Can You Freeze Leeks?

5 minutes

How to Freeze Leeks

How to Freeze Leeks in Different Forms

The humble leek is a lot more versatile than many people give it record for. You don’t just have to slice it into rings and boil it. Below I’ve covered a few popular ways to prepare leeks and how I then freeze them:

Chopped

Chopping leeks into smaller pieces is my preferred method for freezing. I thoroughly clean the leeks, chop them, then blanch them in boiling water for about 2 minutes. After blanching, I immediately plunge them into ice water to halt the cooking process, then drain and pat dry.

I lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them before transferring them to a freezer bag. This way, I can grab the amount I need for my recipes.

This method works for any form of chopped leeks whether you’ve thinly sliced them or chopped them into large chunks.

Whole

Freezing whole leeks isn’t recommended due to their large size and the changes in texture that can occur when freezing. But if freezer space isn’t an issue and you have a surplus of leeks, it’s possible.

After cleaning the leeks, dry them, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap before placing them into a freezer bag.

The main drawback is that defrosted leeks might lose their firmness, becoming softer and somewhat slimy. Of course, if you’re plan is to use them as the base of soups, stocks or sauces then this won’t matter too much.

Green Tops

Leek green tops can be quite tough. There’s this misconception that they are a waste product. A part of the leek that’s of no use. But they are wonderful for adding flavour to stocks and soups.

After washing and drying them, I typically freeze them whole or roughly chopped in a freezer bag. Add them directly from the freezer to your pot when ready to use them.

How to Freeze Leeks Cooked In Different Ways

In the same way that leeks can be prepped in different ways, there are a few ways you may want to cook and then freeze them:

Sauteed

After sauteing leeks in butter, let them cool completely before freezing. Then, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze before transferring to a freezer bag or airtight container.

Boiled

Before you freeze them, it’s worth knowing that boiled leeks can be frozen but tend to become quite soft upon defrosting.

After boiling, cool the leeks and pat dry with kitchen towels before freezing. I usually freeze them flat on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag to prevent them from sticking together.

Roasted

Roasted leeks have a wonderful caramelised flavour that can be preserved by freezing – somewhat, at least!

After roasting and cooling, I place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze before transferring them to a freezer bag. When ready, they can be reheated in the oven straight from the freezer.

How Long Can You Freeze Leeks?

Leeks will keep for a surprisingly long time in the freezer… That’s if you go through the effort of blanching them beforehand! I know it’s a faff, but it’s well worth it in the long run.

If you have blanched the leeks to help lock in their flavour and nutrients, you can keep them in the freezer for around 10 months.

If you didn’t spend time blanching them, I recommend keeping them in the freezer for 2 months. Beyond this time, you may find the flavour is lacking and then what’s the point in having them in the freezer in the first place?

How Do You Defrost Leeks?

The good news is that you don’t need to defrost your leeks. You have two options:

Boil

Bring a large pot of water to the boil, salt it, and then tip your frozen leeks in. Give them 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces, until cooked through. They will thaw in the boiling water reasonably quickly.

I do find that boiling frozen leeks results in fairly bland leeks that have lost their subtle onion flavour. If you’re just looking to get a portion of veg into your diet then this is a quick and easy option – just not the best!

Saute

Cooking them in plenty of butter, however, is a great way to enjoy leeks (even if it is far less healthy).

Place a pan over low heat with a knob of butter and tip in your leeks. Cook slowly until thawed out. You can then whack the heat up to high to get some colour on them at the end.

If you use high heat too early on, then the centre of the leeks will remain frozen or cool. Instead, I find slowly cooking them in butter for 10 minutes before turning up the heat works out best.

Can You Refreeze Leeks?

Leeks are not a vegetable I recommend refreezing.

Every time you freeze and thaw leeks, you slightly degrade the structure. If you repeat this, you’ll ruin the structure more and more and, therefore, the texture.

This is why I suggest freezing leeks on a tray or dish initially and then storing them in freezer bags. This way, you can grab a portion of leeks when you need them without worrying about refreezing them.

Do Leeks Freeze Well?

Yes, I’ve always found that leeks freeze particularly well.

As I’ve mentioned many times already, blanching is the crucial part of freezing leeks. If you don’t blanch leeks, then you will notice the flavour and texture both degrade rapidly.

If, however, you do blanch them, then you’ll find leeks freeze exceptionally well and will last for up to 10 months.

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