Cod roe is a unique delicacy but, depending upon where you live, it can be tricky and pricey to get some of it. For this reason, you might consider freezing it to ensure you have a supply of cod roe in your kitchen. But, is this doable?
Can You Freeze Cod Roe?
Yes, you can freeze cod roe for up to 6 months. The best way to do this is to boil and slice the roe before double-wrapping it by wrapping batches of slices in a layer of baking paper before wrapping in cling film. The wrapped package can then be frozen.
Do Does Cod Roe freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Cod Roe? No
How to Freeze Cod Roe
The best way to freeze cod roe is to start off by cooking it. This might seem counter-intuitive, but itās a wise choice.
For protein-rich food, a cooked version sometimes freezes better than a raw version, as the proteins within the food denature and change shape as they cook.
So, boil and slice the cod roe first of all, and feel free to use any recipe that you might like. If youāve got a favorite recipe, weāre sure it will work just as well as any other recipe. This recipe for poaching is spot on.
- Wrap Once: Once the cod roe is sliced, wrap batches of slices up in a primary layer of baking paper. Wrap the slices loosely, though tightly enough that the paper doesnāt immediately unfurl – that would be frustrating and, likely, messy.
- Wrap Again: Next, wrap those parcels in a layer of cling film, allowing for the cling film to stick to itself when the outer layer is complete. The end goal is to create a sealed parcel, so giving the package one or two wraps may be best.
- Freeze: Once the roe is completely wrapped, label it with the correct date and transfer it to the freezer, where it will keep for around six months.
3 Tips for Freezing Cod Roe
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cod roe to have the best results:
Be Cautious of Smoked Roe
Smoked roe is a little different than non-smoked since itās typically hot smoked in a smokehouse. This process functionally cooks it, meaning that you wonāt really need to boil it in order to get an easily freezable product out of there. Instead, you can skip straight to slicing.
Slices Shouldn’t Stick
Because of the nature of roe, the slices shouldnāt stick together as slices of meat tend to stick together. This is because it tends not to be as damp or moist as sliced ham. When the roe has frozen and thawed, the slices still shouldnāt stick together.
Freeze on the Day of Purchase
The best practice for roe is to freeze it on the day you purchase it. The reason that we recommend this is that it allows you to totally maximize the amount of time that you can store the roe, allowing you to have a full freezer for a longer period of time.
How Long Can You Freeze Cod Roe?
You can freeze cod roe for around six months, after which point freezer burn will likely begin to set in, which would lead to a decrease in the quality of the texture of the cod roe.
Unopened cod roe will last in the fridge for around 2 weeks if the packaging is airtight. Once opened, however, it will only last for around 48 hours.
How Do You Defrost Cod Roe?
The best way to defrost cod roe is to leave it in the fridge overnight, allowing it to come to fridge temperature easily and slowly.
This is likely the best option because it prevents the roe from getting too wet, which would damage the consistency of the final product.
Can You Refreeze Cod Roe?
Technically, yes, but we would strongly advise against it.
The reason for this is that when meat or fish thaws, it becomes a great place for bacteria to live. Therefore, protecting your family from that unsafe food is likely for the best.
Does Cod Roe Freeze Well?
Yes, cod roe does freeze well. It typically has a very dense texture, which means that itās unlikely to be damaged by the freezing process itself. Therefore, we would certainly argue that cod roe freezes well.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing cod roe or cod roe in general, then these may help:
Tinned cod roe can be frozen but only if the tin has been opened. Otherwise, it will last long in the tin than it would in the freezer!
Cod roe can be cooked from frozen, but this will often ruin the texture, making it quite watery. Instead, it’s a good idea to defrost it slowly before reheating it.
