Meatballs can add bulk and flavour to any number of different dishes. If you enjoy using them in your kitchen, then you might find yourself buying or making way too many at a time. So, what’s the best way to store them?
Can You Freeze Meatballs?
Yes, you can freeze meatballs for up to 3 months. Place a portion of meatballs on a sheet of baking paper, then loosely wrap them in the paper. Wrap them in cling film, being sure that the package is sealed. Freeze the package.
Do Do Meatballs freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Meatballs? No
How to Freeze Meatballs
Freezing meatballs isnāt as simple as freezing the meatballs you might get from the supermarket in a bag quickly. Instead, follow these straightforward steps:
- Lay out a Sheet of Baking Paper: Laying out a sheet of baking paper is, by far, the easiest way to do this. If you have trouble making the paper lie flat, crumple it up into a ball, first, and then lie it out flat again.
- Add Meatballs and Wrap: Place one portion of the meatballs on top of the sheet of baking paper, and wrap them loosely in the paper. You want to ensure that the paper forms a total wrapping around the meatballs.
- Wrap in Cling Film: Wrapping the parcel with cling film next creates an air pocket. This air pocket between the baking paper and the cling film will allow frost and ice to form there rather than directly on the meatballs themselves.
- Repeat: Repeat the process above for each portion of meatballs you want to freeze.
- Label: Labelling the meatballs with the date is essential. As theyāre meat, you must ensure that you eat them before they spoil.
- Freeze: Placing the meatballs right at the centre of the freezer will slow the approach of freezer burn, as that approaches food from the walls of the freezer.
How to Freeze Meatballs in a Bag
If you don’t want to go to the effort of wrapping portions into a freezer package then you can also freeze them in one large freezer bag using this method:
- Spread Out on a Lined Baking Sheet: Lined a baking tray or sheet with greaseproof paper and then spread the meatballs out on it, ensuring that none touch.
- Freeze for 2 Hours: Pop the tray into the freezer and allow the meatballs to freeze solid for 2 hours or so.
- Tip the Meatballs Into a Freezer Bag: Once solid, tip the meatballs from the tray and into a thick freezer bag.
- Seal and Freeze: Seal the bag up, removing as much air as possible and then pop the large bag into the freezer. You can now grab a handful of meatballs as and when you want them.
3 Tips for Freezing Meatballs
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing meatballs to have the best results:
Cooked or Uncooked Is Fine
You can freeze meatballs whether theyāre cooked or uncooked. This means you can easily use them in recipes, whether you thaw them and marinade or cook them straight from the freezer.Ā
Label Them with the Date
Itās vital to eat meat before it spoils, or youāre putting yourself at risk of food poisoning. Label all meat products with the correct date when you freeze them.Ā
Freeze In Batches
Freezing meatballs in batches can be a great idea. They cannot be refrozen, so only thawing what you need is ideal. That will help you to ensure youāre only cooking what you need, and not wasting anything.Ā
How Long Can You Freeze Meatballs?
You can freeze meatballs in your home for around three months. Beyond those three months in the freezer, meatballs will still be safe to eat, but they likely wonāt be as tasty as they could have been.
This is because aromatic and flavorful chemicals will evaporate over time in the freezer, leading to flavour loss.
Once you’ve made the meatballs, they will only last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days before they need to be thrown out. This is why freezing them is a good idea!
How Do You Defrost Meatballs?
You can defrost meatballs by placing them in the fridge overnight.
This is the best course of action for uncooked meatballs, as youāll be able to treat them then as though they were totally raw and fresh.
You can cook meatballs from frozen too. Pop them onto a preheated baking tray directly from the frozen and then pop them into an oven at around 180C/350F for 25 minutes until they are hot in the centre.
Can You Refreeze Meatballs?
No, you certainly cannot refreeze meatballs. The reason for this is that you cannot refreeze any meat, fish, or dairy.
Those three categories of food are all things that are liable to get cross-contaminated while theyāre out of the freezer, leading to a lack of food safety when theyāre refrozen.
Do Meatballs Freeze Well?
Yes, meatballs do freeze well, as most high-protein foods do. High protein food does also succumb to freezer burn a little more quickly, though, meaning that it can be a tricky balance to strike.
Generally speaking, meatballs will freeze well, provided you ensure that theyāre well sealed within the little parcel you create and that you eat them within three months of freezing them.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing meatballs or meatballs in general, then these may help:
Ikea meatballs can be frozen on a baking sheet until solid. Once frozen, they can be added to a freezer bag and stored for around 3 months. Generally, Ikea meatballs are bought frozen in the first place, of course.
Yes, meatballs can be frozen in tomato sauce. Allow the dish to cool down, and then pour it into a freezer bag or two. Seal the bags up and pop them into the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
