Can You Freeze Creamed Leeks?

3 minutes

Creamy, rich and indulgent – it’s no surprise you’ve got creamed leeks leftover! But don’t throw them out just yet…

How to Freeze Creamed Leeks

Freezing creamed leeks is a simple process, but it’s always worth following our instructions to ensure they’re of the best quality possible when you come to use them up:

1. Cool: Allowing the creamed leeks to cool before you move them into the container is vital to make sure that you don’t allow for any negative bacterial growth or condensation. Allow the leeks to reach room temperature before you do anything with them.
2. Portion Out: Move the leeks into a rigid plastic container. While you could freeze creamed leeks in a freezer bag, the squishy leeks would make for a badly formed bag.
3. Compress: Press out any air bubbles within the creamed leeks. Air bubbles can lead to freezer burn when the air condenses to a liquid and then freezes to ice in the space the bubble once took up.
4. Seal: Seal the container, and ensure the lid provides an airtight seal. If you’re worried, wrap the container in a back up sheet of cling film.
5. Freeze: Finally, pop the container of creamed leeks into the freezer with a clear label where they will last for around 6 months.

3 Tips for Freezing Creamed Leeks

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing creamed leeks to have the best results:

Go Vegan!
Dairy options can become gritty and powdery during the freezing process. That’s not ideal since it can make the dish less enjoyable overall. Plant-based dairy options don’t become gritty when frozen, so consider replacing the dairy with a plant-based alternative. 

Add Protein
When freezing creamed leeks, you may be struck by the fact that there isn’t very much to freeze. To ensure that the leeks are worth freezing, we suggest bulking them out with some pieces of chicken or bacon and then using them as pie filling.

Thaw on the Stove
When the time comes to thaw the creamed leeks, you might consider thawing them on the stovetop instead of in the microwave or on the countertop. Thawing them on the stove will allow you to boil off any water that the leeks have taken on during freezing, leading to a rich and thicker dish.

How Long Can You Freeze Creamed Leeks?

You can freeze creamed leeks for around 6 months without any noticeable changes.

The only thing that you might notice is that the dairy portion can become a little grittier, though this will happen regardless of the amount of time the leeks are frozen for.

How Do You Defrost Creamed Leeks?

The best way to defrost creamed leeks is to place them over very low heat on the stove. Once there, add half a cup of water to a pan with the leeks, and place the lid over the top.

Once the leeks are thawed, continue to cook them with the lid off the pan – this will evaporate the water, leading to the leeks being pleasantly dense when you finally serve them.

Can You Refreeze Creamed Leeks?

Yes, you can refreeze creamed leeks.

The best way to do this is to follow the same freezing instructions that we laid out above – the leeks will freeze well in no time at all.

We often recommend not refreezing dairy. In this case, it’s likely to be okay since you’re cooking the dairy each time you thaw it, which will make it safe to eat.

Do Creamed Leeks Freeze Well?

Yes, creamed leeks do freeze well!

The main reason for this is that the side dish is very dense, and can be thawed and refrozen several times over without a noticeable decline in quality.

The only thing you may notice is that they become a little watery once frozen and then thawed. However, reheating them slowly and allowing the sauce to thicken back up should fix this in no time.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing creamed leeks or leeks in general, then these may help: