Stuffing is an essential for roast meals year round – not just at Christmas! It is a great family favorite and is hugely versatile for any type of family dinner. Often, Thanksgiving and the holiday season of Christmas and new year are the most common times we enjoy stuffing. What if you have some homemade stuffing leftovers? Or, you are trying to prepare for the busy period ahead of time? This is the complete guide on how you can properly freeze your stuffing and save this delicious addition to your roast meals!
Table of Contents
- Is It Better To Freeze Stuffing Cooked or Uncooked?
- Can You Freeze Uncooked Stuffing?
- How Long Does Stuffing Last In The Freezer?
- Tips To Consider When Freezing Stuffing
- Can You Freeze Stuffing – FAQs
- Does Leftover Stuffing Freeze Well – Answered!
Is It Better To Freeze Stuffing Cooked or Uncooked?
Whether your stuffing is cooked or uncooked, you can freeze it either way. This is a guide on how best to store your stuffing so that you can use it again.
If you are preparing your stuffing ahead of time and want to freeze it to keep it fresh, it is probably better to freeze your stuffing uncooked and cook it when you are ready to use it. This will ensure the stuffing tastes freshly cooked when you eat it.
If you are freezing your leftover stuffing after you have cooked it, you can still store it in the freezer and it will maintain its flavor and texture.
Can You Freeze Uncooked Stuffing?
Uncooked stuffing is best frozen. In this way, when you are ready to use it again, it will be cooked from fresh and will taste exactly the same as if you had prepared it that day.
Follow these steps for freezing stuffing uncooked:
- Portion your uncooked stuffing into small serving sizes. This makes it easier to store in freezer bags or airtight containers. Smaller portions are also easier to place on a baking sheet or baking dish. Muffin tins are perfect for portioning out your stuffing into uniform sizes. This enables easier freezing and reheating later.
- Wrap each portion in cling film or plastic wrap. This allows you to reheat your stuffing in either single portions if you please, or can be done in bulk also. This extra covering will also prevent any excess air and moisture from spoiling your stuffing. It will also prevent your stuffing from developing any freezer burn.
- Place your cling film wrapped bags into an airtight container or freezer bags and place in the freezer. Ensure they have been put in away from anything like meat or something else that could leak liquid onto them and spoil your stuffing balls.
How Do You Store Cooked Stuffing In The Freezer?
As previously mentioned, you can freeze cooked stuffing just as well as uncooked stuffing! It is better that you let the stuffing cool completely before placing it in the freezer, the same you would with other food.
Just follow these simple steps below:
- After letting your stuffing completely cool, you can portion your stuffing into smaller sizes the same as you would with uncooked stuffing. Muffin trays are again the easiest way of doing this and will make it easier to rehear the pre-made stuffing. Cooked stuffing is easier to mold, so you could form your stuffing into patty shapes and make cornbread dressing fritters. These can be served with leftover gravy, leftover turkey and cream cheese!
- Seal each portion of your cooked stuffing in plastic wrap, cling film, or even tin foil before placing in an airtight container or freezer bag. This will prevent your stuffing from getting freezer burn.
- Place your stuffing in the freezer. Keep the stuffing away from any meat or liquid that might leak on to the stuffing. Lay them on a single layer so that they don’t end up squashed
How Long Does Stuffing Last In The Freezer?
If stored correctly in the way that I have previously mentioned, stuffing can last from 3 to 6 months in the freezer. This is true for both uncooked and cooked stuffing.
That being said, it is important to consider the ingredients you have used in your stuffing, particularly if your stuffing is uncooked. Raw egg will decrease the length of time you can leave stuffing ion the freezer for.
Can I Freeze Stuffing with Raw Egg?
If you have chosen a recipe that contains egg and you want to freeze it before you cook it, this will reduce the time in which it will last in the freezer. Your stuffing will taste fresh for up to 3 months.
