vac packed smok. salm.

last week i pulled out some frozen smoked vacuum packed salmon , put it in microwave for a few minutes to defrost. well i got side tracked and opened the microwave a day later and lo and behold there is that fish , i know most of you are probably saying it must not be too good if i forgot about it. well i threw it back in the fridge and im just wondering if its still good [still sealed] or should i throw it out? because im having family over for x-mas eve and i wouldnt want to feed them bad fish. thanks in advanced and merry christmas.

I would think that since it is vacuum packed that it should be fine.

I had piece of vacuum packed smoked salmon that was in my car for several months last winter.Me and a bud ate it drunk around a campfire up on the river.Tasted great and did not get us sick!!

I would not hesitate if it was a piece that i had proccessed and was positive that it was clean before sealing.

Does the word "food poisoning" sound familiar?

You don't cook Turkey or chicken and let it sit out at room temperature for that long and not expect to be either sitting or kissing your commode the next day do you?

I would feed to the cat if it was me!

Cowlitzfisherman <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />

I had the same question as you did about how long vacuum packed smoked salmon was good for, we were planning on sending it as Christmas presents. According to the US Dept. of Agriculture it is safe to eat for 4 months if vacuum packed. Don't have the link I used as I did the research before last Christmas. No reports of any sickness from any of the presents we have sent out, some went as far as Indiana via UPS ground which took about 5 or 6 days. I would think that yours should still be good.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

I thought that is why the Native Americans smoked there fish back in the days so that it would last a while?

Health department tells me for my business that 8 days without refrigeration and 4-5months refrigerated. Obviously the fish needs to be fully cooked and the seal must be solid!

Jim

It should be OK to eat but, if I were you I would try to avoid freezing smoked Salmon. Freezing changes to quality. Smoked Salmon can keep in the frig up to 6 month's without freezing. Freezing brings the oils out,clinging to the bag or container, causing it to dry out some and changing the texture. I freeze some myself but this is because, I Smoke a lot of Salmon during the Season and I have to in order to keep it up to a year or until the next season. The Smoked I love best it's the stuff that I keep refrigerated and then eaten. Remember to take the time and let it thaw in the frig and you will have a better product. Enjoy!

I say toss it! Not worth the risk!

The indians used smoke to completly dry the fish out preserving it for the winter.We smoke salmon totally differant.

This is the reason I do not like to give smoked salmon away.People are under the impression that smoking salmon preserves it when the truth is that the brine is the only thing has any preservational qualitys.I have always felt like people leave it in the fridge to long and do not want to see somebody getting sick because of this mis nomer.

I'd be reluctant to keep it around. Hard to toss out salmon but I agree with other posts that it probably isn't worth it. This advice coming from someone who once left chicken out over night by accident before grilling and serving to friends for a birthday party. I guess with the chicken I justified it by thinking that at least I would be getting things very hot and killing all those bugs before serving it. This board is great for getting advice on topics like this.

If you had not defrosted it, I would say its okay.

If it regains moisture and you toss it back in the fridge/freezer, it may have a green tint along the edge , a nice christmassy green, but neverthless, I would toss it.

Or save it for a camping trip, when you may have drunk friends attending .