The gypsy tart is a Kent tradition that has an interesting story behind its creation but in addition to that, it is a delicious dessert the whole family can enjoy. You can make it in large batches which does mean you often end up with leftovers to deal with. So…
Can You Freeze Gypsy Tart?
Yes, you can freeze gypsy tart for up to 3 months. It’s vital it is wrapped fully. This can vary from recipe to recipe so your recipe may offer different advice so make sure you check your recipe before freezing.
Do Does Gypsy Tart freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Gypsy Tart? No
How to Freeze Gypsy Tart
You should freeze your gypsy tart once it has been cooked. This is because of the evaporated milk in the filling. Evaporated milk doesnāt usually freeze well, but because in this recipe, it has been mixed with sugar and baked, you should be fine.
How to Freeze Gypsy Tart in Portions
Freezing portions of the tart is the right approach to take if you know you won’t consume a whole tart soon after defrosting.
Gypsy tart can be quite sweet, so portions tend to be quite small, so getting through an entire tart can be challenging for most:
- Cool: Allow the gypsy tart to cool completely before freezing.
- Wrap: Wrap each portion in cling film. You want to add two layers of the cling film to ensure the portions are protected from the air.
- Flash Freeze: Place your wrapped portions of gypsy tart onto a baking tray and put this in the freezer. It is important to ensure that this is placed carefully at the top of the freezer, where nothing can squash the tart portions. Allow the gypsy tart to freeze for an hour or two.
- Bag Up: Once the tart portions are frozen solid, you can take the baking tray out of the freezer and transfer the portions into a large container with a lid or sealable freezer bag.
- Seal: Seal the container or bag tightly and add a label with the date and contents.
- Freeze: Put this into the freezer and freeze.
How to Freeze Whole Gypsy Tart
If, however, you know you’ll eat the whole tart or have a dinner party scheduled in, then having it frozen whole can be beneficial. Here’s the approach to take if you want to freeze an entire tart:
- Cool: Allow your gypsy tart to cool completely before freezing. You can do this by popping it onto a wire cooling rack for a couple of hours.
- Wrap: Once the gypsy tart is cool, you need to wrap it in two layers of cling film.
- Wrap Again: Add a third layer of tin foil. The reason for all these layers is to keep it airtight and protected from getting freezer burnt.
- Label: Label the gypsy tart with both the name of the contents and the date.
- Freeze: Pop the wrapped tart into the freezer to freeze. Be careful with it until it is solid because it is in danger of getting squashed if other items are placed on top.
3 Tips for Freezing Gypsy Tart
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing gypsy tart to have the best results:
Make Other Gypsy Tart Goods
You often end up with far more filling than you have pastry to fill! If this is the case, you could try adding the filling to other baked goods. Try a gypsy tart cheesecake or even some ice cream made with gypsy tart flavouring.
Keep It Airtight
There is no real secret to making sure your gypsy tart stays tasting as fresh as possible. It is all about how airtight you keep the tart while it is in the freezer. You can ensure it is extra protected by using containers with lids or adding extra layers of foil to the gypsy tart.
Consider Portions
You will want to avoid refreezing the tart as it can ruin the texture. It’s vitally important to consider the portion sizes you will consume.
How Long Can You Freeze Gypsy Tart?
We recommend that you keep your gypsy tart in the freezer for as minimal a time as possible. Thatās why we recommend you eat it within three months.
This is because of the mix of pastry and evaporated milk filling. These can degrade over time, and you are in danger of the tart becoming freezer burnt.
You may find that your recipe copes a little better in the freezer, and you may be able to push it a little longer than this. Before you eat your gypsy tart, make sure there are no signs of it spoiling and throw it away if you are in any doubt about it.
How Do You Defrost Gypsy Tart?
Your best option for defrosting gypsy tart is taking it out of the freezer, unwrapping it and popping it on the kitchen side. Cover it with a tea towel to keep it protected from flies and allow it to thaw out for a few hours until it has completely thawed.
Can You Refreeze Gypsy Tart?
You shouldnāt attempt to refreeze your gypsy tart.
The pastry and filling can both degrade and become damaged, and if you are unlucky, you will either end up with a dry and cracked pastry or a soggy tart where the moisture has got into the tart in the freezer.
Does Gypsy Tart Freeze Well?
In general, you will find that gypsy tart freezes well enough.
It may suffer from some slight changes to texture, but the taste should remain fine, and if you find your pastry has become soggy, you can pop the gypsy tart into the oven to heat through and crisp up.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing gypsy tart or tarts in general, then these may help:
Gypsy tart filling can be frozen, but it may change in texture. There is a risk of it becoming a little grainy when frozen. We would recommend freezing gypsy tart filling as part of a baked dish such as a tart.
Unfortunately, gypsy tart will not keep long at all. Once baked, it will only last for a few days in the fridge before it goes off. This is why freeze it is such a good idea!
