Cod is a delicious white fish that is often battered and enjoyed with chips and mushy peas. Itās also delicious when enjoyed filleted and is a great source of protein and Omega-3 oils. But whatās the best way to preserve this popular fish?
Can You Freeze Cod?
Yes, you can freeze cod for up to 3 months, either cooked or uncooked. Just make sure your cod is tightly wrapped in tin foil or cling film before you place it in a freezer bag. Then, label the bag and add your cod to the freezer, where it should be good for several months.
Do Does Cod freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Cod? No
How to Freeze Cod
You can freeze cod before or after cooking it. The only difference between the two freezing methods is that you will need to allow the cod sufficient time to cool before freezing it if you have cooked it.
Otherwise, you can freeze cod by following the steps listed below:
- Cool: If you have cooked the cod before freezing it, you will need to leave it at room temperature until it has cooled completely. However, be careful not to leave it sitting out for too long, as fish that has been exposed to room temperature for too long will spoil.Ā
- Wrap: Place each piece of cod in a sheet of tin foil or cling film and wrap tightly. If you have more than one cod fillet, you should wrap them individually as opposed to together. This will prevent them from sticking together during the freezing process.Ā
- Bag Up: Place each of the wrapped pieces of cod into a suitably sized freezer-safe bag and write todayās date and the use-by date on the bag.Ā
- Freeze: Place the labelled bag of fish into the freezer and leave it for up to three months.
3 Tips for Freezing Cod
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cod to have the best results:
Freeze Individual Portions
If you have more than one piece of cod, itās important to wrap and freeze them individually. If you freeze them in the same wrapping, it will be difficult to separate them when you come to remove them from the freezer.
Providing the cod is individually wrapped, you can place them in the same freezer-safe bag to save on space in the freezer.
Freeze Other White Fish Varieties
Cod is one of the most popular types of white fish, but if you have haddock, roe, or any other species, you can freeze them by following the same steps listed above.
Prep the Fish Beforehand
If you have purchased a whole cod or anything bigger than a fillet, you will need to prepare the fish before freezing it. Gut, de-bone, and skin the fish as you ordinarily would before following the steps to freeze the fillets correctly. You can freeze the cod before or after cooking it; the choice is yours.
How Long Can You Freeze Cod?
You can freeze cod for around 3 months. Itās best to freeze it as soon as you get home from the supermarket, as this will ensure it tastes great when you come to enjoy it in the future.
That being said, cod will be good for several days if you refrigerate it, so if you plan to enjoy the fish within a few days of buying it, you donāt need to freeze it in order to preserve it.
Fresh cod will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days when kept wrapped or stored in an airtight container. Once cooked, it will last for a further 2 days.
How Do You Defrost Cod?
The safest way to defrost cod is to remove it from the freezer and place it in the fridge the night before you plan to enjoy it.
You should never defrost cod or any other type of fish at room temperature, as doing so will cause it to spoil.
If youāre in a rush, you can thaw cod in the microwave on its lowest possible setting, but you will need to be careful not to overdo it. As such, the best and safest way to thaw cod is to place it in the fridge.
Can You Refreeze Cod?
No, you should only freeze cod once. The main reason for this is that you donāt know how many times it has been frozen before arriving at your home.
Fishermen often freeze cod on their boats, and it is then potentially refrozen again at the supermarket before you buy it. As such, if you freeze it at home, you should only do so once to prevent the cod from spoiling.
Does Cod Freeze Well?
Cod freezes really well, providing you protect it from freezer burn and wrap it tightly. Itās also important to remember to freeze cod as soon as you bring it home, as this will ensure it is fresh and delicious when you come to enjoy it in the future.
If you freeze cod that has been sitting in your fridge for a few days, it wonāt taste as great at a later date.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing cod or cod in general, then these may help:
No, it does not. If you freeze fresh fish and wrap it sufficiently to ensure it is stored airtight then freezing fish will not ruin it. The only time it will ruin it, is if you were to refreeze fish multiple times.
Fresh cod will last in the fridge for around 4 days. Cooked cod will last in the fridge for only 48 hours before it needs to be thrown out.
