Lancashire hotpot has been popular in the north of England for hundreds of years. While there are lots of different recipes out there, it’s typically a combination of meat, veggies, and potatoes, combining to provide you with a winter-warming dish that the family will love. But what’s the best way to store it?
Can You Freeze Lancashire Hotpot? Yes, you can freeze Lancashire hotpot. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. You will need to cook it thoroughly before allowing it sufficient time to cool. Thereafter, you can box it up (or cover the dish it was cooked in) and store it in the freezer.
Do Does Lancashire Hotpot freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Lancashire Hotpot? No
How to Freeze Lancashire Hotpot
You’ll be pleased to hear that freezing Lancashire hotpot is straightforward. The only decision you really have to make is whether to freeze it whole or split it into portions.
We would recommend splitting it into portions, as this makes it easier to remove the serving that you require at any given time, and means you don’t have to defrost the entire hotpot.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Cool
You will need to cook your Lancashire hotpot thoroughly by following your favourite recipe. Once ready, leave your hotpot to stand out at room temperature for a couple of hours until it has cooled completely.
If you’re freezing smaller portions, it’s a good idea to split it up and store the hotpot in bowls as it cools, as this will speed the process up considerably. - Portion
Next, decide how you’re going to portion your Lancashire hotpot. It’s best to think about individual serving sizes, as this will enable you to remove a portion from the freezer for a quick and easy meal during the week. - Add to a Container
Place your portions of hotpot in suitably-sized freezer-safe containers and affix the lids. - Label and Freeze
Write today’s date and the use-by date on the lid of the containers and place them in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze Lancashire hotpot for around three months.
3 Tips for Freezing Lancashire Hotpot
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Lancashire hotpot to have the best results:
Freeze Whole or In Portions
While we would recommend freezing Lancashire hotpot in portions, you can also freeze it whole. This is ideal if you’ve made it ahead of time for a future dinner party and want to quickly reheat it before serving it to your guests. You should cover the hotpot with foil before adding it to the freezer.
Freeze All Types of Hotpot
While the Lancashire hotpot is arguably the most popular, there are other variations of this popular British dish that can be frozen by following the same steps as listed above.
Reheat from Frozen
If you’re planning to freeze a whole Lancashire hotpot, the good news is that you can reheat it from frozen. You can do so by transferring it directly from the freezer to the oven, and you will need to cook it until it is hot through.
If you want to defrost your Lancashire hotpot before reheating, we explain how to go about it in one of the following sections.
How Long Can You Freeze Lancashire Hotpot?
You can freeze Lancashire hotpot for around three months. While some people might freeze it for longer than this, we’d recommend sticking to this timeframe to ensure your hotpot is as delicious as you would have hoped when you sit down to enjoy it!
Lancashire hotpot will be good in the fridge for 3-4 days after it has been cooked, so you only really need to freeze it if you’re planning to enjoy it further into the future.
You Can Freeze Lancashire Hotpot for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Lancashire Hotpot?
Defrosting Lancashire hotpot is easy. Remove the portion that you require from the freezer and place it in the fridge. It will take a while to thaw completely, so make sure you do this the night before you plan to reheat it.
Alternatively, as mentioned above, you don’t necessarily have to defrost Lancashire hotpot before cooking it as it can be reheated from frozen.
You will just need to extend its cooking time if you do this, as it will take longer to reach the required temperatures.
Can You Refreeze Lancashire Hotpot?
While it’s safe to refreeze Lancashire hotpot, we wouldn’t recommend doing so. This is because the potato topping won’t respond particularly well to the thawing and refreezing process, and you might find that your topping is ruined as a result.
To ensure your Lancashire hotpot tastes great, we would advise you to only freeze it once.
Does Lancashire Hotpot Freeze Well?
Lancashire hotpot freezes really well. It’s an excellent make-ahead recipe that you can put together when you have time before serving up to your family.
You can also preserve your leftovers in the freezer, as they will provide you with a delicious and filling meal option throughout the week when you’re too busy to cook for yourself.
