best storage for brining fish

[7mmfan]

I just put another large batch of fish in the brine to smoke tomorrow and it got me thinking about what the best way to store fish in the brine is. Before, I used large ziplocks, that seemed to work ok. This time I am using large tupperware containers. This offers the fish to sit in the brine with a little less contact with the other pieces, but it uses ALOT more brine. Any thoughts?

[270Flat]

Food grade 5 gallon buckets with lids. Easy to mix brines and stir fish up. I got mine from an apple juice factory in Oregon.

[h20hunter]

When doing large batches I use a garbage bag. Layer it in with my dry brine and cram in the fridge to do its thing.

[7mmfan]

I'm doing a wet brine this time, may try a dry brine next time. I do like the idea of the buckets, I might have to look into that for the next batch.

[quadrafire]

Line a bucket with a plastic garbage bag, then the bucket doesn't need to be food grade. You can add brine to cover the fish and express out excess air so you don't need to fill with as much liquid.
I also use that method for brining turkey and chicken as well.

[7mmfan]

Does anyone worry about the chemical smell that inherently comes along with garbage bags?

[elkslayer069]

I use crocks for fish, bacon, kraut ect just wash it out when finish air dry and tip upside down. 

[jackson7]

cooler is what I use

[quadrafire]

Does anyone worry about the chemical smell that inherently comes along with garbage bags?

Never noticed it in the finished product or even during the brining 

[Rick]

Ziplock bags.

No need to re-invent the wheel.

[TheHunt]

I use a food grade 2 1/2 gallon bucket.  It fits in my refrigerator that I have in my garage.  Put a lid on it and that will hold enough for my big chief smoker.  Now if you have huge smoker I would suggest your use an appropriate sized cooler.   150 quart cooler will take a lot of fish for brine.

[NRA4LIFE]

I use the square food grade tubs you get at Costco or Cash and Carry.  The square ones fit very well in the fridge. I believe they are 3 or 4 gallons.  They hold a lot of fish.

[7mmfan]

The fish I had in the ziplock brined well, and one of the tupperware containers brined well, but the 2nd tupperware ended up with fish not layered correctly and I had some pieces that abosrbed very little brine. Either way, 98% of the fish looks and feels great.

I think before the next batch I will look into either the big tubs or buckets. I have a garage fridge that is set up almost exclusively for storing game and large containers of stuff, so those should work fine.

[Blacklab]

I use the square food grade tubs you get at Costco or Cash and Carry.  The square ones fit very well in the fridge. I believe they are 3 or 4 gallons.  They hold a lot of fish.

 
or five gallon bucket for larger batches