Can You Freeze Mackerel Pate?

How To Freeze Mackerel Pate

Let’s take a look at how you freeze this delicious pate. Method one is perfect for freezing your pate in one go. However, we have also included an extra method where you can freeze individual portions so that you can provide your guests with their own portion or freeze it in small amounts for yourself to use at a later date.

How to Freeze Large Portions of Mackeral Pate

If you’re hosting a dinner party or know you’ll be consuming your pate in one hit then this is the best approach to take. But you will need to eat the whole lot as pate doesn’t lend itself to being refrozen:

1. Prepare Your Pate
   Prep you pate and make sure it has completely cooled before freezing.
2. Portion
   You need a freezer-safe container with a lid that seals tight to keep the pate airtight while it is in the freezer. Spoon your pate into the container.
3. Protect
   Add a layer of cling film to the top of the pate so that the film is directly touching it. This can help to keep the pate a little extra safe from freezer burn and any skins from forming.
4. Freeze
   Pop the lid on the container and make sure it is sealed tightly. Add a label with the name of the contents and the date and freeze.

How to Freeze Individual Portions of Mackeral Pate

If you’re more likely to consume a little, often, then this is the approach to take. By freezing it in ice cube trays, you can have ready to use portions:

1. Prepare Ice Cube Trays
   For this method, you need a couple of ice cube trays. Brush a little oil into each section of the ice cube tray.
2. Portion
   Spoon a portion of mackerel pate into each section of the ice cube tray. Leave a little gap at the top to allow for a little expansion.
3. Protect
   Pop some cling film over the top or pop the tray into a freezer bag.
4. Flash Freeze
   Put the ice cube tray into the freezer and allow the mackerel to freeze for a couple of hours.
5. Final Freeze
   Once the pate has frozen completely, you can take it out of the freezer and transfer the portions of mackerel pate into a freezer bag or container. Seal tightly. Label with the date and contents and then pop it back into the container.

How Long Can You Freeze Mackerel Pate?

As long as you have frozen the mackerel pate well and kept the containers airtight, then you should be able to keep your mackerel pate in the freezer for around three months. We wouldn’t recommend that you freeze it for any longer than this as you are in danger of the taste deteriorating.

You Can Freeze Mackerel Pate for Around 3 Months

How Do You Defrost Mackerel Pate?

There is no quick way of defrosting mackerel pate. You need to be patient because any attempt to speed up the thawing process can make the mackerel pate inedible.

The best way to do this is to take the mackerel pate out of the freezer and pop it into the fridge to defrost slowly for several hours. This method ensures that the mackerel pate doesn’t come up to room temperature, which is when bacteria and spoiling are most likely to happen.

Can You Refreeze Mackerel Pate?

Unfortunately, if you are wondering if you can refreeze mackerel pate so that none goes to waste we have some bad news. You shouldn’t refreeze the pate at all. It is likely to spoil and degrade too much to be safe or tasty.

Does Mackerel Pate Freeze Well?

Your mackerel pate may not be quite the same as it would have been fresh, and due to the high-fat content of this dish, you do need to take care when freezing. There is a chance that the fats and moisture will separate and become grainy in texture.

You can always give the mackerel pate a blend before serving to sort out any texture issues and even with minimal changes you should still have a great tasting mackerel pate that your guests will love.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing mackerel pate or mackerel in general, then these may help:

Can You Freeze Smoked Mackerel?

You certainly can! You do need to make sure you freeze it airtight to avoid the delicate smokey flavour getting impacted, but it will freeze well if you take time to wrap it. If you want a little more information on this, then read our guide to freezing smoked mackerel.

Can You Freeze Peppered Mackerel?

Like most fish products, peppered mackerel can also be frozen. The key is to store it in an airtight container to prevent it from taking on other odours and to also prevent the smell of fish from penetrating other foods in your freezer.