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Best way to freeze spot prawns

 
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skiptowns98033



Joined: 13 Feb 2014
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City/Region: Cornet Bay
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Plan C
PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:43 pm    Post subject: Best way to freeze spot prawns Reply with quote

Parts of the shells and tails of the uncooked spot prawns we are pulling from the freezer are black. We've always frozen them individually on a cookie tray and put them in Ziplocks bags.

Anyone got an idea of what's going on or what do to to keep them better?
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Salmon Fisher



Joined: 07 Aug 2009
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City/Region: Arlington
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Kim Christine
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are these tails or the whole shrimp?

We separate the tails from the body after catching, put in bags and on ice.
Once home, we put 20 tails in a one quart freezer ziplock bag and fill approx 1/3 full of water. Squeeze all the air out and zip shut. Put them flat on cookie sheet until frozen and stack in bin in freezer.

We have excellent shrimp when we take out of freezer and thaw and take shell off and cook. The tails surrounded by water keeps the air away from the tails and does a great job of preservation.

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SVal



Joined: 02 Nov 2015
Posts: 33
City/Region: Elma
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1990
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Vessel Name: Pacemaker
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Exactly, freezing them in a ziplock freezer bag with water. When the shrimp are fresh the quicker you separate the heads from tails and put them on some ice the fresher they will stay. As soon as they die they let out a little toxin into their bodies and that turns them black. You can ice them, no water, when you first catch them and they will live longer. Just watch them and when you see them dying stop, quickly separate heads from tails and put the tails on ice. They should keep real nice in freezer in water 3 to 6 mos maximum depending on how much air you remove. I also get some each year from a commercial fisherman friend of mine. He does almost the same but gives them to me in one of those clear plastic square jars that Costco Mixed Nuts come in. After he fills the jar with tails he fills it with water and freezes. I've had them in the freezer over 6 months and they were awesome.
Enjoy,

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SVal



Joined: 02 Nov 2015
Posts: 33
City/Region: Elma
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1990
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Pacemaker
Photos: Pacemaker
PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Exactly, freezing them in a ziplock freezer bag with water. When the shrimp are fresh the quicker you separate the heads from tails and put them on some ice the fresher they will stay. As soon as they die they let out a little toxin into their bodies and that turns them black. You can ice them, no water, when you first catch them and they will live longer. Just watch them and when you see them dying stop, quickly separate heads from tails and put the tails on ice. They should keep real nice in freezer in water 3 to 6 mos maximum depending on how much air you remove. I also get some each year from a commercial fisherman friend of mine. He does almost the same but gives them to me in one of those clear plastic square jars that Costco Mixed Nuts come in. After he fills the jar with tails he fills it with water and freezes. I've had them in the freezer over 6 months and they were awesome.
Enjoy,
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smckean (Tosca)



Joined: 18 Jan 2014
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I freeze the tails with water in ziplocks just as everyone else mentions; however, I use salt water. I find fresh water washes out the taste a bit.

I've had them frozen in water this way for over a year, and they were fine (not like fresh mind you, but fine).
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SENSEI



Joined: 01 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

we use freezer containers large enough to hold 20 to 25 tails. fill with water and freeze them
once frozen I take them out of the containers and use the vacuum sealer to to bag them.
then write date on them and stack in the freezer. works well and we have kept them for over a year with no problems.

once frozen and thawed the shrimp shell a lot easier.I use a kitchen scissors to cut the tails down the back of it and then pull the shells off either side. also helps to devein them if need be.

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rogerbum



Joined: 21 Nov 2004
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We pull off the heads and freeze them on sheet trays lined with wax paper. Then, I put them in food saver bags lined with pieces of cardboard (usually from a carton that contained canned soda). Then I vacuum pack. They stay great this way. Without the cardboard, the sharp edges poke through the bag.
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Patrout



Joined: 07 Feb 2004
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City/Region: NORTH POLE
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We pull the heads off while still out in the boat. Put about 2 dozen per ziplock on ice that we've sprinkled rock salt on. Usually by the time we are back in harbor, the shrimp are nearly completely frozen.

Same goes for fish filets. The sooner they're frozen, the better they taste.

Then at home they get vacuum-bagged.

Pat
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localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SENSEI wrote:
we use freezer containers large enough to hold 20 to 25 tails. fill with water and freeze them
once frozen I take them out of the containers and use the vacuum sealer to to bag them.
then write date on them and stack in the freezer. works well and we have kept them for over a year with no problems.

once frozen and thawed the shrimp shell a lot easier.I use a kitchen scissors to cut the tails down the back of it and then pull the shells off either side. also helps to devein them if need be.


Ditto. Great minds think alike.
Wink

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