take out guts and gills, rinse the belly cavity clean and wipe the fish. A gutted fish keeps considerably longer than an ungutted one, and it takes less space and is easier to portion. If you want to fillet, do it in the same go, see fillet rainbow trout, but whole gutted fish also freezes well.
Fridge or freezer in time
Gutted and well chilled, rainbow trout normally keeps one to two days in the fridge, at the back where it is coldest. If you know you will not eat it within that time it is better to freeze it at once while it is at its freshest than to let it sit too long in the fridge. The quality of the frozen fish mirrors how fresh it was when it went in, so do not wait.
Freeze airtight
Freezer burn, the dry grey surface that air causes, is the most common quality thief in the freezer. So freeze the fish as airtight as possible. Vacuum packing gives the best and longest protection. If you have no vacuum sealer, a proven trick is to freeze whole or filleted fish in a bag or dish filled with water, so a protective ice layer forms around the fish. Always mark with the date, and aim to eat frozen rainbow trout within a few months for best flavour. When it is time to cook you find the recipes under cook rainbow trout.
FAQ
How do I keep the fish fresh during the fishing day?
Chill it as quickly as you can after killing it. Put it in a cool bag with ice packs or ice, preferably gutted, and keep it away from sun and heat. Fast chilling is the single most important thing for quality.
How long does fresh rainbow trout keep in the fridge?
Gutted and chilled, rainbow trout usually keeps 1–2 days in the fridge. If you will not eat it within that, freeze it. The faster it was chilled and gutted, the better it keeps.
How do I freeze rainbow trout best?
Gut first, and freeze it as airtight as possible — vacuum packed keeps longest. A simple trick is to freeze whole fish in a bag of water so the ice protects against freezer burn. Mark with the date.