Crackers are a versatile snack. You can put a variety of toppings on them such as salmon and avocado, chicken and salsa, vegan sausage and hummus, salad greens and herbed scrambled eggs, or bacon and egg.
Sweet toppings such as peanut butter and jelly or chocolate spread are also good choices. You can even use them at a dinner party. Serve them with a soup appetizer or a Camembert cheese board (see also Can You Freeze Camembert Cheese?) at the end of the meal.
However, they can go stale quickly so is there a way to preserve them so that you can enjoy them for some time to come? Can you, for example, freeze them? The simple answer is no, and in this article, we will tell you why you can’t freeze crackers and how you can store them for a long time.
Why You Shouldn’t Freeze Crackers
As the name suggests, crackers are supposed to be crisp and not soggy. If you put them in the freezer, ice crystals will form inside the crackers. When you come to defrost them, the ice crystals will turn into water and the crackers will then become mushy and inedible.
Another reason why you shouldn’t freeze crackers is that most of them contain salt. Salt absorbs water and this stops the ice crystals from evaporating. The crackers retain moisture and become soggy.
In addition, the type of freezers we have at home tend to fluctuate in temperature. This will mean that your crackers may start to thaw and then freeze again. This will ruin the texture of the crackers and make them soggy.
It is a no-win situation when it comes to freezing crackers so basically, don’t bother. There are other ways in which you can store crackers for a long time.
How To Store Crackers
Original Packaging
You can just keep the crackers in the original packaging, shutting the packet as much as you can when you have opened them. This will help to keep them away from air and moisture but it’s not the best method. Another negative is that pests such as beetles or flies might get into the crackers.
Ziplock Bags
A Ziplock bag is a much better option and keeps the crackers fresh for longer than if you leave them in their original packaging. It also helps to stop the crackers from absorbing smells from food stored nearby.
It is a good idea to divide the crackers into meal-size portions so that you only open a bag with as many as you need at one time. This helps to stop the crackers from going stale.
The only negative is that the crackers can get broken in a Ziplock bag.
Airtight Containers
This is the best method of storing crackers as it is highly unlikely that they will get broken. Airtight containers also protect the crackers from air and moisture. Again, you can divide them into meal-size portions.
Do Crackers Freeze Well?
No, crackers do not freeze well. There isn’t any point even bothering as they will end up soggy. Instead, store them in an airtight container or Ziplock bag where they won’t be subject to air or moisture which will ruin the texture of the crackers.
Even if you do store your crackers in an airtight container or Ziplock bag, it is best not to keep them either near a hot oven or a cold freezer. Crackers need to be kept at a constant cool temperature to stop them from going soggy.
If you correctly store the crackers, they will last for up to a month when they have been opened. If they aren’t opened, they can be kept for up to nine months. The packet should give you the best before date so check this. It does only refer to an unopened packet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, this article has been helpful, but in case you have further questions, we have answered a couple here.
Graham crackers are sweet crackers made with graham flour. If you intend to eat them with a topping, we don’t recommend freezing them as they will go soggy. However, if you intend to use them as the base of a cheesecake, you can freeze them. They will be crushed and mixed with butter, so it won’t matter if they are a bit mushy.
No, don’t bother freezing crushed crackers as they will go soggy in the same way as whole crackers.
