As people start to cut down on their meat intake, meat alternatives are on the rise. Some are taking a healthier approach and using vegetables as the star of their meal. Cauliflower steaks are popular but if you have used a whole cauliflower to make multiple steaks, what can you do with the rest?
Can You Freeze Cauliflower Steaks?
Yes, you can freeze cauliflower steaks for up to 12 months. You should freeze the cauliflower steaks before it has been roasted and keep them as airtight as possible to ensure they keep well.
Do Do Cauliflower Steaks freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Cauliflower Steaks? No
How to Freeze Cauliflower Steaks
When cooked, cauliflower goes soft so it is not suitable for freezing. It is far better to freeze your cauliflower fresh, having quickly blanched it.
Blanching will halt the action of enzymes that causes fresh vegetables to degrade, meaning that the freshness, colour and taste of the cauliflower will be preserved. Blanching also helps to clean and destroy any microorganisms on the cauliflower before freezing.
So, how do you go about freezing cauliflower steaks?
- Prepare
Before you start, ensure that you have aĀ saucepan of boiling water on the go as well as a bowl of ice-cold water.Ā - Clean Your Veg
Soak your cauliflower in water from the tap for a few minutes to remove any dirt or garden bugs. Remove from the water and take off the green leaves. - Cut
Cut your whole cauliflower into thick slices so that they resemble cuts of steak. - Blanch
Drop the cauliflower steaks into the pot of boiling water and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain the cauliflower in a colander. - Ice bath
Immediately place the blanched cauliflower steaks into the bowl of ice-cold water. This will stop the residual heat from further cooking the cauliflower. Leave for about 3 minutes.Ā - Freeze First
Lay the slices of cauliflower out on a lined baking tray and slide them into the freezer. Leave for a couple of hours until the āsteaksā are frozen. - Bag Up
Once the steaks are frozen, remove the tray from the freezer and place the individual cauliflower steaks into a freezer bag.Ā - Label and Freeze
Write the date of freezing on the freezer bag and place the bag of frozen cauliflower steaks back into the freezer.Ā
3 Tips for Freezing Cauliflower Steaks
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cauliflower steaks to have the best results:
Keep the Leaves
Donāt throw away the cauliflower leaves – they can be used to make vegetable stock or you can roast them for a healthy snack. They’re perfectly edible!
Use Freezer-Safe Containers
If you have a packed freezer, it may be best to use a freezer-safe, sturdy container rather than a ziplock bag to ensure that the cauliflower steaks are kept safe and do not break.
Avoid Blanching If Pushed for Time
Whilst blanching really is the best method, you can freeze cauliflower that hasnāt been blanched if you are tight on time. If you do have a few minutes though, it’s well worth doing.
How Long Can You Freeze Cauliflower Steaks?
Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that keeps incredibly well in the freezer, and you can keep it frozen for up to a year!
This is much longer than it would last in the fridge, so freezing is a great option if you wonāt get through a whole cauliflower within a week or so.Ā
You Can Freeze Cauliflower Steaks for up to 12 Months
How Do You Defrost Cauliflower Steaks?
There is no need to defrost cauliflower steaks before you cook them! All you need to do is remove as many steaks as you need from the freezer, lay them on a baking tray and then cook for as long as you desire.
Remember to season the cauliflower steaks and drizzle them with a bit of oil so that they roast beautifully.Ā
Can You Refreeze Cauliflower Steaks?
No, you cannot refreeze cauliflower steaks, especially after they have been cooked.
Cauliflower has high water content, so constant thawing and refreezing will cause lots of ice crystals to form which will damage the texture of the cauliflower. Refreezing could cause it to go mushy and it would be hard to then cook.Ā
Do Cauliflower Steaks Freeze Well?
Yes, cauliflower steaks are a great item to keep in the freezer.
They will keep for a long time without degrading in quality and they donāt need any special process to thaw. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to meat, cauliflower steaks are a great option!Ā
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing cauliflower steaks or steaks in general, then these may help:
Yes, cauliflower steaks can be frozen raw. In fact, the preferred way to freeze them is quickly blanched to ensure they retain their flavour and texture.
Cauliflower steaks can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. This is why freezing them is a good idea to prolong their storage time.
