Bubble and squeak is as iconically British as a good cup of tea! This dish is traditionally made from the leftover veggies from your Sunday roast dinner, including roast potatoes and cabbage. But, is it possible to batch-prepare and store it?
Can You Freeze Bubble and Squeak?
Yes, you can freeze bubble and squeak for up to 1 month. It is a meal that freezes exceptionally well and can be frozen either fried as a finished dish or frozen as an uncooked bubble and squeak mix ready to be cooked fresh to serve up.
Do Does Bubble and Squeak freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Bubble and Squeak? No
How To Freeze Bubble and Squeak
Bubble and squeak is so easy to freeze, partially because itās already been cooked and prepped. So, most of the work has been done.
When it comes to freezing, you can either freeze all of the elements mixed together but uncooked. This way, it is ready to cook up when you take it out of the freezer. The second method is to fry up the bubble and squeak and then freeze it after this step.
How to Freeze Unfried Bubble And Squeak
If you want to have your bubble and squeak prepared and ready to cook, but not yet fried up, then this is the method for you.
- Prepare Your Veggies: Grab your leftover veg, anything from cabbage to broccoli will do, and prepare it exactly as you would if you were to cook it. You must ensure you have allowed all the veg to cool completely before freezing.
- Portion: Prepare some freezer bags by labelling them with the name of the contents and the date. You need to have a bag ready for each portion of the bubble and squeak.
- Seal: Squeeze out any excess air from the bag and seal it tightly.
- Freeze: Pop the bags into the freezer.
If you’re worried about the bubble and squeak mix sticking together, then after it has been in the freezer for 30 minutes, give the bags a quick and vigorous shake to ensure no significant clumping occurs. Flash freezing would be overkill here.
How to Freeze Fried Bubble And Squeak
If you want to have your bubble and squeak cooked and ready to go, then you can follow this method.
It is worth mentioning that this stage may not save you a great deal of time because you will still need to heat the bubble and squeak it when you come to use it!
However, if you want that fried taste but plan to microwave the bubble and squeak at a later date, then this is the method to choose.
- Cook and Cool: Prepare the bubble and squeak. Mix and season as you normally would. Cook up your bubble and squeak. The simplest way is with a bit of oil and a frying pan. Allow the bubble and squeak to cool completely.
- Portion: Grab some freezer bags. You can freeze your bubble and squeak in individual portions or freeze it as a whole meal. You need to have as many freezer bags prepared as you will have portions of bubble and squeak.
- Seal and Freeze: Squeeze out all the excess air. You want the bag as airtight as possible. Seal the bag tightly and pop it into the freezer.
How to Freeze Bubble and Squeak Cakes
Another method for eating your leftover Sunday roast veggies is by making bubble and squeak cakes.
There is also good news! If you love bubble and squeak cakes then you can also freeze them! Let’s take a look at how.
- Cook and Cool: Make up a batch of bubble and squeak cakes according to your favourite recipe. Allow the cakes to cool completely before freezing.
- Choose Freezing Method: When it comes to freezing you will need to ensure that you freeze them in a way that means they wonāt get stuck together in the freezer. You can either do this by ādouble freezingā or by separating them out with parchment.
- Flash Freeze: To double freeze, you need to place the bubble and squeak cakes onto a baking sheet and pop this into the freezer. Once they have frozen you can then transfer them to a freezer bag.
- Line: To freeze without using the double freeze method then you need to cut out some parchment paper squares and layer then between the bubble and squeak cakes. Then put them into the freezer bag.
- Label: Whichever method you choose you need to label the bag with the contents and the date so you know when to use them by.
- Freeze: Squeeze out the excess air from the freezer bag, seal the bag and pop it into the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Bubble and Squeak
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing bubble and squeak to have the best results:
Fry From Frozen
You don’t need to defrost bubble and squeak if you plan on frying it. Take it out of the freezer and fry over a low heat. Once thawed through then you can turn the heat up to get some colour on the outside.
Keep It Airtight
Bubble and squeak can suffer from freezer burn. This can be prevented by storing them in airtight Tupperware boxes or by using thick freezer bags.
