Can you freeze sliced smoked salmon? (lox)

[PrincessFiona60]

This is a topic by Greg Who Cooks, I am trying to see if it will allow me to post it.

I moved about 20 miles from the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Clarita Valley. I love my new home but one of the things I had to give up was my local Super King international supermarket in Northridge. I have all the mainstream supermarkets (Ralphs, Albertson's, Von's, Vallarta, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market) within a short distance, but I miss Super King because they have a huge selection of international foods and really, really inexpensive smoked salmon, more than double the price at SK.

Local supermarkets sell lox for about $32/lb, SK sells nicer lox for $14/lb.

I get out to the SK area every week or 10 days, not worth driving out specifically to shop there. I visited a few days ago and bought about 4 lb. of lox. It seems to last pretty long. I've bought 3 packages before, ate lox on a bagel every morning, and it was still good when I ran out.

But it would be really good if I can buy it in bulk and just freeze most of the packages. (Packages are around a pound each.)

So my question: how does sliced salmon fare in the freezer? I would move a package from freezer to refrigerator a few days before I run out.

Will this work?

 

[CWS4322]

Do you have a vacuum sealer? I know that here they sell frozen smoked salmon...I've never taken freshly smoked salmon and frozen it, but perhaps s/one has.

 

[taxlady]

I agree with CWS about using a vacuum sealer, if the packages aren't already vacuum sealed. I buy frozen, sliced Norwegian smoked salmon at Costco all the time.

 

[merstar]

I freeze sliced smoked salmon with good results. If the package is unopened, I just freeze it as is. If the package has been opened, I wrap the leftovers in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil, and add to a ziplock freezer bag.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

Thanks folks and thanks Fi.

My sliced smoked salmon are already cryovac sealed but not frozen. I'll move a few packages to the freezer as soon as I post.

I hope we get the forum bug fixed that prevented me from posting this topic myself.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

p.s. I hope it works out okay. I just tossed about $30 worth of lox (over 2#) into the freezer.

 

[Dawgluver]

p.s. I hope it works out okay. I just tossed about $30 worth of lox (over 2#) into the freezer.

I have room in my freezer....

 

[Oldvine]

The worst that can happen is some loss of quality. I'm sure if you thaw properly, it will be safe to eat.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

I'm not worried about safe to eat. I'm sure they'll be safe. My worry was loss of quality.

Anyway I'm having lox and bagel, cream cheese and onion for breakfast tomorrow!

I sure hope Super King opens a supermarket in Valencia soon!

(If you live in L.A. you should check them out. So far they are a regional L.A. chain, perhaps several locations in LA/OC.)

 

[taxlady]

I have never noticed a loss of quality in the frozen smoked salmon that I buy. I've even partially defrosted the pack, removed half for current consumption, and refrozen the partially thawed part with no loss of quality. The reason I partially thaw is to be able to separate the slices.

 

[KatM]

I have never thought of freezing smoked salmon. Sometimes I can't eat a small package in a reasonable amount of time. I will definitely try it.

 

[CWS4322]

I have never noticed a loss of quality in the frozen smoked salmon that I buy. I've even partially defrosted the pack, removed half for current consumption, and refrozen the partially thawed part with no loss of quality. The reason I partially thaw is to be able to separate the slices.

I've done this as well with the Norwegian smoked salmon and not noticed a loss of quality.

 

[salt and pepper]

It would depend. Was it previously frozen?

 

[taxlady]

It would depend. Was it previously frozen?

I'm going to guess that most smoked salmon that is sold "fresh" was frozen before it was smoked, to kill parasites.

I'm pretty sure I have bought non-frozen smoked salmon and frozen some of it and it was fine. I have never noticed a deterioration in texture.

 

[Andy M.]

Sometimes when I buy smoked salmon (in 3-4 ounce packages) it says DO NOT FREEZE on the package. I assume it's a texture issue.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

I'm going to guess that most smoked salmon that is sold "fresh" was frozen before it was smoked, to kill parasites.

That makes a lot of sense because because sushi grade fish is commonly flash frozen for a short period for the same reason.

I have no idea if the smoking process would affect parasites. Considering the consistency of the finished product, it appears to be uncooked, so I imagine the temperature is not high enough to kill parasites.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

Sometimes when I buy smoked salmon (in 3-4 ounce packages) it says DO NOT FREEZE on the package. I assume it's a texture issue.

I've never seen that. My main complaint is that I can buy a 3-4 oz. package in a supermarket for about $6 but SK sells approx. 1 pound packages for $14.

I'll report back when I've run out of the unfrozen package and thawed my first frozen package.

I hope Super King will open a supermarket in my area (Santa Clarita Valley) soon. That would solve my problem and get me lots of really inexpensive good quality produce too. The place is amazing! I've seen produce sold there that I never saw in real life but only in an encyclopedia or on the Internet. Fresh!!! And at an inexpensive price!!!

I believe SK has about 8 supermarkets in the Los Angeles area. I remember when Trader Joe's was just California. (I remember when Fry's Electronics was just California.) I'm not sure about Vallarta but I'm pretty sure any expansion will be into only areas with a large Latino population. (We have enough in my area to have our own Vallarta.) It's amazing how these types of markets (and Asian markets) can offer better quality produce for lower prices than mainstream supermarkets.

 

[Mad Cook]

This is a topic by Greg Who Cooks, I am trying to see if it will allow me to post it.

I moved about 20 miles from the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Clarita Valley. I love my new home but one of the things I had to give up was my local Super King international supermarket in Northridge. I have all the mainstream supermarkets (Ralphs, Albertson's, Von's, Vallarta, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market) within a short distance, but I miss Super King because they have a huge selection of international foods and really, really inexpensive smoked salmon, more than double the price at SK.

Local supermarkets sell lox for about $32/lb, SK sells nicer lox for $14/lb.

I get out to the SK area every week or 10 days, not worth driving out specifically to shop there. I visited a few days ago and bought about 4 lb. of lox. It seems to last pretty long. I've bought 3 packages before, ate lox on a bagel every morning, and it was still good when I ran out.

But it would be really good if I can buy it in bulk and just freeze most of the packages. (Packages are around a pound each.)

So my question: how does sliced salmon fare in the freezer? I would move a package from freezer to refrigerator a few days before I run out.

Will this work?

Based on my experience of commercially frozen smoked salmon, I don't think it works terribly well. The texture seems to be affected and it goes a bit pappy. However, if I was going to freeze it I wouldn't leave it in there for much more than 4 weeks.

Only my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[Mad Cook]

I hope we get the forum bug fixed that prevented me from posting this topic myself.

I replied to the PF version but when I "quote"d it It came as your post with your avatar. Most odd.

 

[KatM]

Thanks for the advice.