Can You Freeze Corned Beef Hash?

For an absolutely classic British meal, you can’t go far wrong than with a good old fashioned corned beef hash. Made from a hearty mix of corned beef, potato and onions this is a meal that can be served as an easy meal at any time of day.

But, can you freeze corned beef hash?

How To Freeze Corned Beef Hash

It couldn’t get much easier than freezing corned beef hash. There are few ways to do it and it’s difficult to get it wrong! Let’s dive in and find out how.

1. Cook
   Prepare and cook the corned beef hash exactly how you normally would.
2. Cool
   If you are cooking to freeze or if you are freezing leftovers you need to ensure that it is completely cooled down before freezing.
3. Bag Up
   Pop the corned beef hash into freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. If you are freezing in containers then you need to ensure the lids are airtight and seal well. You need to put one portion of corned beef hash into each freezer bag or container.
   
   This makes it easier to use just the amount you need at a later date.
4. Seal
   Squeeze out any air in the bags and seal tight. If you have chosen to use containers then pop the lid on tightly.
5. Label
   Label the corned beef hash containers with the date and contents.
6. Freeze
   Pop the corned beef hash into the freezer.

3 Tips for Freezing Corned Beef Hash

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing corned beef hash to have the best results:

Freeze In Portions
Refreezing hash is a bad idea so try to freeze it into portion-sized bags. This way you can grab a portion at a time from the freezer. 

Remove the Air
Keeping it airtight is vital so when sealing the bag, try to remove as much as possible. You could use a straw for this. 

Cook from Frozen
You can actually cook the hash from frozen. Remove it from the freezer, tip the bag into a pan and warm through over a low heat. Don’t use a high heat as you risk burning the outside before the inside has thawed. 

How Long Can You Freeze Corned Beef Hash?

Corned beef hash keeps fairly well for around two to three months when frozen. It should be safe to eat for a month or two longer than this but you are starting to run the risk of the taste of the food deteriorating too much.

If you are unsure how long the hash has been in the freezer then make sure you check for any signs of spoiling and if in doubt, throw it away.

You Can Freeze Corned Beef Hash for Around 3 Months

How Do You Defrost Corned Beef Hash?

You have several options when it comes to defrosting your corned beef hash. Just choose the one that works best for you!

How to Defrost Corned Beef Hash in the Fridge

This is the best method to choose as it will give you the best results. It’s super easy to do too. You just need to take the corned beef hash out of the freezer, pop it into a bowl and put it in the fridge to defrost slowly overnight.

The next day you can cook it up in a frying pan so you end up with a lovely crispy hash or you can microwave it to heat it up that way.

How to Defrost Corned Beef Hash in the Microwave

If you need to speed up the thawing process a little then you can pop your frozen hash into a microwavable bowl and then pop it into the microwave on a defrost setting for a few minutes. Keep an eye on it and check it every couple of minutes.

How to Cook Corned Beef Hash From Frozen

You can also cook your hash from frozen. Either pop it into a frying pan and fry it up slowly for a crispy hash or pop it into an ovenproof dish and bake.

If you use this method then make sure you adjust your cooking times and temperatures to reflect the dish being frozen. This method can be done successfully and is great for a quick and easy meal after work.

Can You Refreeze Corned Beef Hash?

We wouldn’t recommend that you refreeze many foods. Corned beef hash is the same as other foods in that you shouldn’t freeze it for a second time.

Every time you freeze and thaw out food you give bacteria opportunities to grow and this can change the food so it doesn’t taste great and it can even make you sick. You need to be especially careful with any recipes that contain meats for this reason.

Does Corned Beef Hash Freeze Well?

Corned beef hash is one of those amazing meals that do freeze well. The ingredients all freeze well individually and do so together too. You may notice a very slight change in taste and texture, but this applies to almost any food you choose to freeze.

No meal will be quite as good frozen as it was fresh but this is a fab way to ensure no leftovers go to waste.

Or, you can even cook up a large batch of corned beef hash in order to freeze it into individual meals to last you several weeks or months.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing corned beef hash or corned beef in general, then these may help: