What is the average shelf life of snapper? How long does snapper last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store snapper to increase its shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Snapper
| Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh | 1-2 Days | 6-8 Months |
| Cooked | 2-3 Days | 2-3 Months |
Snapper is a type of marine fish that feeds and lives in fresh water. This fish is extensively used in cooking and is liked and used by a major population of the world. You can cook it and can also keep it raw as well. While it is still raw, it can be refrigerated for 1-2 days when it is bought fresh, but if it is put in a freezer, it can stay up to 6-8 months. If you get it cooked, you can refrigerate it 2-3 days and freeze it for 2-3 months.
Purchasing Snapper
The Fish market is filled with snappers. You can get them easily, but there are chances that you might not be able to pick the right one which is not only fresh but of good quality as well. Shopkeepers might sell to you West Coast Rockfish that looks like snapper or more precisely Red snapper. So keep these things in mind while purchasing a snapper. Always check the color of the fish. Red snappers have a very neat appearance, red eyes, and pinkish skin. They weigh 4-6 pounds. You can get them in the filleted form, or even whole fish is available as well. Make sure that no foul smell is coming out of it.
Storing Snapper
Storing a freshly caught fish and the one bought from the market are somehow related. Once you catch a snapper, try to clean it as soon as possible and store it in a freezer or refrigerator below 40 ͦF for 1-2 days before getting cooked. A cooked snapper can be kept in a freezer above 140 ͦF for 2-3 days before eating. Proper handling is required while storing it. Use cold water to clean it, then put a paper towel around it and wrap it in aluminum foils finally. Then put it in the freezer.
How to Handle Snapper
Handling a snapper is not an easy task. You will love to catch it but its handling is tricky. If you get a fresh fish from the market, try to clean it and refrigerate it as soon as possible. It is advisable to carry it in a plastic bag to avoid contamination of the meat since it can cause serious food infections. Maintain the temperature of 40 ͦ F while storing. Do not make the contact of fish with any other raw or cooked food to avoid contamination. Store it properly for future use.
Cooking Snapper
You can experiment a lot while cooking a snapper. While cooking, make sure that it is cooked evenly, especially from the side of thick flesh around the head and eyes. Grilling, baking, broiling, and roasting could be done with this fish. You can add it in soups which are very healthy as well. It has also been used as part of salads. Use a thermometer to control the temperature. A very high temperature can eventually dry the fish, and its taste would no longer be the same.