Question about ahi tuna steaks and freshness??!
I bought some beautiful ahi tuna steaks (to be seared) today for guests who were supposed to arrive tomorrow!. I just found out they'll be here Sat instead!.
--Will the tuna steaks still be fresh!?
--Should I freeze them now and defrost tomorrow night or Sat morning!? or
--Do I just use them/freeze them for a later date and buy fresh ones tomorrow or Sat!?
I'd rather not buy again b/c I spent close to $80, but I will if I need to!. Any advice would be very much appreciated!Www@FoodAQ@Com
--Will the tuna steaks still be fresh!?
--Should I freeze them now and defrost tomorrow night or Sat morning!? or
--Do I just use them/freeze them for a later date and buy fresh ones tomorrow or Sat!?
I'd rather not buy again b/c I spent close to $80, but I will if I need to!. Any advice would be very much appreciated!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place in the meat drawer of your fridge to keep them very cold!. Remove 2 hours prior to cooking on Saturday to allow them to come up to room temperature!. Then follow your normal searing techniques!. Serve with some teryaki sauce containing fresh pressed ginger, onion powder, and a little pineapple or orange juice to taste!. Boil this sauce and thicken with a bit of cornstarch!. Then add some diagonally sliced green onions for some color and serve alongside the Ahi with some rice and a salad with Japanese soybased dressing!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Get that raw tuna home from the market and into your refrigerator as soon as possible!. Keep the tuna refrigerated until you are ready to use it!. It is best to use fresh tuna the day of purchase!.
If you need to store it, pat it dry, wrap securely in plastic wrap or foil and store in the coldest part of your refrigerator (optimum temperature of 31 degrees F!.)!. If your refrigerator is not that cold, place the wrapped fish on a bed of ice or in a plastic bag filled with ice!. Use within 24 hours!.
If you know the tuna is fresh and not previously frozen, feel free to wrap and freeze it!. However, if you're buying fresh tuna in a grocery store, you can almost bet it has been previously frozen, in which case it is best to use it immediately!.
To freeze fresh tuna, prepare a solution of 1 tablespoon ascorbic acid crystals to 1 quart of water or 1/4 cup salt dissolved in 1 quart of water!. Dip the fish into the solution to firm it up!. Seal in plastic wrap and then in a zip-top bag!.
Better yet, freeze it in an ice block by putting into a zip-top bag and covering with water!. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag!. Freeze up to three months!.
Thaw frozen tuna slowly in the refrigerator!. If it is in a sealed zip-top bag, it can be thawed more quickly by placing the sealed package in a sink or pot of cold water!. Microwave thawing is not recommended!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you need to store it, pat it dry, wrap securely in plastic wrap or foil and store in the coldest part of your refrigerator (optimum temperature of 31 degrees F!.)!. If your refrigerator is not that cold, place the wrapped fish on a bed of ice or in a plastic bag filled with ice!. Use within 24 hours!.
If you know the tuna is fresh and not previously frozen, feel free to wrap and freeze it!. However, if you're buying fresh tuna in a grocery store, you can almost bet it has been previously frozen, in which case it is best to use it immediately!.
To freeze fresh tuna, prepare a solution of 1 tablespoon ascorbic acid crystals to 1 quart of water or 1/4 cup salt dissolved in 1 quart of water!. Dip the fish into the solution to firm it up!. Seal in plastic wrap and then in a zip-top bag!.
Better yet, freeze it in an ice block by putting into a zip-top bag and covering with water!. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag!. Freeze up to three months!.
Thaw frozen tuna slowly in the refrigerator!. If it is in a sealed zip-top bag, it can be thawed more quickly by placing the sealed package in a sink or pot of cold water!. Microwave thawing is not recommended!.Www@FoodAQ@Com