Icing comes in all sorts of guises such as royal, fondant, and glace. If you are a home baker, you will use icing regularly. Icing is a sugar-rich coating used to glaze or decorate cakes, buns, biscuits, and pastries.
Soft creamy icings are generally used to fill sponge cakes while stiffer icing can be rolled and put on the top of a cake, such as a Christmas or Simnel cake. If you bake a lot, it would be good if you could have icing on hand so that you didn’t have to make it fresh every time. So, can you make it in bulk and freeze it? The simple answer is yes, and, in this article, we will tell you how to freeze icing and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Icing
It is best to freeze the icing separately from the cake as they might not have the same freezer life. The icing may also make the cake slightly soggy.
How To Freeze Royal Icing
Royal icing is generally made from egg whites and confectioners’ sugar. You can roll it and put it on top of a cake, or you can use it for piping work. If you find that you have plenty of leftovers, this is the way to freeze them:
1. Separate the icing into portions.
If you have a lot of leftovers, it is a good idea to divide them up into portions so that you only defrost as much as you need each time. If you have colored your icing, separate it into different colors for freezing.
2. Put each portion into a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bags so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn may ruin the taste and texture of the icing. Put a label on each bag with the date and contents.
3. Put the bags in the freezer.
How To Freeze Fondant Icing
Fondant icing is made from sugar and gelatine. It can be used to top baked goods but you can also roll it into shapes to make sweets or use it warm, poured into molds, and then coated in chocolate. In addition, you can coat fruits with fondant icing. This is the way to freeze fondant icing:
1. Slice the fondant icing.
If you have made a block of fondant icing, it is a good idea to slice it so that you only defrost as much as you need for each bake.
2. Wrap the portions in cling film.
To ensure that the portions don’t stick together, wrap them in cling film. Make sure that you wrap them tightly so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
3. Put the portions in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air from the bag to prevent freezer burn. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents.
4. Put the bag in the freezer.
How To Freeze Glace Icing
Glace icing is smooth and glossy and is made by beating icing sugar into water. It is used on such things as finger buns, cookies, and fairy cakes. It sets hard and so makes an edible glue for such baked goods as gingerbread houses. This is the way to freeze it:
1. Portion the glace icing.
Do this while it is still runny and then wrap it in plastic wrap. Do this tightly so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
2. Put the portions into separate freezer bags.
This will stop the icing portions from sticking together. Squeeze out the air from the bags to prevent freezer burn. Put labels on the bags with the date and contents.
3. Put the bags in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Icing
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Make sure that there are no air holes in your bags as they will ruin the quality of your icing.
- You can use airtight containers instead of freezer bags.
- If you have made different flavors or colors of icing, you will have to freeze them separately.
- It is best to freeze the cakes or biscuits separately from the icing as the icing may make the cake a little soggy. Also, they might not have the same freezer life.
For How Long Can You Freeze Icing?
Icing can be frozen for around three months. After this time, it might still be safe to eat but it will deteriorate in taste and texture. You do, however, have to ensure that the icing is tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn and the air should be squeezed out of the freezer bags. If you divide it into portions, you can freeze just as much as you need each time and keep the rest for a later date.
How Do You Defrost Icing?
The best way to defrost icing is slowly and steadily. Take it out of the freezer the night before you plan to use it and put it in the fridge. Doing it this way rather than defrosting it at room temperature ensures that it will retain taste and texture. However, it is still safe to defrost it at room temperature but it might not be as good. If you defrost it in the fridge and it’s not quite ready, you can put it in the microwave for 20 minutes to soften it.
Can You Refreeze Icing?
Unlike many foods, you can refreeze icing as long as you have defrosted it in the fridge. Don’t refreeze it if you have defrosted it at room temperature in case bacteria has had a chance to form. Don’t, however, refreeze it more than once. This is because ice crystals can form during the freezing process and can affect the quality of the icing. The more times you freeze an item of food, the more ice crystals can form.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Icing?
Whether you are freezing royal, glace, or fondant icing you will find that it freezes well. Many home bakers will make icing in bulk to freeze. The only thing to be concerned about is freezer burn but if you squeeze out the air from the freezer bags, you should be fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing icing but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
Yes, you can, and you can freeze it in the same way we have described for homemade icing.
Buttercream icing can be frozen but because it is made from dairy products, it may become a little grainy. However, if you give it a stir when it is defrosted, it should regain its texture.
Yes, you can. However, it only lasts for around four days so if you don’t plan to use it within this time, it is best to freeze it.
