How to Preserve Minnows
Whether you want to preserve minnows leftover from a previous fishing trip or you just want to buy your minnows and preserve them ahead of time, preserving your minnows is important, especially if you go fishing a lot. There are many different ways to preserve your minnows, with recipes that include everything from salt and oil to alcohol and even sugar. Here are two of the best ways to preserve minnows.
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Instructions
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Canning Salt Method
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1
Coat a container (or containers, depending on how many minnows you have) with canning salt.
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2
Add the minnows to the container(s). Don't put too many to a container otherwise this process won't work as well. The best way to be sure that you don't have too many is not to have them touching.
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3
Refrigerate the minnows for 2 days.
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4
Pour any excess water that has accumulated in the container(s) holding the minnows. The canning salt will draw the moisture from the minnows.
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5
Repeat Step 4 every 2 days for 8 days total. This will make the minnows leathery so they don't slip off the hook. Keep them refrigerated until you are ready to use them.
Sweet Oil Method
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6
Add sweet oil to a bucket, then add the minnows. The oil should cover the minnows with about a inch of oil above them, so you may need to add a bit more oil after adding the minnows.
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7
Add water to a pan and start it boiling on the stove. Make sure the base of the pan is larger than the base of the bucket because you are going to put the bucket in the pan.
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8
Put the bucket with the sweet oil and minnows in the pan of boiling water.
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9
Wait for the sweet oil to reach a boiling point, then immediately remove it from the stove.
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10
Remove the minnows from the oil once the oil has cooled. Pat them dry, put them in plastic bags and refrigerate them until you are ready to use them.
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Tips & Warnings
As an alternative, consider adding live minnows to salt water until they are dead, then taking them out, drying them and putting them in plastic bags filled with canning salt.
Don't freeze your minnows after the eighth day because it will just make them mushy and they will easily slip off your hook, which you don't want. Don't let the minnows in the oil boil or they will be soft and tender and you won't be able to use them.
References
- Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/casaverdesol/275520256/
