We get asked this all the time - how long will my seafood last, and what’s the best way to store it? Especially around Christmas and Easter, when fridges are full and the pressure’s on to keep everything fresh for the big day. The good news? With a few simple storage tricks, your seafood will stay perfectly fresh.
Our No.1 Tip when storing seafood...
At Christmas and Easter time, most household fridges are packed to the brim. Between the ham, the drinks, and everyone constantly opening the door, your fridge temperature can rise without you realising and this temperature fluctuation can shorten the life of your seafood. To keep your seafood in top condition, store it in the coldest part of your fridge, away from the front, ideally between 2–4°C.
Be prepared when you shop..
When buying seafood, it’s always a good idea to bring a cooler bag or esky with you. If you’re shopping during summer, especially on warmer days, pack your own ice or ice bricks to keep your seafood cool on the trip home.
Seafood starts to deteriorate quickly once it’s out of refrigeration - This is why fishing trawlers are equipped with refrigeration facilities and once catch is unloaded, it is promptly iced and then transferred into cold storage.
At Dawson’s, our fridges are purpose-built to keep seafood at the perfect temperature, so you won’t see ice in our display cabinets (and no, we don’t even have an ice machine!). Any seafood that requires icing is handled at the source before it reaches us.
How do I store freshly shucked oysters?
Oysters purchased from Dawson’s come packaged in a recyclable plastic tray - they can stay in this tray until you’re ready to enjoy them. Freshly shucked oysters will keep for up to 7 days after being shucked if stored correctly in the coldest part of your fridge, below 4°C.
When you buy opened oysters, you’ll notice a use-by date on the label - this is a requirement by the NSW Food Authority, so always check the packaging before serving.
What is the best way to store prawns?
Follow these simple storage steps to get the most out of your prawns:
- When you get home, remove prawns from their plastic bag.
- Place prawns in a stainless-steel bowl or glass container and seal with plastic wrap or a lid.
- Avoid letting prawns sit in any excess liquid. Drain as needed.
- Store prawns in the coldest part of your fridge, below 4°c.
If you're wanting to store your prawns for a number of days, you can also ice them. Remember to avoid letting prawns sit in any excess liquid and drain as needed.
Cooked prawns can be kept in your refrigerator anywhere from 2 – 4 days. When cooked prawns start to deteriorate, you will notice either a floury or slimy consistency to the meat depending on the type of prawn, and an overpowering odour.
Green (or raw) prawns deteriorate quicker than cooked prawns. We reccomend buying green prawns frozen, and keeping them frozen until you need them.
How should I store fresh whole fish?
At Dawson’s the majority of whole fish we sell is already scaled and gutted for you. If you are purchasing whole fish, ensure it is scaled and gutted, and then place the cleaned fish on a plate, tray or in a container. Wrap the fish in a damp cloth, cover with plastic or a lid and store it in the coldest part of the fridge for up to 3 days.
Be conscious of the need to keep raw seafood away from any ready to eat foods to prevent bacteria from spreading. Wash cutting boards, knives and hands when handling raw seafood.
How should I store fresh fish fillets?
When you get your fish fillets home, remove the fillets from the plastic bag and place on a plate, tray or in a container. Wrap your fillets in a clean damp cloth and cover with plastic or a lid. Fresh fish fillets should be stored in the coldest part of your fridge and can be stored for up to 3 days.
Fish fillets should have a pleasant sea smell, and not an overly fishy odour. Be conscious of the need to keep raw seafood away from any ready to eat foods to prevent bacteria from spreading. Wash cutting boards, knives and hands when handling raw seafood.
How do I store Live Sydney Rock Oysters?
Unopened or live Sydney Rock Oysters prefer temperatures between 10°c and 15°c. Most household refrigerators sit around 4°c, so putting them in the fridge should be avoided. Instead, keep them in a cellar or cool room in your house. You can put a damp tea towel or cloth on top of live unopened oysters and they will keep for up to ten days, but remember to keep the tea towel damp every day.
How do I store Live Pacific Oysters?
Unopened or live Pacific Oysters prefer temperatures between 5°c and 10°c. Most household refrigerators sit around 4°c, so putting them in the fridge should be avoided. Instead, keep them in a cellar or cool room in your house. You can put a damp tea towel or cloth on top of live unopened oysters and they will keep for up to ten days, but remember to keep the tea towel damp every day.
How should I store Crabs, Bugs, Lobsters and Other Crustaceans?
At Dawson’s, we sell a range of cooked crustaceans. To store cooked crustaceans place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
If you have removed the shell from your crabs, bugs or lobster, store the meat in an airtight container. This helps prevent the meat from drying out and absorbing odours from the refrigerator.
Store cooked crustaceans and cooked crustacean meat away from raw seafood and other raw proteins to prevent cross-contamination. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked seafood.
How should I store live Mud Crabs?
Live Mud Crabs should be stored in the coolest part of the house, (below 20°C), in a covered container with a damp cloth at the base and ventilation holes in the top. They should be stored for no more than 24 hours.
How should I store live Lobster?
Live lobsters can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Cover them with a damp cloth and keep in the coldest part of the refrigerator. If placing them in a box or container, ensure there are air holes.
