Caviar is a delicacy served at many of the best restaurants around the world. You might be wondering what to do with leftovers when you next choose to serve this delicious dish.
Can you freeze caviar is a question that is often asked and unfortunately there isnāt an easy answer?
Caviar can be frozen for up to 12 months if it is well sealed. It freezes best if the container hasnāt been opened at all and you may find that you prefer to eat any leftovers rather than change the texture of the delicacy by freezing it.
Do Does Caviar freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Caviar? No
How to Freeze Caviar
Where possible, we would recommend that you donāt freeze your caviar. Store it in the fridge for a few days and find ways to add it to your meals.
You could even have it as a delicious and pricey snack! However, if you do find you have no choice but to freeze it, you can do so using this method.
- Grab Airtight Containers
Find some containers with lids that seal tightly. If you want to freeze your caviar in separate portions, you will need as many containers as you have portions of caviar. The lids must seal tightly because you need to keep the caviar as protected from the air as possible. - Portion Out
Spoon portions of caviar into the containers. Add a layer of cling film over the top so that it is directly touching the caviar. This helps give the caviar a little extra protection from the air. - Seal
Pop the lids onto the containers and seal tightly. - Label
Add a label that state the contents of the containers and the date. You donāt want to forget the caviar in the freezer! - Freeze
Pop the caviar into the freezer to freeze.
3 Tips for Freezing Caviar
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing caviar to have the best results:
Don’t Freeze It
The best tip for freezing caviar is actually to try not to! Pop it into sealed containers and keep it in the fridge for a few days. It keeps best if it is unopened, but it does start to oxidise quickly once the packages have been opened.
The freezer will permanently change the caviar’s texture and flavour, which is why we wouldnāt recommend that you freeze it unless you really have no other choice.
Defrost As Slow As Possible
To get the best results from freezing, you need to be very careful when you defrost it. Defrost it as slowly as possible. Keep it in the coldest part of your fridge to thaw out and allow it to defrost fully before eating.
Use Airtight Containers
Make sure you use containers that are both freezer-safe and seal very tightly. The secret to the most successful freezing of your caviar is to keep it as airtight and protected in the freezer as possible. If there is access to the air in the freezer, the caviar will change in flavour further than it would in an airtight container.
How Long Can You Freeze Caviar?
Whilst it isnāt recommended to freeze caviar, you can keep it in the freezer for a super long time if you do need to. It keeps safely for up to a year which is perfect if you have a lot of caviar that you canāt use up while still fresh.
You Can Freeze Caviar for up to 12 Months
How Do You Defrost Caviar?
When it comes to thawing out frozen caviar, you need to do so very carefully. This isnāt a food that freezes well, and if you try and defrost it too quickly, you may spoil the caviar even further than the freezing process already has.
Keep your caviar in a covered container while it thaws. Take it out of the freezer and pop it into the fridge. Put it in the coldest part of the fridge that you can. This is usually towards the back of the fridge.
Allow the caviar to defrost slowly for several hours. If possible, take it out of the freezer the night before you plan to use it and allow it to thaw out all night.
Can You Refreeze Caviar?
No, you cannot refreeze caviar. If possible, you shouldnāt try and freeze it at all as there will be considerable changes in the texture of the food.
If you tried to refreeze the caviar, then you may find that it becomes softer and mushy and unpleasant to eat.
Does Caviar Freeze Well?
No, unfortunately, caviar does not freeze well at all. Most chefs and caviar producers would recommend that you try and avoid freezing it because doing so can ruin the dish’s delicate texture.
When you freeze it, you will find that the caviar becomes softer and, rather than individual eggs, will become mushy and very different from the fresh caviar you are used to.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing caviar or caviar in general, then these may help:
Can You Freeze Roe?
All caviar is roe, but not all roe is caviar. Caviar is the fish roe of sturgeon. What this does mean is that the method for freezing caviar can also be applied to freezing roe. The same rules also apply so, where possible, avoid freezing it at all.
Can You Freeze Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar is only similar to fish caviar in name and colour. It is traditionally made with black beans, chopped tomato and a few other salad ingredients. It is actually a simple salad to knock together and nothing like caviar at all.
You can freeze cowboy caviar by portioning into bags, sealing up and freezing.
