Curing Roe for cluster eggs
Here is the my simplest way to cure eggs using borax. Borax eggs work for both salmon and steelhead fishing.
Pictures of egg curing borax process
Here is my simplest method for curing eggs using a sulphite cure.
Pictures of egg curing using a custom blended Sodium Sulphite cure
Method #1 borax
When removing roe from a fish keep away from water. A quick rinse is ok to remove blood but will require a drying process to remove the extra moisture. Never freeze eggs in water for later use. Always cure roe as soon as possible. Roe will keep in a refrigerator sealed in Ziploc bag for up to a week before curing, but I recommend curing as soon as possible for better quality.
To thaw roe place in microwave for one minute (No longer or you will cook your eggs)
Your ready to fish
Method #2 sodium sulfite
This method doesn't require drying. Produces red colored eggs.
Method #3 sugar, salt, borax
This mixture also doesn't require drying. Mix equal parts salt, sugar, and borax to create mixture. Eggs will not reabsorb juice with this method so don't let them over cure in refrigerator. The salt is what toughens the eggs. If you want to tougher clusters leave in refrigerator overnight. Then roll in a dry borax (for easier handling) and place in freezer.
Brine for firming eggs
Mix a brine that consist of one part sugar to 4 parts salt (cup) in a gallon of water. Stir brine until all dissolves. The eggs when cured will be firm not shriveled or rubbery. You can then go to one of the other methods to finish the clusters to your liking.
Dried eggs
Place eggs on wax paper one layer deep and allow to air dry until rock hard or dried up. Store in air tight container until ready to prepare for trip. Tie the eggs up into roe bags and rinse thoroughly in water the day before you plan to fish. Place in refrigerator over night. Eggs will be reconstituted the next day and ready for use.
Petes cure
I
just finished making about a dozen spawn bags.
I cured some steelhead spawn
last spring for the first time. I
got the recipe off one of the fishing pages.
It works great. I just kept
them in a seal jar in the meat
1/2
cup of sugar
1/2
cup of salt
dissolve
in a cup of water. put the eggs
in and let it stand for about 1 - 1/2
hours. drain and store.
I mixed the stuff in a zip loc bag.
I also
used
warm water to dissolve the sugar and salt.
Thanks
Pete for sending your recipe
Letty and Rich Potters Egg Cure
Dissolve 1 cup borax, 1 cup salt, 1 cup sugar in a quart of water. May require heating to fully dissolve solids. Then when mixture is luke warm, place eggs in solution and allow to brine for 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs. Remove eggs and allow to air dry until tacky. For colored eggs add a food coloring or cake dye to the mix. This makes for some tough eggs and colored egg snot when the eggs wash away.