Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon? Surprising Facts You Need To Know

Can you freeze smoked salmon? How long can you store smoked salmon in the freezer? These and many others are some of the kitchen-related questions some of my blog readers have been asking since January of this year.

I had been wondering about this too, something which pushed me to find out the best way to preserve smoked salmon. So as an ardent cook, I have given the best answers you can’t find it elsewhere. Read on to found out and learn more.

Is The Question Worth Asking?

Smoked salmon is typically a trout, whitefish, grayling, char or any other fish in the family Salmonidae that has been cured and cold or hot smoked. Storing the remaining smoked salmon is a real issue for many people out there. Many of them prepare large quantities of this dish which end up in the dustbin.

Smoked Salmon was and still is one of the delicacies I enjoy preparing for my family or whenever I want to party with friends. I use 2 slides salmon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme and 3 limes. For brine, I use 2 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1-quart water. I set my Char-Broil Vertical Gas Smoker to around 225 °F and the smoke my brined fish until its internal temperature is 140 degrees.

Via: Amazon.com

In the past, almost half of the food which I prepared for my kids or guests ended up in the dustbin. Spending a lot of money and time only to eat a little and throwing the rest didn’t auger well. It seemed wasteful to me so I embarked looking into this issue and share what I found with you.

Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon?

Basically, yes. You can freeze smoked salmon which you can’t eat in one sitting. This is a great way to preserve its taste, texture and overall quality, as well as its longevity.

If you want to eat one of the freshest smoked salmon, the best you can find in the market is the frozen one. This type of salmon was subjected to freezing when it was at its optimum quality and freshness. Whenever I don’t want to freeze smoked salmon at home, I go for this store-bought frozen smoked salmon.

If you have bought vacuum-packed smoked salmon, you can put it into the freezer as is. Make sure that individual servings are placed in airtight containers labeled with the freezing date. Smoked salmon will dry out if the individual servings are not sealed tightly while in the freezer. I use freezer-safe bags because they are the best packaging for any freezer.

To prevent the growth of harmful micro-organisms and to maintain quality, frozen smoked salmon should be thawed in the freezer at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Never attempt to refreeze smoked salmon because this will adversely affect its texture and flavor.

The Freezing Process

In this section, I have covered some of the important steps you need to follow before you put your smoked salmon into the freezer.

• Cut big pieces of your smoked salmon into tiny slices. Small slices will make it easier for you when you want to thaw your smoked salmon quickly.
• After cutting your smoked salmon into small pieces, wrap each piece tightly with a plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn from occurring. I use an extra of aluminum foil to provide additional protection against freezer burns.
• ​The next step is to put wrapped pieces into different freezer bags or airtight container. Whatever type of packages you use, make sure they are sealed tightly to prevent air from entering. If you are using freezer bags, make sure any excess air is released from the bags before closing them up.
• Label your containers or freezer bags with the freezing date. You only need to take out the freezer bags out of the freezer depending on the quantity of smoked salmon you can to cook.

Before freezing your smoked salmon, it’s up to you to decide the number of pieces to put into the freezer bags. You can place a single piece or up to five pieces depending on your preferences. There is no need to separate individual pieces while they are in the bag as they won’t stick together during the freezing process.

How To Freeze Fish And Avoid Freezer Burn?

For more information about the fish freezing process, the video below will help you learn out to freeze fish and found freezer burn.

The Thawing Process

When you want to defrost your smoked salmon from the freezer, it is recommended you remove only the amount you wish to defrost. Put the freezer bags into the refrigerator immediately after taking them out of the freezer. Wait for your smoked salmon to be defrosted completely before removing them from the refrigerator for consumption.

How Long Does Smoked Salmon Remain Safe To Eat Under Freezing?

Smoked salmon can stay up to six months or more in the refrigerator or freezer without any problems occurring. Already frozen smoked salmon remain safe to eat under refrigerator for a period of between 5 to 6 days. If you use fresh salmons (non-smoked), they will remain safe to eat under refrigeration for a period of up to two days.

Conclusion

Smoked salmon is a tasty and delicious dish you can prepare for breakfast, lunch or during dinner time. While it may be expensive to eat, this dish is easier to freeze for many months without any problem occurring.

If you want to smoke your salmon at home, one of the best smokers you can choose is Smokehouse Products Little Chief Electric Smoker. For freezing, I recommend midea WHS-129C1 Freezer.

If you have more information or any concern about freezing smoked salmon, feel free to share with us. If you have any question regarding smoked salmon, also feel free to ask in the comments section below.