Can You Freeze Bechamel Sauce?

4 minutes

The biggest downside to bechamel sauce is that to get the texture right, it takes a lot of effort to make!

So, to ensure you don’t need to get a sweat on in the kitchen every time you want to use bechamel sauce, the good news is you can prepare it in batches and freeze the leftovers to ensure you have an ongoing supply of this delicious sauce.

How to Freeze Bechamel Sauce

When it comes to preparing bechamel sauce, you often feel like you’ve had a decent workout in the gym when you’re done; such is the effort required to get the desired consistency!

The good news is that freezing bechamel sauce requires nowhere near as much effort as preparing it. Here’s how you go about it. 

1. Let it Cool
   As is the case with any sauce that you intend to freeze, you must let it cool down to room temperature before transferring it to the freezer. To quicken this process, remove it from the pan in which it was prepared and transfer it to a fresh bowl with a large surface area. 
2. Separate Into Portion Sizes
   To ensure you don’t have to use it all at once, spoon your sauce into individual portion sizes. Because each dish you prepare is likely to require a different amount of sauce, it’s up to you how you separate the portions, but you might want to weigh them out to be accurate. 
3. Place into Individual Freezer Bags
   Once you’ve weighed out your portion sizes, transfer them into individual freezer bags that can be sealed. Push out as much air as you can from the individual bags by flattening them before sealing. 
4. Double Bag and Label
   To stop your sauce from taking in other odours present in the freezer, it’s a good idea to double bag them. Before placing them in the freezer, make sure every bag is labelled with the date the sauce was prepared, what it is, and its use-by date. This will save you lots of time when it comes to finding what you’re looking for, particularly if you have a busy freezer! 

3 Tips for Freezing Bechamel Sauce

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing bechamel sauce to have the best results:

It Lasts in the Fridge for 1 Week
If you’re planning to use bechamel sauce for another recipe within one week of preparing it, you don’t have to freeze it. It can keep perfectly safe in the refrigerator for up to seven days after cooking, so as long as you cover it and store it safely, you can save yourself the hassle of freezing and defrosting it overnight. 

Freeze it Quickly
Make sure you don’t leave your sauce on the countertop for too long after cooking it. While you need to wait for it to cool to room temperature, it will increase the risk of spoilage or bacterial growth if you leave it for too long. It usually takes no more than a couple of hours to reduce to temperature, so make sure you regularly check before freezing. 

Cool it Fast
It’s possible to cool bechamel sauce quickly. To do this, prepare a large bowl filled with ice water. You can then submerge your individually wrapped sauces under the water for around fifteen minutes, which will bring the temperature right down. You can then transfer it to the freezer for long-term freezing. While this is safe, only do it if you’re in a rush. It’s much better to let it cool down naturally by sitting it on the countertop. 

How Long Can You Freeze Bechamel Sauce?

You can freeze bechamel sauce for around six months. 

Because of its consistency, you will notice that it separates once you’re ready to defrost it. This isn’t a problem and is something we address in the following section! 

You Can Freeze Bechamel Sauce for up to 6 Months

How Do You Defrost Bechamel Sauce?

The easiest way to defrost bechamel sauce is to remove it from the freezer the night before you wish to use it. You should place it in the refrigerator, still covered, until you’re ready to use it in your chosen recipe. 

When it thaws, you will notice a watery, rather horrible-looking mixture. But don’t panic; this is to be expected. Once it’s defrosted, stir it slowly before placing it over the heat and bring back the desired consistency.

When you start heating the sauce, make sure you heat very slowly over low heat.  

Can You Refreeze Bechamel Sauce?

While you can safely refreeze bechamel sauce if you don’t use it all, because of the complications with the consistency and texture, you might be better served to throw any leftovers away and start again.

This is why it’s so important to measure your portion sizes to ensure you only defrost what you need for the meals you have planned. 

Does Bechamel Sauce Freeze Well?

Although it separates and doesn’t look great when you come to defrost it, you can rest assured that your bechamel sauce will freeze with very few problems.

Just make sure you give it a good stir before reheating to get back that super thick consistency that is the foundation of so many of our favourite recipes! 

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing bechamel sauce or bechamel in general, then these may help:

Can You Freeze Lasagna with Bechamel Sauce?

You can freeze lasagna with bechamel sauce easily. Cook the lasagna as you normally would, then allow it to cool. Once cooled, wrap in foil and then place into the freezer. You can then heat it back up without any noticeable difference to when it was fresh. 

Can You Freeze Mornay Sauce?

Mornay sauce is an adapted bechamel sauce. It is the same base with the addition of shredded cheese to turn it into a cheese sauce. You may find the texture changes, but, as with bechamel sauce, a vigorous stir will fix that easily.