At the Wild Alaskan Company, we take extra measures to ensure the safe frozen transport of wild-caught fish direct to your door! If you are ever confused as to why your fish arrives with a little extra frost, this article is meant to crystalize your vision and burn away your worries.
What are ice crystals?
While the concept of freezer burn is commonly understood, freezer burn on our seafood is actually quite rare. You will, however, often see the presence of ice and ice crystals on the outside of our fish. The freezing methods used by commercial fisher-folk in Alaska are intended to “lock in freshness” shortly after a fish is caught. Our processors flash freeze the fish in a freezing mist of fresh water to maintain maximum freshness and lock in moisture.
Unlike freezer burn, an ice glaze does not affect the quality of the seafood. In fact, it’s quite the contrary! This all-natural ice-glaze is used to help protect the fish from moisture loss, ensuring the flavor and quality of your fish is not affected. Sometimes crystals can form on this layer while spending time in the freezer, but they should disappear once fully thawed for meal preparation.
You can learn more about how we guarantee the frozen transport of our fish to your door here -> How Does the Fish Stay Frozen in Transit?
How long will this last in my freezer?
Now that you know how to identify ice crystals, we do recommend enjoying your portions of Wild Alaskan fish within six months of receiving them. In regards to food safety, frozen protein lasts indefinitely, but after six months in your freezer, while it's still good to eat, we recommend taking any fish you have remaining and making some excellent chowder out of it. If you'd like any tips or recipes, please let us know - we would love to share! 😋
What is Freezer Burn anyway?
Frozen sea protein likes consistent, cold temperatures to retain top quality. When a portion warms up slightly, then refreezes, ice crystals form and expand from moisture loss, and that expansion can lead to a degradation of texture and flavor quality. The ice glaze helps protect your seafood from temperature changes that may occur in your freezer.
How to Store Your Wild Caught Seafood
The best way to avoid freezer burn while your fish is in your freezer is to maintain the vacuum seal and keep it at a low, consistent temperature. Here are our top tips for storing your wild-caught seafood:
Protect the vacuum seal - ensure your portions aren't sliding around and rubbing against things in your freezer, as the friction can cause the seal to break. If a vacuum seal breaks, air and moisture can get in, which can increase the risk of freezer burn.
Preserve the temperature - store your wild-caught seafood toward the back of your freezer - this way the temperature will remain more consistent when opening and closing your freezer door
If you are ever in any doubt about the quality of your fish, please reach out to a member specialist from our Help Page! We are here to address your every need, seven days a week, from 9am to 9pm EST. Please reach out anytime!