Seafood is a delicious, nutritious addition to any meal, but it’s also one of the most perishable foods. To maintain both its freshness and flavor—and most importantly, to avoid foodborne illnesses—it’s essential to handle and store seafood properly. With decades of experience at Wholey’s Market, we are an excellent resource for safe seafood handling and storage information.
How To Transport and Store Seafood
This guide will walk you through our best tips on how to keep your seafood fresh, how to freeze it properly, and how to defrost it safely, saving you both time and money while ensuring your meal is of the highest quality. After purchasing fresh seafood, it's important to get it home and into proper cold storage as quickly as possible. If you have a long trip, consider bringing a cooler and ice or an insulated bag with ice packs to keep the seafood cold during transit. For a short trip, you can pack seafood with cold packs or other cold perishable items after purchasing. Make sure your seafood stays out of direct sunlight and below 40°F during transit. According to the FDA, seafood should be stored at temperatures below 40°F to avoid the risk of bacterial contamination.
Fresh Seafood Storage
Once you have your seafood home, check your refrigerator to confirm it is operating at 40°F or lower. We strongly recommend storing your seafood in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Fresh seafood should be stored based on the following guidelines:
Finfish: Refrigerate and use within 1-2 days of purchase.
Shellfish: Cover with moistened paper towels and refrigerate in a shallow pan without any water.
Mussels: Refrigerate and use within 2-3 days.
Oysters: Refrigerate and use within 7 days.
Lobster & Crabs: Cook the same day of purchase.
To preserve freshness and prevent harmful bacteria from developing, it’s crucial that seafood is stored at 40°F or lower. Fish and shellfish spoil rapidly when exposed to higher temperatures because bacteria grow quickly between 40°F and 140°F, often referred to as the “danger zone.”
Storing Specialty Seafood
If you are unfamiliar with the handling of specialty food items, or if it's just been a while, we have some quick tips for handling and storing specialty seafood.
Alligator & Squid: Best stored in the freezer, tightly wrapped or vacuum-sealed. Thaw overnight in a refrigerator before cooking for best results.
Escargot: If pre-cooked, store in the refrigeratorand use within 2-3 days. If raw, they can be stored following the same freezing methods used for shellfish.
Frozen Seafood Storage
When freezing seafood, it is important to remove as much air as possible from the packaging. Air exposure can lead to freezer burn, which negatively affects both texture and flavor. Vacuum-sealing is ideal for long-term storage, but tightly wrapped freezer bags can also work if you press out the air.
Defrosting Seafood
The safest way to defrost seafood is by placing it in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and reduces the risk of bacterial growth. If your goal is to thaw frozen seafood same day, you can place it in a sealed plastic bag and immerse it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Avoid defrosting seafood out in the open as room temperatures can quickly allow bacteria to multiply.
The shelf life of seafood depends on the condition of the product when you purchase it. Fish can deteriorate or rot rapidly, so it’s important to keep finfish and shellfish on ice. It’s no coincidence that fish markets display their products on crushed ice. Just remember that fish usually swim in water that is colder than the air we breathe. Warm air increases the speed at which fish spoil. To find out more about How Temperatures Affect Food, we encourage you to read the information available on the Food Safety and Inspection Service website.
We understand the importance of proper storage and handling of fresh seafood. Proper storage is the key to keeping your seafood fresh and flavorful. By following these guidelines, you'll ensure your meals are safe, delicious, and of the highest quality. We're here to help you enjoy seafood to its fullest. If you have any questions about storage or handling, feel free to contact us for assitance.