Consider Portions
Think about how much bubble and squeak you’ll consume in one sitting and then store it in appropriately sized containers to avoid any unwanted waste in future.
How Long Can You Freeze Bubble and Squeak?
Bubble and squeak contains a good variety of veggies and because these have already been cooked up at least once it is recommended you freeze for up to 1 month.
Any longer than this and you might find that the bubble and squeak starts to taste freezer burnt.
Cooked bubble and squeak will last for around 3 days in the fridge when kept in a covered dish or container.
How Do You Defrost Bubble and Squeak?
Bubble and squeak is such an easy and versatile meal to have in the freezer.
Itās easy to make and freeze and itās also easy to defrost and use too. You have a few options when it comes to using the bubble and squeak.
How to Cook Bubble and Squeak From Frozen
This is the simplest method to use your frozen bubble and squeak. Just take it out of the freezer and fry it up slowly.
Using this method means you donāt have to fry up your bubble and squeak before freezing and you still get that lovely fried taste and texture.
How to Defrost Bubble and Squeak In The Fridge
If you do want to ensure your bubble and squeak is thoroughly defrosted before cooking, then this is the method to use. It’s easy, but it does take some time.
Just take the bubble and squeak out of the freezer and pop it into a bowl in the fridge to defrost overnight. Make sure it is fully defrosted before cooking.
How to Defrost Bubble and Squeak In The Microwave
If you want to speed up the thawing process a little, you can take the bubble and squeak out of its freezer bag and pop it into a microwave-safe bowl.
Put the bowl into the microwave and use a defrost setting.
Check the bubble and squeak every minute or so and stir it to ensure it defrosts throughout. Once it has defrosted, you can cook the bubble and squeak as normal.
Can You Refreeze Bubble and Squeak?
Bubble and squeak is a versatile meal that is easy to freeze and use, but it does have its limitations.
One of those is that once you have frozen and thawed it out, you shouldn’t attempt to freeze it again.
This is a meal where the ingredients have gone through quite a few cooking and preparation processes by the time it becomes bubble and squeak. Freezing for a second time might deteriorate the food a little too much.
Does Bubble and Squeak Freeze Well?
Bubble and squeak does freeze well.
It is one of those meals that doesnāt taste too different frozen as it did when it was freshly made. It can still suffer from freezer burn so make sure you seal the freezer bags tightly to avoid this and use it within a month of freezing.
Bubble and Squeak Freezer Recipe
Ultimately, bubble and squeak involves adding some butter, leftover vegetables and plenty of mashed potatoes to a pan until it comes together in a deep shade of gold. But, if you need a little help, here’s our simple recipe:
Freezer-Friendly Bubble and Squeak Recipe
4
servings15
minutes20
minutes35
minutesThis is a simple yet authentic recipe for lasagne that’s perfect for batch cooking and freezing for midweek meals.
Keeps the screen of your device ON
Ingredients
1tbsp Olive Oil or Butter
4 Rashers of Bacon, Chopped, Optional
1 Onion, Finely Chopped
1 Garlic Clove, Crushed
150g Cooked Brussel Sprouts or Cabbage, Chopped
400g Leftover Mashed Potato
Salt
Black Pepper
Directions
- Melt the oil or butter in a large non-stick pan. You want it to get really hot so that you get a good crust on the base of the bubble and squeak. Add the bacon and onion then cook until golden and cooked before adding the garlic and cooking for a further 1 minute.
- Add the sprouts or cabbage to the pan and cook for 5 minutes so that the vegetables take on a little colour.
- Add the potato to the pan and give everything a good stir with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Push the mixture into the base of the bag so that it forms a solid lump. You want it to hold together.
- Cook for 6 to 7 minutes until the base begins to turn golden and catches. You want it to take on plenty of colour. Once it has, flip it over using a plate and return it to the pan, repeating so that it browns on the opposite side.
Notes
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing bubble and squeak or bubble and squeak in general, then these may help:
Yes, bubble and squeak can be reheated either in a microwave or in a frying pan. The latter is best if you want to keep it crispy.
Yes, cooked bubble and squeak can be frozen. It can then be reheated in the microwave or in a frying pan.
