Enchiladas are a popular Mexican dish much loved by families all around the world. No matter the recipe you follow, enchiladas are a delicious meal option for the family, and the leftovers make an ideal lunch option. But whatās the best way to preserve them?
Can You Freeze Enchiladas?
Yes, you can freeze enchiladas for up to 3 months. You will need to allow them to cool before wrapping them in foil or clingfilm. If youāre freezing them before cooking, you should wrap the enchiladas in an oven-proof dish so you can cook them straight from frozen.
Do Do Enchiladas freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Enchiladas? No
How to Freeze Enchiladas
The good news is that you can freeze enchiladas before or after theyāve been cooked.
If youāre freezing them before, simply prepare them as you would and wrap the entire tray in cling film or tin foil before placing it in the freezer. You can then cook your enchiladas from frozen.Ā
If youāre freezing enchiladas after cooking them, hereās what you need to do:
- Cool
Remove the enchiladas from the oven and leave them to stand at room temperature until they have completely cooled. Itās important not to freeze enchiladas when theyāre still warm, as doing so will cause them to go soggy.Ā - Wrap
You will need to decide whether youāre freezing enchiladas together or individually.
Wrapping each of them individually is a good idea, as this allows you to remove them from the freezer as and when you need them, but itās entirely up to you. Make sure theyāre tightly wrapped in cling film or tin foil, whichever you choose.Ā - Place Into a Container
Place your wrapped enchiladas in a suitably sized freezer-safe container and affix its lid.Ā - Label and Freeze
Write todayās date and the use-by date on the lid and place your enchiladas in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze enchiladas for around three months.
3 Tips for Freezing Enchiladas
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing enchiladas to have the best results:
Drain Excess Liquid
If youāre freezing enchiladas in a tray (as opposed to individually), make sure you drain out any excess liquid before wrapping them and adding them to the freezer. This will prevent them from going soggy in the freezer.
Add Fresh Cheese
When you come to reheat your enchiladas, remember to grate some fresh cheese on top before adding them to the oven or microwave. This will bring them back to life and make them extra delicious in the future.
Wrap Tightly
Freezer burn poses the biggest threat to the quality of your enchiladas. As such, when youāre wrapping them, make sure you do so tightly. If youāre wrapping the enchiladas individually, press out as much air as you can before sealing the wrapping. Although a small step, this makes a huge difference to their taste in the future.
How Long Can You Freeze Enchiladas?
You can freeze enchiladas for around three months. This is true if theyāre cooked or uncooked. We wouldnāt recommend freezing enchiladas for any longer than this, as the ice crystals that form during the freezing process can cause them to go soggy.
If youāre planning to enjoy your enchiladas within a few days, you can wrap them and keep them in the fridge without freezing them.
You Can Freeze Enchiladas for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Enchiladas?
When itās time to defrost your enchiladas, simply transfer them from the freezer to the fridge and leave them until they have thawed completely.
If you have frozen the enchiladas before cooking them, you can heat them straight from frozen. You will just need to adjust the cooking time to account for the fact that theyāre frozen.
You shouldnāt thaw enchiladas at room temperature, as doing so can cause harmful bacteria to form.
Can You Refreeze Enchiladas?
No, we wouldnāt recommend refreezing enchiladas.
This is because when combined, the ingredients donāt respond well to the changes in texture that freezing leads to. If youāre concerned about wastage, itās better to freeze enchiladas separately as opposed to in a tray together. This makes portion control much easier, as you can remove the enchiladas you need at any given time.
Remember, you can also keep enchiladas in the fridge for a few days, so you donāt need to freeze them right away.
Do Enchiladas Freeze Well?
Overall, enchiladas freeze well. Whether you freeze them before or after cooking, you shouldnāt have any issues, providing you wrap them tightly and protect them from freezer burn.
As long as you follow the steps introduced above, you will have no issues with freezing this delicious Mexican meal.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing enchiladas or enchiladas in general, then these may help:
Before freezing enchiladas, drain excess liquid from the dish to prevent them from going soggy when you freeze them.
Yes, you can freeze enchiladas that have been made with sour cream. However, expect the sour cream element to split and become a little grainy. It is safe to eat but it’s worth preparing yourself for some texture differences.
