Omelets make a great snack, breakfast, lunch, or even dinner served with potatoes. You can fill them with whatever you want such as ham, cheese, peppers, onions, chorizo, lobster, or crab.
They are quick and easy to make so why would you need to freeze them? Perhaps you’re busy at work and think that it would be ideal to just open the freezer and have an easy meal.
You could make omelets in bulk at the weekend when you have more time so that whenever you fancied one, all you would have to do is open the freezer. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze omelets and how to defrost them,
How To Freeze Omelets
It is safe to freeze raw eggs and they keep for around a year but we think it is better to freeze omelets as raw eggs don’t freeze quite as well (See also Should You Freeze Fried Eggs?).
This is the way to freeze omelets.
1. Cook the omelet.
Omelets are usually made with three eggs but you can use more if you wish. Whisk up the eggs with a little milk and add salt and pepper. Put a little oil in a frying pan and pour in the eggs.
2. Cool down the omelet.
You don’t want to put the omelet in the freezer while it is hot as it could bring up the temperature. Other foods may start to defrost and when they refreeze, they could spoil. Eggs cook at a lower temperature than many other types of food, so it won’t take long for the omelet to reach room temperature; five minutes at the most.
3. Wrap the omelet in cling film.
Double wrap your omelet in cling film so that no air gets to it. If air gets in, freezer burn could occur, and your omelet will lose taste and texture. You can even wrap it in three layers of cling film.
4. Put the omelet in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out as much air as possible from the bag, again to prevent freezer burn. Put a label on the bag with the date frozen and the contents. You don’t want to keep the omelet in the freezer for too long as it will deteriorate.
5. Freeze.
How To Freeze An Omelet With Fillings
It’s not a good idea to freeze omelets with fillings as they can make the omelet mushy when defrosted. You can, however, freeze the omelet fillings in separate freezer bags.
Tips For Freezing Omelets
- Wrap the omelet in three layers of cling film to prevent freezer burn.
- If you have space in your freezer, use rigid airtight containers instead of freezer bags as they can reduce the movement of moisture in the omelet. However, you still have to wrap your omelet in layers of cling film.
- You can freeze fillings separately and then you will be able to take them out at the same time as the omelet. Ham freezes well and so do cheeses with a high-fat content such as Cheddar and Munster. If you are using an airtight container, you can put the separately wrapped fillings in with the omelet.
For How Long Can You Freeze Omelets?
You can freeze omelets for up to three months. You can keep them in the freezer for longer without harming your health but the taste and texture may deteriorate. The sooner you eat the omelet the better.
How Do You Defrost Omelets?
It is very easy to defrost an omelet. All you have to do is put it on your countertop and leave it to defrost. It should only take a few minutes. However, you need to eat it straight away to prevent bacteria from forming.
You probably won’t want it cold so to heat it, put it in the microwave on a low temperature for a couple of minutes. Put the fillings in as well if you are using any. Alternatively, put a little oil in a frying pan and heat the omelet this way. It will probably taste better than if you heat it in the microwave.
Microwaves do have a tendency to dry food out. However, you need to remember that you have already cooked the omelet once so if you heat it up for too long, it will probably become rubbery.
Can You Refreeze Omelets?
It’s not a good idea to refreeze omelets. If you freeze, defrost, and refreeze omelets, the structure of your eggs will change (see also Can You Freeze Frittata?). The taste and texture of the omelet will change, and you won’t want to eat it.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Omelets?
Yes, it is. If you want to buy eggs in bulk because they are on sale or you have chickens that are producing too many eggs that you can use before they go bad, make omelets and freeze them. They keep for three months so you will have plenty of time to eat them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is about freezing omelets but in case you want to know more, we have answered a few questions here.
Can you freeze omelets made from duck and goose eggs?
Yes, you can, and you need to follow the same steps as freezing omelets made from chicken eggs. You might have to use fewer eggs as duck and goose eggs are bigger than chicken eggs. Alternatively, you might just want a big omelet!
Can you freeze omelet mix?
You can and it lasts for up to a year. However, the taste won’t be quite the same as if you freeze an actual omelet.
Can you suggest some exciting and different omelet fillings?
Gruyere cheese, avocado, spring onion, and chives (see also Do Chives Freeze Well?) make a decadent omelet filling, an omelet you can serve when the ladies come for lunch! If you want a hearty meal, shred chicken and add Munster cheese and spinach. This would make a great dinner served with a baked potato or fries. Creamy mozzarella cheese and sweet sun-dried tomatoes make a light Italian-style lunch. To get another taste of the Mediterranean, make a Greek omelet, adding feta cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.