Boeuf Bourguignon may sound fancy but it is one of the easiest meals you can cook. Saute your beef then pop your ingredients into an ovenproof dish, simmer and then bake in the oven. Delicious, simple and the perfect hearty meal for any time of year.
Because it is so simple, this is a meal that is great for cooking large amounts, but can you freeze boeuf bourguignon?
Boeuf bourguignon can be frozen for up to 4 months. You can cook it up and then freeze the leftovers in portions as ready meals for in the future.
Do Does Boeuf Bourguignon freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Boeuf Bourguignon? No
How to Freeze Boeuf Bourguignon
Boef Bourguignon is one of the easiest meals you can cook and is also super easy to freeze. Just follow these instructions, and you can freeze your boeuf bourguignon with success.
- Cool
Allow the boeuf bourguignon to cool completely before freezing. This is an important step because popping hot food into the freezer can heat the air in the freezer and this can defrost or partially defrost your other food. - Prepare Containers
Prepare some freezer containers with lids or some freezer bags. You will need enough of these for the number of portions you plan to freeze. Label the bags or containers with the date and the contents. - Ladle Stew
Ladle in a portion of boeuf bourguignon into each bag or container. Make sure you get a good mix of varied ingredients in each portion. - Seal
Seal the bags tightly or pop the lids onto the containers. - Freeze
Pop the boeuf bourguignon into the freezer and freeze.
This method may be focused on beef but it can also be used to freeze a vegetable mushroom bourguignon.
3 Tips for Freezing Boeuf Bourguignon
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing boeuf bourguignon to have the best results:
Write Labels First
If you’re freezing in bags, write your labels on the bags before portioning the stew out. You’ll find it far easier to write on an empty bag.
Air is the Enemy
You need to treat air as the enemy and do all you can to ensure the stew is frozen completely airtight. You should be safe with good-quality, thick freezer bags.
Freeze in Portions
With any leftovers, it’s vital that you freeze in portions so you can easily grab a portion at a time from the freezer. Refreezing is strongly advised against.
How Long Can You Freeze Boeuf Bourguignon?
You can freeze boeuf bourguignon for up to four months. Perfect for making sure any leftovers get eaten and not wasted. It also makes it the perfect dish to batch cook.
Cook up a whole big pan full of this delicious meal and then freeze for easy freezer meals for the next few months.
You Can Freeze Boeuf Bourguignon for up to 4 Months
How Do You Defrost Boeuf Bourguignon?
You need to be careful when it comes to defrosting boeuf bourguignon because the meat can become a little sweaty, which can change the flavour.
However, if you follow this method, you should find that the flavour matures, and the bourguignon becomes even tastier than before.
Take the bag or container of boeuf bourguignon out of the freezer. If you have frozen in bags, you need to put the bag into a bowl to avoid messes or spills when the boeuf bourguignon thaws.
Put the boeuf bourguignon into the fridge for several hours. It needs to defrost slowly. If possible, grab it out of the freezer the night before you need it. This gives it plenty of time to thaw out fully.
When it has fully defrosted, you can heat it in a pan on the stove, or if you are in a rush, pop it into the microwave.
If you need to have your boeuf bourguignon a little quicker, you can defrost in the microwave on a defrost setting, but this may change the meal’s taste a little.
Can You Refreeze Boeuf Bourguignon?
No, you can’t refreeze boeuf bourguignon. This is a delicious meal, but it can still have bacteria growth and spoil when thawed and heated and then frozen again.
It isn’t worth the risk, so if you can’t eat your thawed out boeuf bourguignon within a day or two, then it is best to throw it away rather than take the risk.
Does Boeuf Bourguignon Freeze Well?
Your boeuf bourguignon does freeze very well as long as you follow the method outlined above and it is protected from the air in the freezer. This is why it’s important to ensure it is airtight before popping it into the freezer.
You can find a little change in the taste of the dish, but this shouldn’t be enough to stop you from enjoying the meal.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing boeuf bourguignon or boeuf bourguignon in general, then these may help:
