Puff pastry is delicious, buttery, and, best of all, versatile. You can have it with either sweet or savory fillings. Use it to make sausage rolls, a chicken, leek, and ham pie, or a goat’s cheese, squash, and mushroom pithivier.
If you have a sweet tooth, try a cream horn, an apple tart, or a chocolate and ginger frangipane galette. The opportunities are endless.
However, can you make it in bulk and freeze some for use at a later date? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze puff pastry and how to defrost it (see also Can You Freeze Shortcrust Pastry?).
How To Freeze Puff Pastry
1. Wrap the puff pastry in greaseproof paper.
It doesn’t matter if you have a roll of puff pastry or a block, put it in the middle of a sheet of greaseproof paper and wrap.
2. Wrap the puff pastry in cling film.
Make sure that the cling film is tight so that the pastry is airtight. If air does get in, freezer burn might occur, and the taste and texture of the pastry will deteriorate.
3. Label the puff pastry.
Put a label on the cling film with the date frozen and the contents. If you are freezing different types of pastry, you might not be able to tell which is which.
4. Freeze.
How To Freeze Puff Pastry With Fillings
Perhaps you are hosting a dinner or drinks party and want to serve dishes made with puff pastry. Maybe you have made a pie with puff pastry and have leftovers. Is it possible to freeze puff pastry with fillings (see also How To Freeze Beef Wellington)? It will save a lot of time on the day if you have prepared the pastries in advance. The good news is that you can freeze puff pastry with fillings although some fillings should be avoided (See also Can You Freeze Danish Pastries?). Don’t freeze anything with a high-fat content like dairy products. The texture will change and may split. Avoid soft cheeses and cream. However, vegetables and fruit will freeze well. You can freeze meat or fish but don’t leave them in the freezer for as long as you would vegetables as they can start to develop bacteria if left in for too long.
Once you’ve decided that your fillings will freeze properly, follow these instructions for freezing puff pastry with fillings.
1. Place the pastries in an airtight container.
You need to ensure that the pastries are protected from air otherwise freezer burn will occur. We also advise you not to use freezer bags as the pastries could get damaged in the freezer. If you have a lot of pastries to freeze, place a sheet of greaseproof paper on top of the pastries and then place another layer of pastries on top of the paper. Keep doing this until you have used up the pastries. Try to ensure that they are not touching each other so that they don’t stick together.
2. Wrap the container in a layer of cling film.
This gives extra security against freezer burn.
3. Put a label on the container.
Write the date you put the pastries in the freezer and the contents.
4. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Puff Pastry
- If you want to freeze leftover pastries with fillings, make sure that they are not left out at room temperature for longer than two hours as, after this time, bacteria can start to form.
- Don’t put warm pastries in the freezer as they will bring up the temperature and other food in the freezer will start to defrost and may spoil.
- Make sure that the container is completely airtight as puff pastry is very sensitive to air.
- Don’t freeze puff pastries that have been filled with dairy as the contents will split.
For How Long Can You Freeze Puff Pastry?
Puff pastry, unfortunately, doesn’t keep for that long in the freezer as the longer you leave it in the freezer, the more the pastry’s texture will deteriorate. This is because it is made with butter which always breaks down as time goes on. This will stop the pastry from rising and nobody wants flat puff pastry. The maximum time you should keep puff pastry in the freezer is three months although the sooner you use it the better.
How Do You Defrost Puff Pastry?
If you are defrosting raw puff pastry, the best way to do it is slowly and steadily as this helps it to retain texture. Take it out of the freezer and leave it in the fridge overnight. !5 minutes before you want to use it, take it out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature. This makes it easier to roll as it will be softer.
If you are defrosting puff pastries with fillings, do the same, but you don’t need to take the pastries out and leave them at room temperature for 15 minutes. Instead, take them out of the fridge and give them an egg wash. This will ensure that your pastries will be crispy and not a soggy mess when cooked.
Can You Refreeze Puff Pastry?
If you have defrosted too much puff pastry you can refreeze it although it is a good idea to do it as soon as possible as the longer it is out of the freezer, the greater the chance will be of it spoiling. Don’t leave it at room temperature for longer than two hours. However, if you do refreeze it, you might not get the same rise as it would have if you had frozen it once.
We don’t recommend refreezing filled pastries as the fillings may make the pastry go slightly soggy,
However, if you defrost raw pastry and then make and cook pastries or tarts with it, it is safe to freeze the filled pastries. Freeze them in the way we earlier described.
Does Puff Pastry Freeze Well?
Puff pastry does freeze well although it won’t be quite as good as freshly prepared puff pastry. However, you won’t notice the difference unless you eat the two side by side. Freezing puff pastry is a good way to store puff pastry if you have too much of it or if you want to prepare pastries ahead of a dinner party. We do recommend that you don’t keep it in the freezer for longer than three months as it will deteriorate rapidly after this time because it is made with butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing puff pastry but in case you have any questions, we have answered a few here.
It is safe to do this but the pastry can go a bit soggy. It is better to freeze the filling and the pastry separately. Make sure that both are in airtight containers. You can then assemble the pie when you have defrosted it, and then heat it.
Yes, you can, and you can use the same method for freezing puff pastry. You can freeze it either cooked or uncooked and you can freeze it with fillings. It can be frozen for between three and four months.
If you have bought ready-rolled puff pastry and decide you don’t want to use it right away, you can freeze it. It usually comes in a sealed plastic sleeve, and this is sufficient for keeping air out. You can put it in the freezer as it is. However, if you have opened the pack and have some left over, we recommend that you wrap it following the instructions we have given above for freezing puff pastry. You will need to ensure that no air gets in.