Can You Freeze Jellied Eels?

3 minutes

A classic East End of London treat, jellied eels are not particularly popular these days. If you’re a fan, however, you might want to know the best way to keep a supply of them in your home.

How to Freeze Jellied Eels

Freezing jellied eels isn’t quite as simple as you might think. Instead, there are some critical steps that we recommend you bear in mind:

1. Remove the Lid: You want to keep the eels in the container they came in minus the lid, as you’re going to create your own better seal for the freezer.
2. Wrap the Container in Cling Film: Start at the top, where the open lid reveals the eels. Press the film directly to the surface of the eels, and then press it to the edge of the container, ensuring a good seal is formed.
3. Wrap It Again: Wrapping the package in foil is a way to ensure that as minor physical damage comes to the eels as possible, which is why we recommend heavy-duty foil.
4. Freeze: Place the jellied eels in the centre of the freezer to keep them away from the frost front at the walls where they will remain good for around a month.

3 Tips for Freezing Jellied Eels

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing jellied eels to have the best results:

Check the Seal
A good seal across and around the jellied eels will ensure that they remain as unoxidized as possible. This prevents the smell of them from escaping into your freezer while also preventing bacteria from settling on the surface of them.

Keep Away From Raw Meat and Fish
The jellied eels are technically a form of cooked fish, meaning they cannot be stored with raw meat or fish as that would lead to cross-contamination.

Top Up With Water
Topping the container of jellied eels off with water might seem strange, but it can ensure that you get the best storage possible. They will be encased at that point, which would lead to them losing none of their flavour or aroma while in the freezer.

How Long Can You Freeze Jellied Eels?

You can freeze jellied eels for up to 1 month, though even that can result in some strange textural changes.

It’s essential to remember that the eels themselves will be fine – all fish can be frozen with minor problems.

However, the jelly itself can be damaged through the process of freezing and thawing, leading to the final dish perhaps not being what you want. If you’re unconcerned with the jelly, then you don’t need to be concerned with the impact of your freezer.

How Do You Defrost Jellied Eels?

You can defrost jellied eels safely by placing the whole, wrapped container onto a tea towel in your fridge overnight.

That will ensure that the internal ice melts and that the towel will soak up any condensation on the outside.

You could also place the frozen eels into a sealed freezer bag, and submerge them in warm water for 30-minute increments until thawed. However, this method is liable to result in slimy eels.

Can You Refreeze Jellied Eels?

Yes, you can refreeze jellied eels.

The eels themselves will be fine as they’re frozen and refrozen, though if it happens too often, they may become a little chewier.

However, the jelly itself doesn’t respond well to being frozen at all. It is liable to become more solid after freezing, and this effect will only be multiplied by each subsequent freezing.

Do Jellied Eels Freeze Well?

Yes, jellied eels do freeze well in some ways.

Like all fish products, the eels will respond well to being frozen. However, it’s the jelly that will not freeze well. It will become mushy and lose its texture after being frozen and thawed.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing jellied eels or eels in general, then these may help: