Whether youāve grilled them to perfection on the BBQ or rustled them up in the oven for a delicious weekday meal, chicken kebabs are a family favourite in many parts of the world. But whatās the best way to preserve them?
Can You Freeze Chicken Kebabs?
Yes, you can freeze chicken kebabs for up to 3 months before or after cooking them. If you cook them first, you will need to allow them to cool before bagging them up and placing them in the freezer. Provided they are well wrapped and protected, chicken kebabs will freeze well.
Do Do Chicken Kebabs freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Chicken Kebabs? Yes
How to Freeze Chicken Kebabs
Freezing chicken kebabs is nice and straightforward. The only thing you need to decide before pressing ahead with the freezing process is whether to cook them first or freeze them raw.
Here are the steps you need to follow, no matter which approach you decide to take:Ā
- Cool
If cooked, place your chicken kebabs on a plate at room temperature and cover them with a paper towel. Leave them sitting on the countertop until they have completely cooled.Ā - Wrap
Place each chicken kebab on a suitably sized sheet of tin foil and wrap tightly. Make sure the wrapping doesnāt have any tears or rips, as this will protect the meat from freezer burn. - Bag Up
Once wrapped, place the chicken kebabs in a freezer-safe bag. Press out as much air as you can from the bag before sealing it.Ā - Label and Freeze
Write todayās date and the use-by date on the front of the bag and place your chicken kebabs in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Chicken Kebabs
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing chicken kebabs to have the best results:
Freeze Cooked or Uncooked
The beauty of freezing chicken kebabs is that you can freeze them before or after cooking them. Freezing raw chicken is perfectly safe, but you will need to make sure itās tightly wrapped. Equally, once you have cooked your kebabs, allow them to cool before wrapping them up, and they will be fine in the freezer for several months.
Season or Marinate
Before cooking and freezing your chicken kebabs, either season or marinate them in a sauce of your choice. This will ensure they taste delicious when you come to prepare or reheat them in the future, and you will have an extremely tasty meal option on your hands!Ā
Freeze Veggies Apart
If youāve prepared some vegetables to accompany your chicken kebabs, itās best to store them separately. This is because meat and veggies respond slightly differently to freezing, so you should wrap them individually before adding them to the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Chicken Kebabs?
You can freeze chicken kebabs for around three months. You can freeze them before or after cooking them, so itās entirely up to you. Just make sure you wrap them tightly and place them in a sealed bag, as you donāt want the meat to be affected by freezer burn.
You can keep chicken kebabs in the fridge, covered, for around 2-3 days and they should be absolutely fine.
But to ensure your kebabs are succulent and delicious in the future, itās best to freeze them sooner rather than later.
You Can Freeze Chicken Kebabs for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Chicken Kebabs?
The best way to defrost chicken kebabs is to transfer them directly from the freezer to the fridge, without unwrapping them.
Once thawed, you can then proceed with cooking them in any way that you choose. You can oven bake, grill, or even fry chicken kebabs, so you can select the method that works best for you.
Itās always best to thaw them before cooking them, as cooking chicken kebabs from frozen may heat them unevenly.
Can You Refreeze Chicken Kebabs?
Provided you have thawed chicken kebabs in the fridge the first time around, you can freeze them for a second time.
You always have to be careful with chicken, however, so if youāre in any doubt about the quality of the meat, itās best not to freeze it for a second time.
Refreezing, cooking, and then eating chicken that isnāt suitable can lead to a stomach upset, so itās best not to take a chance.
Do Chicken Kebabs Freeze Well?
Overall, chicken kebabs freeze really well. So, whether you have some leftover from a recent BBQ or are hoping to save yourself some preparation time in the kitchen, preparing chicken kebabs in advance before freezing them is a great move.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing chicken kebabs or kebabs in general, then these may help:
Yes, you can freeze vegetable kebabs. However, it’s worth considering which vegetables are on your kebab. Some vegetables will freeze better than others.
Although it is possible to cook chicken kebabs from frozen, it’s not something we would advise. There is a risk that they will cook unevenly. This may result in parts of the kebab not being cooked through which could lead to food poisoning.
