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preparing seafood chowder in advance

Discussion in 'Food & Cooking' started by teresa, Dec 24, 2009.

  1. Dec 24, 2009 #1
    teresa

    teresa

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    Ok, so I am ahead of the game for a change, and am wondering how far ahead I can get. Can I make seafood chowder the day before or does it screw with the texture? I know my mom use to make salmon soup and she claimed it always tastes better the second day.
     
  3. Dec 24, 2009 #2
    kyheirloomer

    kyheirloomer

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    I do it all the time.

    Just remember, when reheating, that low and slow is the watchword. Reheat it too quickly and it's liable to break.
     
  4. Dec 24, 2009 #3
    teresa

    teresa

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    would using a crock pot for reheating be ok or not?
     
  5. Dec 24, 2009 #4
    phatch

    phatch Moderator Staff Member

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    It doesn't change the instructions given. You don't want it to boil, you don't want to heat it so long that the potatoes go mushy. It still requires attention.

    And if you heat too slowly which a crockpot can do, it could be in the danger zone too long so the fish goes bad.
     
  6. Dec 24, 2009 #5
    suzanne

    suzanne

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    If you do make ahead, just be careful that the fish doesn't overcook -- which would mess up the texture, yeah. Can you make it without the fish, and then add them when you reheat? That would solve the overcooking problem.

    As for using the slow cooker -- it's better to reheat on the stovetop, then transfer to the slow cooker to keep it hot. As Phil mentioned, it can take a looooong time to come up to temperature in the slow cooker, and that could be bad. But once it's hot, that's a good way to keep it that way.
     
  7. Dec 24, 2009 #6
    cape chef

    cape chef

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    Just to add a quick note.
    Be sure to cool the chowder in an ice bath to bring down the temp rapidly.
     
  8. Dec 24, 2009 #7
    shroomgirl

    shroomgirl

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    I'm with suzanne, make soup (chowder) heat and then add the seafood.....it's how I make seafood gumbo. That way you've more control over seafood texture.
     
  9. Dec 24, 2009 #8
    teresa

    teresa

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    Actually we really don't care for the potatoes much anyway so we prefer them as a thickener instead of using flour. I have made chowder a lot, just not in advance. I did not think about the fish overcooking when reheating. You guys are so good about this stuff. My fish will probably be overcooked then. I am so careful not to overcook the shrimp and scallops, I don't know why I did not think about that in the reheat process. The good thing is I will probably be the only one that notices it . The guests here only have fresh chowder when I cook it, otherwise they eat that awful cheap stuff from the can. I will be careful in the reheat process, thanks everyone.

    Now I wish I would not have made it ahead. Live and learn
     
  11. Dec 25, 2009 #9
    suzanne

    suzanne

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    They'll still love it, and you. ;) And you know what? If you don't tell them, they may never notice. :p That's one of the best lessons I ever learned from Julia Child. :lol:
     
  12. Dec 26, 2009 #10
    teresa

    teresa

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    Well we had the chowder and the taco soup tonight and all the worrying over the chowder was needless. I reheated it slowly, the consistency was great and the seafood did not get overcooked. We all noticed that it was not as strong of flavor as usual and I knew that was going to happen. All the fish and seafood were as fresh as I can get in Iowa except the clams. I usually use fresh clams and I had to use canned. Not the same . Anyway it must have not been to bad, I have about a quart left out of a 12 quart pan. Thanks everyone for all the input.
     
  13. Dec 26, 2009 #11
    suzanne

    suzanne

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    :D :peace:
     
  14. Dec 27, 2009 #12
    mikelm

    mikelm

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    Hey Teresa-

    Where do they raise clams in Iowa?

    Our son went to the U of Iowa, and we visited him a lot, but I don't remember a lot of clams. :rolleyes:

    Great town to visit, as are most university towns.

    Mike
     
  15. Dec 27, 2009 #13
    teresa

    teresa

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    I did say as fresh as I can get. We have seafood when my brother comes from North Carolina. This year he did not come, so hence no fresh clams. I remember as a child my mom cooking mussels from the river, but they did not taste the same. We had a large family and lived primarily of the land. I have no idea if clams are raised anywhere in Iowa. I know supermarket clams smell awful as do the scallops most of the time. I think I would buy frozen over our supermart fresh.
     
  16. Dec 27, 2009 #14
    kyheirloomer

    kyheirloomer

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    I think I would buy frozen over our supermart fresh.

    Two things to consider, Teresa.

    First off, very few inland supermarkets actually sell fresh fish. Most of the time what you see in their counters is previously frozen. And, technically, it should be marked as such.

    Second, nowadays, frozen fish is actually fresher than fresh fish. Unless you personally buy it off a day-boat, even along the coasts the fish you buy in a seafood market is at least four days old by the time you get it.

    On the other hand, FAS fish has been caught, processed, and flash-frozen within two hours. So long as you defrost it properly, it is as good, or better, than anything you'll find masquarading as "fresh."

    The only downside to buying frozen fish in the supermarket is packaging. Depending on the brand, you often don't know what's in the package. F'rinstance, we once bought a package of "cod filets." What we found was five pieces, of different sizes and shapes. So keep that in mind, too, when choosing frozen seafood.
     
  17. Dec 28, 2009 #15
    teresa

    teresa

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    Right. That is why it is so cool, when we go shrimping or meet the boats when they come in at my brothers. The shrimp we catch or get off the boats taste totally different than what I get even frozen
     
  18. Jan 24, 2010 #16
    coulis-o

    coulis-o

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    when making seafood chowder it is best to make the soup first and add the fish when serving

    how i make it:

    mirepoix - onions, leeks, celery, thyme
    white roux
    white wine
    fish stock
    lemon juice
    fresh dill
    seasoning

    pass it, then...

    add to it:

    prawns, green lip muscles, calamari, diced smoked haddock, salmon flakes :)