Food preservation

How To Store Dried Fish (5 Methods)

Dried fish can be used in many ways in the kitchen and is a high source of rich omega-3 oils or fatty acids. But, in order to ensure that your dried fish lasts for the longest possible time, you need to know how to store it correctly.

Dried fish can be stored in a cool place, in the refrigerator, and even in the freezer if you want to store it for the longest time. If stored correctly, dried fish can be stored for around 6 to 12 months without having to freeze it.

1. Store Dried Fish In The Basement

If you have a basement in your home and the dried fish has been prepared correctly, it can be hung after being wrapped in your basement for around 6 to 8 months. The most important thing to remember is to stop the fish from absorbing moisture and being exposed to oxygen.

To store your fish, you should wrap it tightly in 3 layers of paper; parchment or baking paper is recommended. Secure the paper with twine, and then hang your fish on hooks suspended from the ceiling in your basement.

The temperature in your basement should be kept at a steady 35 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). It should also not be too humid or too dry. Ideally, you want the humidity to be around 70 percent. In addition, it’s ideal if the basement is quite dark most of the time.

Alternatively, you can store your dried fish in a covered wooden or cardboard box. Just remember to wrap the fish in several layers of paper before placing them in the box.

2. Store Dried Fish In The Refrigerator

If you don’t have a basement, you can also store dried fish in the refrigerator. Once again, you want to wrap it in paper and store it in the driest part of your fridge. The meat drawer is normally ideal for this or the lowest shelf in your refrigerator.

You should be able to store the dried fish in the fridge for around 3-4 months. As an alternative, you can wrap your fish in cling wrap if you don’t have any parchment paper handy.

3. Store Dried Fish In The Freezer

Once again, wrap your dried fish in several layers of paper and then place it into a freezer bag before storing it in the freezer. The paper will ensure that the fish doesn’t absorb any moisture, and the freezer bag will stop it from getting freezer burn.

Dried fish can be safely stored in the freezer for around 12 months.

4. Store Dried Fish In Glass Jars

It’s also quite common to store dried fish in glass jars that have tightly closed lids. For this, you want to pack the fish into the jars and then seal them tightly. It’s even better if you can vacuum seal the jars to remove all the air.

Remember that dried fish should not be allowed to absorb moisture or be exposed to oxygen if you want to keep them for the longest time possible.

Store your jars of dried fish in the pantry or store room away from sunlight and moisture.

In some European households, it’s common to place a small lighted candle in the base of the jar before closing the lid. The idea behind this is that the flame of the candle will use up all the oxygen in the jar, and the candle will extinguish once the oxygen in the jar has been depleted.

5. Vacuum Seal Your Dried Fish

If you happen to have a vacuum sealer in your home, this is ideal for packaging your dried fish and storing it either in the fridge or the freezer.

Vacuum sealing removes all the air and seals the fish tightly so that neither air nor moisture can get to it to cause it to spoil.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will dried fish last unrefrigerated?

Fish that has been dried correctly should keep for around 6 to 12 months when stored in a cool, dry spot.

How do you prolong the shelf life of dried fish?

To keep your dried fish for longer, it’s best to store them in the refrigerator or the freezer. The important thing to remember is to stop any moisture or oxygen from getting to the fish.

What can you do with dried fish?

In Asian cooking, dried fish is normally added to stews and sauces to add flavor. However, in some European cultures, dried fish is eaten as a snack with beer.

Interesting fact:

Did you know that drying is one of the oldest methods of food preservation? It was used all around the world to preserve fish that were caught during times of plenty so that they could be consumed when lakes and rivers froze over during the winter.

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