How do I separate two fish fillets that have been frozen together?
Sometimes when I get frozen fish, it comes with several pieces frozen together (specifically, Trader Joe's does this with all of their frozen fish).
Is there any good way of separating them without fully thawing?
This could also apply to other frozen things, but I'm mainly interested in fish.
Best Answer
If the pieces are only frozen together in a few places, you might want to try heating a butter knife up under hot water and then using that to pry them apart. This is similar to heating up an ice cream scoop. It won't work if they are really packed in together tightly though.
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Quick Answer about "How do I separate two fish fillets that have been frozen together?"
Pry the frozen fillets apart using a case knife or use a wedge of some sort to separate them physically without thawing. Middle ground compromise: A hack saw can be used to good effect. It's especially easy to make two "half fillets" by cutting across the fillets together instead of trying to separate them.How do you defrost mixed fish?
Submerge the seafood in cold tap water and change the water every thirty minutes until the food has defrosted. Do not try to speed the process by defrosting in hot water because this will encourage bacteria on the food to multiply. Cook seafood thawed under cold water immediately after thawing.How do you unstick frozen salmon?
Put the salmon in a microwave-safe plate and cover it with paper towels or plastic wrap to prevent splatters. Using the defrost setting on the microwave, defrost the salmon for three to five minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the filet.How do you transfer frozen fish?
Frozen fish that are to be transferred to other cold stores must be transported in an insulated vehicle preferably with some form of refrigeration equipment to maintain the air space at a temperature of approximately -20C.Can frozen fish be filleted?
Thread: Filleting frozen fishDon't think you can filet em properly when they're frozen. I usually just let them thaw before putting them under the knife.How to Properly Quick Thaw Frozen Fish
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Answer 2
Pretty much no matter what you do, you will be damaging the product (either physically or otherwise) to some degree. The balance is, how much are you willing to damage the product vs. how much time and effort do you want to expend?
(Non)Individually Quick Frozen foods are a pain if you only intend to use one of the fillets at a time.
Quick and sloppy:
Pry the frozen fillets apart using a case knife or use a wedge of some sort to separate them physically without thawing.
Middle ground compromise:
A hack saw can be used to good effect. It's especially easy to make two "half fillets" by cutting across the fillets together instead of trying to separate them.
Easy does it:
Try thawing for a couple of moments in shallow cold water. Keep the fish you intend to "throw back" out of the water as much as you can to avoid thawing-refreezing-thawing damage for next time.
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