Kielbasa is a rich and thick Polish sausage that has spread worldwide. The specific combination of spices is packed full of flavour and can be used in various dishes. If you manage to get hold of some, what’s the best way to store it?
Can You Freeze Kielbasa?
Yes, you can freeze kielbasa for up to 1 month. Slice the sausage into portion-sized pieces before double-wrapping them. Wrap them first in a layer of baking paper, and follow that with a layer of cling film. Once theyāre wrapped, place them into the freezer.
Do Does Kielbasa freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Kielbasa? No
How to Freeze Kielbasa
When freezing most foods, it’s a good idea to store them in portions and the same can be said for kielbasa. Once you’ve got kielbasa, here’s how to go ahead and get it frozen:
- Trim: The first step to freezing kielbasa is to trim it down to the size youāre looking for. You can freeze the sausage whole but it’s always better to freeze it in portions. Slice the sausage into the size that you want, making sure to weigh them out to manage their size perfectly.
- Wrap: Once youāve trimmed the meat to the correct size, wrap each piece in a layer of baking paper, being sure that the paper is tight enough that it makes contact with the sausage in some places, but still leaves a little air here and there.
- Wrap Again: Next, wrap the baking paper in a layer of cling film, being sure to create an airtight seal. This double seal is because we create an air-permeable barrier with the baking paper. The cling film forms a barrier between the freezer and the sausage.
- Label: After wrapping the kielbasa completely, label each piece of the sausage with the correct date, and transfer them to the freezer.
You could also pop the portioned and wrapped kielbasa into a freezer bag to make it easier to find them and to give them a further layer of protection in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Kielbasa
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing kielbasa to have the best results:
Use Cling Film to Make a Seal
The cling film that you wrap around the kielbasa needs to act as an airtight layer, forming a seal between the sausage itself and the environment of the freezer. That will allow you to easily prevent too much liquid from accessing the sausage, as that would degrade the meat itself.Ā
Use It Up Quickly
Ensure that you use the sausage quickly, as continued freezing of this meat is very likely to lead to freezer burn. In the case of high protein options like meat and cheese, freezer burn will dramatically damage the final texture of the food that youāre working with, leading to a poorer final experience.Ā
Watch Our for Freeze Odors
Freezer smells are present in every freezer, and, frustratingly, kielbasa is a culprit thatās quite likely to add to those levels of smells in any freezer. The combination of meat and spices is liable to increase the level of any aroma in your freezer, so be wary of that and ensure the kielbasa is well sealed.Ā
How Long Can You Freeze Kielbasa?
You can freeze kielbasa for up to a month without any noticeable decrease in quality. While the food will still be safe to eat if you keep it in the freezer for longer than that, the texture of the sausage will likely be diminished.
Unopened kielbasa will keep for around 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge or up to the use-by date on the packet. Once opened, it needs to be used up within a few days.
How Do You Defrost Kielbasa?
You can defrost kielbasa quickly and easily by placing it into the fridge overnight before you work with it. This is the best way to thaw the kielbasa, though we would recommend heating it until itās steaming hot, all the way through, before eating it.
Do not defrost kielbasa (or any meat for that matter) on the worktop at room temperature.
Can You Refreeze Kielbasa?
No, you cannot refreeze kielbasa.
The reason for this is that after kielbasa has been thawed, it can be exposed to contaminants, which a freezer wouldnāt kill. Therefore, for maximum food safety, only thaw what youāre planning to eat.
Does Kielbasa Freeze Well?
Yes, kielbasa does freeze well.
By this, we mean that kielbasa doesnāt lose much, if any, quality during the freezing and thawing process. Therefore, the final product that you make with kielbasa will likely turn out to be wonderfully tasty.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing kielbasa or kielbasa in general, then these may help:
Cooked Polish sausage can be frozen in an airtight container or freezer bag. Before it is frozen, it must be left to cool to room temperature.
Yes, smoked sausage can be frozen but only for a month or so. Beyond this, the smokey flavour will begin to degrade and within a few months the smokiness will be lost.
