Oatcakes are a delicious, healthy snack for any time during the day and making your own is easy! But they don’t last that long once made, so is there a better way to store them for the longer term?
Can You Freeze Oatcakes?
Yes, you can freeze oatcakes for up to 3 months. Layer them with greaseproof paper before placing them in a freezer bag. Seal the freezer bag tightly, removing excess air, and freeze flat.
Do Do Oatcakes freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Oatcakes? Yes
How to Freeze Oatcakes
Freezing oatcakes is a simple process, but there are a few steps that you have to make sure to get right. Follow our steps to ensure excellent results:
- Cool: Ensuring that the oatcakes are cool will make sure that they donāt generate a lot of condensation while theyāre in the freezer bag that youāre putting them in.
- Stack in Layers: Stacking the layers of oatcakes with layers of greaseproof paper will ensure that they donāt stick together during freezing. This will make it easier to thaw them, as you can then easily separate them without snapping any into pieces.
- Bag Up: Transferring the oatcakes into a freezer bag ensures they wonāt come in contact with ice. This means that they will freeze very well and that the inherent moisture within a freezer wonāt damage them.
- Seal: Pressing the excess air from the freezer bag will help to ensure that they donāt become stale during freezing. So, seal the bag up whilst pushing the excess out from the bottom of the bag.
- Freeze Flat: Freeze the oatcakes flat in the centre of the freezer. This will ensure that they freeze solid without coming into contact with any of the frost.
- Optionally Rearrange: Once the oatcakes are frozen solid, they can be rearranged in your freezer. A convenient way to store them may be to stack them upright, as though they are books. This can save you some space.
3 Tips for Freezing Oatcakes
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing oatcakes to have the best results:
Check the Seal
Ensuring the bag is sealed is vital for preventing water from getting into the bag with the oatcakes. Stopping water from getting in would mean that the oatcakes are far less likely to get freezer burned.Ā
Stick to Greaseproof Paper
Replacing the greaseproof paper with another material can be a bad idea. You could not replace the greaseproof paper with paper towels, for example, as their permeable nature would make the oatcakes stick together.
Initially Be Gentle
When handling the oatcakes, be gentle. They are brittle and prone to snapping. You don’t want to freeze broken oatcakes, so be gentle and avoid cramming them into a drawer.
How Long Can You Freeze Oatcakes?
You can freeze oatcakes for up to 3 months. Beyond that time, the oatcakes will be perfectly fine to eat, but they will lose some of their flavour and texture.
It’s worth noting that, over time, even after the first month in the freezer, they will soften up and lose their crispness.
At room temperature, oatcakes can be kept for 2 to 3 days. They will last much longer in the fridge, up to 10 days.
How Do You Defrost Oatcakes?
Defrosting oatcakes is very easy.
Our recommendation, since theyāre so thin, is simply to place them under the grill for thirty seconds or so on either side. Alternatively, you could do this in a dry frying pan.
Alternatively, you could allow the oatcakes to come to room temperature overnight but be warned that they can become soggy if left to sit in any liquid that has melted.
Can You Refreeze Oatcakes?
Yes, you can refreeze oatcakes.
You might notice a degradation in the texture and quality of the oatcakes over time, but they will likely remain safe to eat for a long time.
Do Oatcakes Freeze Well?
Yes, oatcakes do freeze well. The reason for this is that they freeze and thaw very quickly, so thereās little chance of them losing a lot of texture or flavour in a short period.
The only problem you may have is if you have not stacked them correctly using sheets of greaseproof paper. You’ll struggle to break off the number of oatcakes you need, leading you to damage them all.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing oatcakes or oatcakes in general, then these may help:
Yes, Derbyshire oatcakes can be frozen for around 3 months. Simply pop a sheet of greaseproof paper between each oatcake and then freeze them in a resealable bag.
Yes, as they are so thin, you can reheat oat cakes from frozen by popping them into a toaster, a dry frying pan or under the grill.