Storing Abalone in the Freezer

November 15, 2012

Question: Regulations literally say abalone must remain in the shell until ready for immediate consumption. Does an abalone stored at home in the freezer really have to remain in the shell? If so, if intestines and guts are still attached, isn’t there a possibility of food poisoning occurring? (Anonymous)

Answer: The law does require that abalone remain attached to the shell until ready for immediate consumption. If you freeze the entire abalone whole and intact until ready for immediate consumption, the flesh and the guts are both preserved by freezing and should offer no health risks.

should offer no health risks.

Should?

So we must freeze it whole, attached to the shell, but it may pose a health risk? Does it or not, what are the chances?

i think the shell and guts kind of acts like a barrier from freezer burn. I'm a fan of freezing them guts n shell.

I freeze mine all the time.no health risk to me so far.only thing I dont like about freezing the whole thing is it takes up space.but I also have a very small freezer

I just pulled A whole ab out of the freezer intact in the shell and ate yesterday. Im fine.

That's questionable Andy. Lol

That's questionable Andy. Lol

There's no question 

i think the shell and guts kind of acts like a barrier from freezer burn. I'm a fan of freezing them guts n shell.

+1 Pull it out of freezer and gut N clean it, good to go.

But come on whos going arou and checking our freezers?

Just make sure you gut it directly after thawing.  I took a frozen one on a trip with the intent of cooking it up for some friends/family.  After a few days of travel in an ice chest, it had thawed, and the meat turned green from the stuff in the guts permeating into the meat.  Ended up tossing it to be safe...lesson learned.

But come on whos going arou and checking our freezers?

If the wardens have a warrant and are searching your freezer you have way bigger problems than an abalone stored out of its shell.

Just make sure you gut it directly after thawing.  I took a frozen one on a trip with the intent of cooking it up for some friends/family.  After a few days of travel in an ice chest, it had thawed, and the meat turned green from the stuff in the guts permeating into the meat.  Ended up tossing it to be safe...lesson learned.

I've had em turn green like that from the guts.....ate em with no ill effects.  I do prefer to shuck then freeze them, as far as I'm concerned its getting prepped for consuption; the freezing process tenderizes the meat way better than a mallet ever could.

Yup what the hippy killer said.

Just make sure you gut it directly after thawing.  I took a frozen one on a trip with the intent of cooking it up for some friends/family.  After a few days of travel in an ice chest, it had thawed, and the meat turned green from the stuff in the guts permeating into the meat.  Ended up tossing it to be safe...lesson learned.

I've had em turn green like that from the guts.....ate em with no ill effects.  I do prefer to shuck then freeze them, as far as I'm concerned its getting prepped for consuption; the freezing process tenderizes the meat way better than a mallet ever could.

yep ate it tinted green.I eat almost all of the ab.my buddy likes the poop sac what you guys call the guts.he boils it chops it up and stir fry it with garlic, ginger, pepper, and lemongrass. All these years and I still havnt tried it yet.everyone that has says "its the $hits"really good