It is still safe beyond the 3 month mark, but after 3 months the flavor of your stuffing will begin to degrade.
Can You Refreeze Stuffing?
No, you can not refreeze stuffing.
If you refreeze stuffing, this will completely change the texture of the stuffing and make it completely unpalatable.
There is one exception. If you have froze your uncooked stuffing and then cooked it, you can now freeze the stuffing once it has been cooked even if it was previously frozen before it was cooked!
Can I Freeze Bread Stuffing?
Bread stuffing is probably the easiest stuffing to freeze because all of the ingredients are very safe to freeze. If you have added egg and are freezing your stuffing uncooked, you need to be mindful that after 3 months the quality of the stuffing will begin to degrade.
If there is no raw egg in your stuffing, this type of stuffing can last up to 6 months in the freezer.
Tips To Consider When Freezing Stuffing
While it is easy to freeze stuffing, there are a few factors you should consider.
Below are a few tips you should consider in future when freezing your stuffing:
- Ensure that you are using good quality ingredients for your stuffing. This includes using ingredients such as sourdough bread or sweet potato – these will add a much tastier flavor to your stuffing
- Avoid bread with a high sugar content – this will affect the taste of your stuffing if you are freezing it.
- Try to use fresh herbs such as sage for your stuffing. Fresh ingredients freeze much better than dried ingredients.
- If you plan on freezing your stuffing, do not add salt to the mixture. It is best to add the salt after you have defrosted, or before you put into the oven.
- Make sure to check the expiration date of all the ingredients you use. It is important to use fresh ingredients because this will affect how long the stuffing will last after you thaw it.
- Once you have thawed your stuffing, make sure it is used within 3 days.
- If using chicken broth to drizzle over your stuffing before cooking, be aware that too much chicken broth will result in soggy stuffing. Try to keep the drizzle light so the stuffing is not sitting in a pool of liquid.
- In order to avoid any leakage, keep the stuffing sealed tightly.
- Do not use any leftovers from the meat or poultry that you have cooled with the stuffing. If the stuffing has cranberry sauce through it, then this is okay.
Can You Freeze Stuffing – FAQs
Can I Make Stuffing Ahead?
You can make the stuffing ahead of time. Most stuffing recipes should last up to 3 days if you were to leave them in the fridge. If you want to make the stuffing ahead of time and keep it fresh, freezing your stuffing uncooked is the best option.
How To Reheat Frozen Stuffing?
Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celcius). Transfer your stuffing to an oven-safe dish. If it seems dried out, add a splash of broth to the stuffing (You can use whatever juices are leftover from the meat you have cooked, or can use instant gravy granule mix). Cover your stuffing with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake until crispy – this may take 15-20 minutes.
How To Defrost Stuffing?
There is actually no need to thaw it when you are reheating frozen stuffing, although you could always thaw it in the fridge overnight if you please. You can just preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). If you are worried about your stuffing from drying out, drizzle some broth over the stuffing before covering with foil. Place in the oven for 20 minutes.
Can You Prepare Uncooked Stuffing Ahead Of Time And Refrigerate Or Freeze It?
Yes, you can. It is actually better to freeze your stuffing uncooked ahead of time as this will taste much more fresh when you defrost and then cook it.
Does Leftover Stuffing Freeze Well – Answered!
Hopefully, this will have answered all of your questions related to freezing your stuffing, whether it is cooked or not. Both uncooked and cooked stuffing can be frozen.
It is probably best to freeze your stuffing uncooked if you are preparing it ahead of time. This will result in freshly cooked stuffing at the time of eating, and you can even refreeze your stuffing after if you have leftovers!
If you have any other questions related to freezing your stuffing, just pop your questions in the comments below. You can also let me know what you think.
I’ve read several articles on freezing uncooked stuffing. None of then include stuffing with sausages or othe meats. I wouldn’t think it outdoors make a d, but I’m not sure. Your thoughts please. Thanks.