Pepperoni, with its salty, spicy, and tangy flavor, is a great addition to a charcuterie board. However, it can also be used in several dishes such as a topping for pizza, in pasta, in a salad, or in paella.
Because it has such a strong flavor, you don’t need to use too much, so what do you do if you have some leftover and don’t want to use it within the three weeks it will last in the fridge?
The answer is simple. You can freeze it, and in this article, we will give you the best method for doing this.
How To Freeze Pepperoni
1. Portion out the pepperoni.
Decide how much pepperoni you will need in one sitting and divide it into portions so that you only defrost as much as you need and therefore don’t waste any. If you think you will use all you have in one go, you can freeze it whole. Otherwise, cut it in half or into slices.
2. Wrap the pepperoni in cling film.
Wrap it in a few pieces of cling film so that it is airtight. If air gets in, freezer burn can occur, and the pepperoni will lose taste and texture.
3. Put the pepperoni in freezer bags.
Label each bag with the date you put them in the freezer.
4. Put the pepperoni in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Pepperoni
- Pepperoni can be expensive if you buy it in a small pack so to save yourself money, buy a bigger pack which is usually more economical. You can then freeze the leftovers. However, remember that it will last in the fridge for up to 3 weeks so if you think you will use it up within this time, don’t bother freezing it.
- Make sure that the pepperoni is airtight so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
- If you like to make pizza in batches and freeze some of them, add the pepperoni together with other toppings before freezing. You will then just have to pop the pizza in the oven when you come to eat it. You can also put the pepperoni into paella before freezing as paella freezes well.
- If you want, you can use the pepperoni straight from frozen.
For How Long Can You Freeze Pepperoni?
Pepperoni can be kept in the fridge for up to three weeks, so if you are going to use it up within this timescale, don’t bother freezing it. However, pepperoni is a unique meat and isn’t used in that many recipes, so you may not want to use it up that quickly. In that case, you can freeze it and it will keep for three months in the freezer. After this time, it will still be safe to eat but it will start to lose taste and texture. The last thing you want is to lose the salty and spicy taste of pepperoni.
How Do You Defrost Pepperoni?
If you have frozen your pepperoni in slices, you can just take it out of the freezer and put it in your dishes, such as pasta or paella, or put it on your pizza as a topping. However, if you have frozen it whole, you will need to defrost it in the fridge overnight. Don’t leave it at room temperature as it can develop bacteria after two hours and you could become sick if you eat it. If you want to use pepperoni slices on a charcuterie board, you will also need to defrost them in the fridge as you won’t be cooking them.
Can You Refreeze Pepperoni?
If you have defrosted the pepperoni in the fridge, you can refreeze it. However, the more times you refreeze it, the greater the chance of bacteria forming. In addition, it can dry out and become stale. Because of this, it is advisable to freeze the pepperoni in meal-size portions.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Pepperoni?
Yes, pepperoni freezes very well. It is an easy ingredient to use as you can add it to many dishes without defrosting it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing pepperoni but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
The advantage of freezing slices is that you can use them straight from frozen while if you freeze pepperoni whole, you have to defrost it in the fridge which can take quite a while. However, if you slice the pepperoni too thinly, it can dry out. Try and slice them about half an inch thick to be on the safe side.
Yes, you can. They generally come individually wrapped so put them wrapped in a freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and then place the bag in the freezer.
You can freeze pepperoni pizza whole or in slices. First, freeze the pizza or slices on a tray for a few hours and then place in a freezer bag and freeze.
Yes, you can. Be sure to cook the pasta al dente as it will cook further when you come to reheat it. The same goes if you are freezing paella with pepperoni, Don’t completely cook the rice. You don’t want mushy rice in the same way as you don’t want soggy pasta.