Macdonald’s is probably the most popular fast food chain there is and has restaurants all over the world. These days, it’s not just a burger and fries that you can enjoy. You might prefer a Filet O’Fish or chicken nuggets.
In Europe, you can even get a vegetarian burger. However, perhaps you don’t live near a McDonald’s and want to enjoy their food on a more regular basis. Maybe you have over-ordered and you have no room to eat anymore. How can you preserve your food so that you can enjoy it at a later date?
It will only last for about a day in the fridge, so can you freeze it? The simple answer is yes, you can freeze nearly everything you can purchase from McDonald’s. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze McDonald’s and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze McDonald’s Beef Burgers
Beef burgers are probably the top choice in a McDonald’s restaurant whether you like a simple burger in a bun or you push the boat out and have a Big Mac. Either way, they can be frozen, and these are the steps to follow:
1. Cool down the beef burgers.
Make sure that they have cooled down completely before you put them in the freezer. If you don’t, the texture will change, and they may end up soggy. In addition, they will bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food will start defrosting. When it refreezes, it may spoil.
2. Remove salad, sauce, and dressings from the beef burgers.
Salad doesn’t freeze well, and sauces and dressings will make your burgers become soggy. All you want to freeze is the burger and the bun (see also Is Freezing Brioche Buns A Good Idea?).
3. Wrap the burgers in cling film or aluminum foil.
Wrap them individually so that you can defrost only as many as you need. Wrap them tightly so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your burgers.
4. Put the burgers in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put a label on the bag with the date so you know when you put it in the freezer.
5. Put the bag in the freezer.
How To Freeze McDonald’s Chicken Burgers
1. Cool down the chicken burgers.
Make sure that you don’t keep them out for too long as, after two hours, bacteria can start to form. Unwrap the burgers and separate them from the buns so that they cool down quickly.
2. Remove any salad, sauces, and dressings.
Put the burgers back in the buns when you have done this.
3. Wrap the burgers individually in cling film or aluminum foil.
4. Put the burgers in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put a label on the bag with the date.
5. Put the freezer bag in the freezer.
How To Freeze McDonald’s French Fries
Of course, McDonald’s French fries are best eaten fresh but it is still possible to freeze them and have a decent result. This is the way to do it:
1. Cool down the French fries.
2. Put the French fries in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put a label on the bag with the date.
3. Put the freezer bag in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing McDonald’s
- Remove all dressings including salads and sauces. They will make your burger soggy. It doesn’t cost any more to ask for additional sachets of sauce or dressing when you are buying your food. Of course, you might have your favorite dressings and sauces at home.
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. You don’t want a soggy and tasteless burger.
- Reheat your McDonald’s burger in the microwave. It will only take a couple of minutes. You can toast the bun in a toaster or the oven.
- You can freeze other McDonald’s products such as chicken nuggets, hash browns, and the Filet O’Fish.
For How Long Can You Freeze McDonald’s?
You can freeze chicken and beef burgers for four months. However, French fries, if stored properly, can last for up to a year. Chicken nuggets can be frozen for up to three months.
Food from McDonald’s will last for around a day in the fridge so if you’re not going to eat it the next day, the best thing to do is freeze it.
How Do You Defrost McDonald’s?
The best way to defrost an item of food from Mcdonald’s is slowly and steadily in the fridge. Leave it to defrost overnight. It is not a good idea to defrost your burger on the countertop at room temperature as bacteria can form if you leave it there for over two hours. We also don’t advise you to cook the burgers from frozen as it will be difficult to get the middle cooked without burning the sides.
Can You Refreeze McDonald’s?
No, you shouldn’t refreeze McDonald’s. Ice crystals are formed whenever you freeze any item of food. If you freeze the same item of food twice, more ice crystals are formed, and the burgers and fries will end up soggy.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze McDonald’s?
Nearly all the items of food on the menu of a Mcdonald’s restaurant freeze well. Just make sure that you take out sauces, dressings, and salads as they will ruin the texture of your burger. In addition, make sure that you put a label on the freezer bags so that you defrost the food within the right time frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing McDonald’s but in case you still have questions, we have answered a few here.
Can you freeze a McDonald’s milkshake?
We don’t advise freezing a McDonald’s milkshake. Dairy products have a tendency to split and the milkshake won’t taste the same.
Can you freeze McDonald’s chicken nuggets?
Yes, you can freeze chicken nuggets (see also Is Freezing Breaded Chicken A Good Idea?). It is best to flash freeze them so that they don’t stick together, and you can remove just as many as you need. Put them on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Make sure that they aren’t touching each other. Freeze for a couple of hours and then put the solid nuggets in a freezer bag and return to the freezer.
Can you freeze a McDonald’s McFlurry?
A McFlurry is a dessert made from soft vanilla ice cream with the addition of cookies and candies. Unfortunately, it doesn’t freeze well despite there being ice cream in the dessert. The cookies and candies don’t freeze well and will become brittle and crystalline and the ice cream will lose its smooth texture.
