Smoked salmon is a delicious and healthy addition to your diet. There are many recipes you can use smoked salmon slices in. Put them on bagels with cream cheese or add them to scrambled eggs.
You could make a smoked salmon dip or creamy smoked salmon pasta. Put them in a salad such as a potato salad or in eggs benedict instead of bacon. However, what if you buy a large packet of smoked salmon slices and have too many leftover?
An opened packet will only last for a couple of weeks in the fridge and must be used by the use-by date. So, can you freeze smoked salmon? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze smoked salmon slices and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Smoked Salmon
1. Put the salmon in an airtight container.
Place a piece of greaseproof paper on the bottom of the container. Put two pieces of salmon on top of this. Then place another piece of greaseproof paper on top of the salmon. Repeat this process until you have put all the salmon in the container. The greaseproof paper will stop the salmon slices from sticking together so you can remove only as many as you need. Put a label on the container so that you know when you put it in the freeze.
2. Put the container in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Smoked Salmon
- Use greaseproof paper to separate the salmon to stop the slices from sticking together.
- It is better to use frozen smoked salmon sooner rather than later. It may still be safe to eat but it will start to lose the smoky flavor.
- When you defrost the smoked salmon in the fridge, you will need to be prepared for a smelly fridge. Other food will probably take on a fishy smell. Keep the slices in the container to limit the smell or if you remove just a few slices, put them in a separate container. You can put an odor absorber in the fridge to get rid of at least some of the smell. An alternative is a small bowl of baking powder as this also helps to limit smells.
For How Long Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon
You can keep smoked salmon slices in the freezer for up to six months but, as we have said, they are best used as quickly as possible so that they retain their smoky flavor. We recommend using frozen smoked salmon within four months. After this time, it will still be safe to use but it won’t be as tasty.
How Do You Defrost Smoked Salmon
The only way to defrost smoked salmon slices is in the fridge slowly and steadily. This helps them retain taste, texture, and nutrients. Put the salmon in the fridge the night before you want to use it and try to keep it as far away from other food as possible as the food will smell and probably taste fishy. Don’t defrost your smoked salmon slices in the microwave as will end up mushy.
Once the smoked salmon has defrosted, use it straight away as it will go bad very quickly. This is why it is a good idea to separate the smoked salmon slices with greaseproof paper so that you only defrost as much as you need and don’t end up throwing any away.
Can You Refreeze Smoked Salmon?
No, you can’t refreeze smoked salmon which is the same with most fish. If you do, there is a high chance that bacteria will develop, and the fish will go off. You would then risk getting food poisoning.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Smoked Salmon?
Yes, it is. Smoked salmon slices freeze well and won’t lose their taste as long as you don’t leave them too long in the freezer. Make sure that you follow the steps we have outlined, and you can then remove just as many slices as you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing smoked salmon but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
Lox is a slice of brined salmon. It is brined in salt and doesn’t take as long to prepare as curing does. You can freeze lox salmon slices and can do it in the same way as freezing smoked salmon. It will also last for up to six months in the freezer.
Yes, you can. First, cool down the salmon. You don’t want to put it into the freezer while it is still warm as it will bring up the temperature and other food may spoil. It will also ruin the texture of the salmon. Don’t, however, leave the salmon out at room temperature for more than two hours as bacteria may start to form, and you could get food poisoning. When the pieces are cool, wrap each piece tightly in two layers of cling film. You don’t want air to get to the fish as this can cause freezer burn which will ruin the taste and texture. Then, put the pieces of salmon in a freezer bag and squeeze out the air to stop freezer burn. The pieces shouldn’t stick together as they are wrapped individually. When you want to eat them, defrost them in the fridge overnight as you would smoked salmon slices.
Smoked mackerel freezes particularly well but you can also freeze smoked whitefish, trout, and herring. You can freeze them either as slices or pieces.
If you buy a pack of vacuum-sealed smoked salmon slices and don’t want to use it straight away, you can just put it straight into the freezer. It can be kept in the freezer for up to six months. If you have opened the pack, freeze it in the way we have described in this article.
