Freezing of Bloodworms

[Beach_Drifter]

Hi Guys,

I need some help please -

What is the best way to freeze a bloodworm?

I am currently putting course salt over them while the alive and the wrap in wet newspaper, newspaper in ziplog bag, put them straight in the freezer

A few guys suggested I bleed the 1st, but that according to me defeats the point - I want to retain as much flavour as possible.

Any suggestions?

 

 

[Anchorman]

Have heard stories of freezing them in a tub filled with dry see sand, it said that it would be as good as a fresh one, when unfrozen again, but haven't tried it myself.
Oh and also when doing this , make sure the worms doesn't touch one another

 

[marinello599]

when bleeding,remove most of the sand but dont bleed completely that way retaining some flavour etc.i have some frozen in saltwater but havent had the time to hit the water and defrost them so would'nt be able to give you an answer on that one.

 

[Mangi]

I am trying a new method for myself now. Freezing them in a tub of seawater. Once I get to the beach I will leave the frozen worms in a bucket of fresh seawater to defrost. If all works out right they should be as good as new. Or they wil be a mushy bugger-up! Will only find out next week.

 

[Beach_Drifter]

Did change the water continiously till they worked all their sand out or did you freeze the just like that in saltwater?

I thought of doing that but a friend told me there is no way i will be able to freeze sea water.

 

[Mangi]

I kept them in a bucket of sea water for about a day, changing the water every 3/4hours or so just to get rid of the excess sand.

Put some fresh sea water in a another bucket, put the worms in and froze them. Checked them last night again, frozen solid.

If it will work once defrosted is another story.

 

[Beach_Drifter]

I am contemplating getting a hundred litre drum or a old bath tub, filling it up with sea sand, putting the boys in there and wetting the sand once a day,

Just need to figure out what to feed them,

U think its worth taking a chance?

 

[Mangi]

Worth it, maybe.

Legal, maybe not. Should one not have a special license to do something like this?

 

[sakkie7116]

I do not bleed my worms. Lay them out on dry newspaper to absorb most of the moisture.
Then use fresh newspaper and lay them on there. Use a lot of coarse salt over them. roll them individually in the dry paper and freeze them. I have used worms like this that's been in the freezer for +- 6 months. And they still produce the goods.

If you don't salt them they become like liquirice. Never liked the idea and they don't last so long.

 

[Paulie]

Take A glass jar and half fill it with coarse sea salt, now add water to it and dissolve. Add salt to get as strong a solotion of salt you can possibly get. now add your live worms to it and store in a cool dry place near your tacklebox in your garage ! No freezing ! It is almost like making Rolmops or pickles, without the vinegar !

 

[Beach_Drifter]

That sounds like a awesome idea...and how long do these boys last then?

 

[lushwill]

i have my first batch of salted worms ("bled" them) in the freezer aswell. will have to wait and see?

 

[Beach_Drifter]

Thx Paulie will definitely try it when I go dig some worms on friday

 

[BigT]

Hi

Beach_Drifter

Been experimenting with bloodworms for years. No Salt in the newspaper. They get slimy. Salt then in newspaper. They end up looking like biltong.

The best i've seen is to bleed them as you pump them (very important) Leave them in seawater for a couple a hours. Wrapped in newspaper they can be kept alive in the fridge for  +/- 3 days. But if you gonna freeze them.

Lay them in some newspaper just to get rid of most of the water.  Then comes the  messy  part.  I like baking so I kinda  dont mind.  Take  cornflour  (maizena i think its called) roll in flour and wrap in newspaper and freeze. They stay good like this for months.

Gave some to a buddy in december he discovered it in his freezer a couple a weeks ago and decided to give a try and lo and behold a 17 kg steenie.

Pic of a two month old worm (still a bit frozen)

My 2c

 

[Beach_Drifter]

Thanks so much BigT

Will most defintely do that, just confirming, my bleeding you cut the worm open at the head and then let it bleed out?

 

[BigT]

Yip thats it. I just pinch the heads off with my thumb and forefinger. Anyways better to bleed the worm right there than take it home and have to deal with the blood and guts afterward. lol.

Hope this helps

 

[Upcoming Star]

Can anybody tell me what's the reason for bleeding bloodworm? and what is the difference between normal and bled ones?

Wheres all you guys that were doing the experiments? 7 months now n no results?

 

[alanlloyd]

the blood and guts of the worm seems to be the part that goes off or vrot the easiest, easy example is take a full worm and lay it next to a bled worm in a cool place and you'll see how quickly the full worm goes putrid and mushy so i think just as we would fillet and clean a fish for the freezer, the same applies to the worms , 'fillet' them ,prep them and freeze them to get maximum freezer life

 

[Serra Moz]

Can't remember when last I used bloodwurm......all the above ideas sounds good! I should maybe ask my buddy in Cape Town collect some for me, and try it out in the estuaries/river mouths in Moz? From what I have gathered then is that B/Worm has got a "good freezer" life.

Thanks for sharing the tips and info

 

[adam5016]

If you freeze them, just use a highly salted solution. I take seawater in a bottle and add extra coarse salt and shake it untill it stops dissolving. add worms and put in freezer. If water does not freeze - it is salty enough.