Can salmon be refrozen? - It is safe?

Salmon is one of the most consumed shellfish, as it is also one of the most accessible. That said, it’s never short of a very nutritious and tasty meal if you know what you’re doing in the kitchen.

In addition to being a matter of food safety, it is also a matter of comfort. After all, we would all like to have this delicious fish on hand whenever possible.

No wonder, then, that most people wonder: can salmon be refrozen?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to refreeze salmon for up to 8 months. You just have to make sure that the salmon is fresh and safe to eat, that it was thawed correctly the first time, and that it hasn’t been left out too long.

Read on to learn more about how to properly refreeze salmon, as well as some safety and practical considerations to keep in mind.

Why refreeze salmon?

Before we get into the specific methods of refreezing salmon, we’ll first look at the reasons why you’d want to do it in the first place.

• Longevity - Fresh salmon has a very short shelf life. Even if you put it in the fridge, it will most likely go bad quickly. This is a basic fact that everyone knows.
  • Remember that even the salmon you buy in the supermarket has been frozen to ensure that it does not spoil. So if you’ve just bought a batch of fresh salmon, or if you’ve thawed some but haven’t gotten around to cooking it, you want to make sure you put it back in the freezer so it doesn’t spoil.
• Avoid food waste - Leftovers after a big meal are quite common. However, when it comes to salmon, you should consider refreezing it. This way, you can reheat them later. After all, the last thing you want is to waste perfectly good food.
• Convenience - Another reason why you should refreeze salmon is convenience. Let’s put things in perspective. Unlike other types of fish, salmon is by no means cheap. So letting it go to waste by not putting it back in the freezer is tantamount to throwing away your hard-earned money for no reason.
• Accessibility - As one of the healthiest types of seafood around, salmon should always be within easy reach. After all, if you’re serious about eating healthy, you should also prepare accordingly. By refreezing salmon, you are safeguarding the sustainability of your diet by always having a healthy source of protein on hand.

These are just a couple of reasons why you should consider freezing your salmon. While by no means an exhaustive list of reasons to do so, the reasons listed above should give you a clear idea of the specific circumstances that would warrant such a procedure.

Things to Consider Before Refreezing Salmon

There are a couple more things we need to discuss before the actual freezing methods. Most of them have to do with the freshness and condition of your salmon.

Remember that most salmon available at your local supermarket has been pre-frozen. This shouldn’t surprise you. After all, most places don’t have the privilege of having a nearby source of wild salmon.

Therefore, the logical thing is that it freezes. This is done to maintain its freshness while it is being transported and when it arrives at your trusted store. Also keep in mind that in most places it is highly recommended to buy frozen salmon. 

With that being said, there are a couple of things you should ask beforehand:

How long has he been out?

If you want to make sure that your salmon stays fresh, you have to make sure that you can refreeze it within two hours of leaving it at room temperature. Exceeding that limit would pose serious food safety concerns and you risk freezing salmon that has already gone bad.

Also, if the salmon has been left above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you want to make sure it refrozen in less than an hour.

How long has it been in the fridge?

If you have left it in the refrigerator, you also have to control the time it has been there. Salmon, like most fish, can only last so long after thawing, even in the fridge.

At most, it can last three days. So be sure to put it back in the freezer if you don’t plan on cooking it in that time.

Did it defrost well the first time?

It may seem like a strange question, but it will affect how you enjoy salmon later on. Remember that if the salmon thawed properly after quick freezing, it is safe to refreeze it afterwards.

However, you should not refreeze the fish if it was not thawed properly. This is because improper thawing will damage the cellular structure of the salmon, stripping it of its moisture and flavor. Thus, you will end up with a hard and dry fish.

Remember that freezing food is not a magical solution. It does not turn back time or restore freshness.

Rather, it only serves to preserve the salmon in its current state. That means if your salmon has been left out at room temperature for four hours, refreezing it won’t solve your problem.

That’s why you should follow basic food safety guidelines when it comes to freezing and thawing salmon. As a general rule, you will want to use the salmon you have in the fridge within a couple of days. Otherwise, you’ll need to refreeze it to make sure it’s still fresh and edible.

Refreeze salmon

Now that we’ve talked about the reasons why you should refreeze salmon, as well as the different things to keep in mind, we can take a look at how you can refreeze salmon.

Fortunately, the process of refreezing salmon is very simple. Be sure to follow these steps to the letter:

1. First, lay out parchment paper and wrap the salmon pieces individually. This will give the salmon extra protection from freezer burn and prevent them from sticking together.
2. Place the wrapped salmon in freezer-safe bags. Be sure to choose the ones that can be sealed.
3. Squeeze excess air from the bag before sealing it.
4. Properly label the bag. Using a permanent marker, write down the freeze date so you can always tell how long the salmon has been in the freezer.
5. Place the bag on a flat surface in the freezer.

It’s worth noting here that freezing salmon is the best course of action if you want to ensure its longevity. If done correctly, a properly refrozen salmon can last up to eight months in the freezer. 

Make sure you put in the time and effort necessary to properly follow the steps presented above. The procedure is specifically designed to ensure that your salmon not only stays fresh in the freezer, but also to ensure that it is protected from freezer burn.

Thaw and use refrozen salmon

Now that you know how to properly refreeze salmon, it’s time for us to look at the proper way to thaw salmon as well. After all, you’re not refreezing itself. Instead, you refreeze the salmon so you can use it later.

That being said, you also have to make sure you follow the proper thawing method if you want to enjoy your salmon the way it was meant to be.

There are two ways to thaw refrozen salmon:

• Refrigerator method - The first way is perhaps the easiest, although it takes more time. All you have to do is take the refrozen salmon package out of the freezer and place it in the fridge. Normally, it thaws in 8 hours. So do yourself a favor and take it out the night before. This will allow the salmon to thaw overnight while you sleep.
• Cold Water Method – The second method involves immersing the frozen salmon in a bowl of cold water. Then it is changed every 30 minutes until the fish has completely thawed. Needless to say, it is a tedious method that requires your attention, but it achieves the goal.

With that being said, the last thing you want to do is defrost your salmon in the microwave.

As we’ve already said, if you let it thaw too quickly, you risk damaging its cellular structure, which will inadvertently affect the texture and flavor of the fish.

Salmon is one of the most appreciated shellfish. It is incredibly exquisite, tasty and nutritious. So it makes sense that you always have it at your fingertips.

With that being said, you do need to make sure that you follow the steps presented here to the letter in order to refreeze your salmon correctly.