How to Store Salt Herring Fish

Herring fillets are packed in salt to season and preserve the fish as well as change the texture. Before the days of readily available refrigeration, salting was used to store foods for transport or future use. Store salt herring carefully to prevent moisture exposure and bacterial growth, which may lead to spoilage.

Things You'll Need

• Salt herring
• Masking tape
• Permanent marker
• Air-tight container
• Cool, dry area
• Bowl
• Refrigerator

Instructions

1. Place the salt herring into a clean air-tight container and seal it tightly.

2. Tear a piece of masking tape and press it onto the lid or a flat place on the container. Use a permanent marker to write an expiration date that is one year from the date of storage.

3. Place the sealed container in an area that is constantly cool and dry.

4. When ready to serve the fish, open the sealed container and packaging and move the salt herring to a bowl of clean water to begin leaching the salt. Place the bowl holding the salt herring in the refrigerator for 12 hours or more, replacing the salty water with fresh at least three times during the soak unless advised otherwise on the herring package directions.

5. Dump all the water from the bowl after 12 hours, then store the fish in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Use salt herring within a year to get the best possible flavor.

References

• Salt: Schmaltz Herring and Matjes Herring
• Canada Smoked Herring, Salted Herring and Alewife Exporter