Do anchovies go bad?

Introduction

Like many other fish, anchovies are extremely rich in omega-3 fatty acid that plays a significant role in the development of the brain, improve eye health and skin. They also help to lower cholesterol, heart disease risk and control blood pressure thanks to the wealthy source of essential vitamins and minerals.

These little fish not only provide us with big nutrition benefits, but also give us numerous choices to turn them into diverse delicacies. Anchovies are commonly bought in different forms, such as fresh, frozen, salted or canned, etc…Obviously, most things retain the freshness and most nutritious when being served in dishes that used them as fresh ingredients rather than processed food.

Anchovies can be best consumed fresh but it’s more popular in areas close to their natural habitat. Most people who reside inland just have chances buying them packed in salt, tinned or jarred in oil.

Such that fact, you must be very confused about how to store fresh anchovies if you prefer savoring it fresh and for how long, when you will need to say goodbye to these little fish or same questions but for prepared anchovies. Don’t panic, in this article, we will enlighten you with essential basic knowledge of this kind of fish.

How long do anchovies last?

Seafood in general and fish in particular is one of the most tricky food to preserve. At room temperature, they almost cannot last within a day. When you luckily have an opportunity to buy fresh anchovies, don’t forget to store them in the freezer compartment of your fridge or in the freezer so they can last up to a few months.

Other forms of anchovies like canned or bottled can last much longer if they are unopened, about over a year in a pantry and even after the best-by date on the label if being stored properly. Once the tin is opened, it can only last for 2-3 months in the fridge or beyond that time in the freezer.

How to tell if anchovies go bad?

The reliable sign of bad fish is they turn from fresh to rotten with a very unpleasant odor. If the can or tin that contains the semi-preserved anchovies is damaged, bulged or leaking liquid, it’s ideal time for the growth of bacteria and you should discard your anchovies right away.

How to store anchovies?

The only way to store anchovies if you want to consume them fresh is freezing them in a freezer. However, the most common way to extend the shelf life of anchovies is not storing them individually but with other ingredients such as salt, oil, white vinegar or ground to paste. Then people usually pack anchovies and other ingredients in a can or bottle then stick it in the freezer for long-term storage.

Can you freeze anchovies?

Yes, you can freeze any forms of anchovies to make it last up to several months or years. Let’s check the instruction laid down below.

How to freeze anchovies?

Now you are going to learn how to freeze properly in just some simple steps.

Tips to freeze anchovies

Make sure that all the cans, containers or bags that carry anchovies are sealed tightly to prevent any moisture
If your can of anchovies is unopened and there is no damage on it, no need to freeze, you just can store it in a dry cool place. It’s just necessary to freeze once the can is opened
Before freezing, it’s better to keep your anchovies in a glass instead of a tin so if you buy a tin of anchovies, just transfer it to a glass
Place heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper in between each layer of fish if you store a large amount of anchovies so they will separate more easily after thawing

Things you’ll need to freeze anchovies

A freezer-safe container or bag

How to freeze fresh anchovies

Wash the fish thoroughly and let them dry completely
Transfer the dish into a freezer container/ bag
Label the bag and stick in the freezer

How to freeze fresh canned anchovies

Just place the unopened can of anchovies directly into the freezer (if it’s already opened, transfer the content inside to a freezer container )
Label the container and stick in the freezer

How to defrost/ thaw anchovies?

To defrost frozen anchovies, just simply transfer them from the freezer to the fridge until they are completely thawed. After that, no need to reheat, just use anchovies as an ingredient of your dish by adding them to the dish and cook per your recipe.