Beef Wellington is a delicious and extravagant dish, perfect for a dinner party. It is made from filet steak which is wrapped in mushroom pate and then puff pastry. It is quite fiddly to make, and you might not want to do it on the day of the dinner party so can you prepare it in advance and freeze it?
The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze it and how to defrost it for perfect results.
How To Freeze Beef Wellington
1. Make the Beef Wellington and cool it down.
You don’t want to put the Beef Wellington in the freezer while it is still warm as this may ruin the texture. In addition, it will also bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food may start to defrost and even spoil.
2. Wrap the Beef Wellington in cling film.
Double-wrap it to make sure that it is airtight. If it isn’t, freezer burn may occur which will ruin the taste and texture of your food.
3. Put the Beef Wellington in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air to protect it from freezer burn. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents.
4. Freeze.
Can You Freeze Uncooked Beef Wellington?
Yes, you can freeze uncooked Beef Wellington. Freeze it in the same way as cooked Beef Wellington but be careful as it will be more fragile than the cooked version.
Tips For Freezing Beef Wellington
- Make sure that the Beef Wellington is airtight otherwise freezer burn may occur.
- Do a test run if you have never cooked a frozen Beef Wellington before. It is a difficult dish, and it would be a good idea to try it out first. It is a delicious dish, so it won’t go to waste.
- Be gentle with the Beef Wellington, especially if it is uncooked. You don’t want it falling apart.
- You can cook it while it is still frozen if you wish. It will take an additional 20 minutes or so.
For How Long Can You Freeze Beef Wellington?
You can freeze Beef Wellington for up to three months. However, the sooner you eat it the better as it can lose some of the flavor, especially in the pastry.
How Do You Defrost Beef Wellington?
It is possible to cook Beef Wellington from frozen. You just have to cook it for longer than if it is defrosted, say 20 or so minutes. You should have a meat probe to check if the meat is cooked all the way through. It should be around 145 F for medium beef. Cook it at a low enough temperature to ensure that it is cooked all the way through; around 400 F. If you put the temperature up too high, the different components may not cook at the same time. You could end up with burnt pastry and tepid beef.
If you decide that you want to defrost your Beef Wellington, that’s fine as well. Take it out of the freezer the night before you want to cook it, put it in a dish, and put it in the fridge. It won’t take as long to cook so adjust cooking times accordingly.
Can You Refreeze Beef Wellington?
Pastry can be temperamental, so we advise against refreezing Beef Wellington. The pastry could end up being quite soggy. In addition, it’s never a good idea to refreeze any type of meat as it can encourage bacteria to grow, and you could end up with food poisoning.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington freezes quite well. It is just the pastry that can be a problem. It can become a little soggy and lose its flavor but if you don’t keep the Beef Wellington in the freezer for too long, it should be fine. As we said, practice making the Beef Wellington before you hold a dinner party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is about freezing Beef Wellington, but if you still have questions about freezing this dish or about Beef Wellington in general, we have answered a few questions here.
If the Beef Wellington is uncooked, put it in a dish and cover it. It will keep for up to two days in the fridge. This is another option if you want to prepare the Beef Wellington in advance of a dinner party. If you have cooked the Beef Wellington, it will keep for three to four days in the fridge. We do, however, advise you not to put it in the fridge for a couple of days before you freeze it. It will taste better if you freeze it straight away and, in addition, it gives bacteria a slight chance of growing.
Yes, you can, although you need to check that all the ingredients freeze. However, most vegan and vegetarian Wellingtons are made with mushrooms, and they freeze well.
Most Beef Wellingtons that you buy in the supermarket will say on the packet if they can be frozen or not. In general, you will find that most brands don’t advise freezing because the pastry might not freeze as well as the rest of the components. They could think that this would put people off from buying their brand.
