Pinwheels are a wonderfully tasty, pastry-based snack food or appetizer that are just as easy to make and eat as they are to freeze and enjoy later. But, do they freeze well and is it safe to do?
Can You Freeze Pinwheels?
Yes, you can freeze pinwheels for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze pinwheels is to place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for around 30 minutes for a flash freeze. Then, transfer them to a plastic freezer bag and back to the freezer.
Do Do Pinwheels freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Pinwheels? Yes
How to Freeze Pinwheels
The first step to freezing pinwheels, as with so many things, is to ensure that theyāre cooled after baking.
Transferring them to the freezer and allowing for them to sit in that cold while still warm will lead to condensation directly on the pastry, negatively affecting the pastry itself, as well as the filling.Ā
Once cooled, it’s time to freeze them:
- Transfer to a Baking Sheet: Once the pinwheels are cool, transfer the pinwheels into the freezer on a baking sheet. This is a good idea as it allows for the pinwheels to freeze solidly without being smushed up against another.
- Remove from the Freezer After around thirty to forty-five minutes, the pinwheels should be frozen solid. This means that they can be frozen in the next step.
- Bag Up: Get a large freezer bag out of your stash (weāve all got one), and then transfer the pinwheels into the bag en masse. Be careful that they donāt break or snap under the pressure of you adding more and more to the bag, but donāt be shy about it – you want to eliminate excess air in the bag.
- Seal and Freeze: Once the pastry treats are transferred into the freezer bag, press as much excess air out of the bag as possible, and allow them to freeze in the bag.
3 Tips for Freezing Pinwheels
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing pinwheels to have the best results:
Beware of Excess Air
Any excess air in the bag will begin to condense as it spends time in the freezer. These moisture droplets will eventually turn into an amount of ice, which will, in turn, lead to freezer burn. This will lead to the texture and flavour of the pinwheels being utterly ruined, which would be a terrible shame for a homemade food item.Ā
Ensure a Tight Seal
Most pinwheel recipes use a small amount of a potent ingredient or seasoning as their filling. This could be cheese, pesto, or anything similarly strong. If you leave the bag of pinwheels open in your freezer, itās very likely that their aroma will become part of the smells that your freezer may contain.
Write Clear Labels for Different Pinwheels
If you have made some vegetarian and some meat-filled pinwheels, then make sure you freeze them in individual bags or containers and then write clear labels, including the filling, on the containers. Ā
How Long Can You Freeze Pinwheels?
You can keep pinwheels in your freezer for around 3 months.
If the amount of time in your freezer exceeds that, then air pockets within the container and the pinwheels themselves will have succumbed to freezer burn, leading to negatively impacted pinwheels.
Cooked and cooled pinwheels can be kept in an airtight container or on a covered plate for around 4 days in the fridge.
How Do You Defrost Pinwheels?
The best way to defrost pinwheels is to leave them on the counter on paper towels. The reason is that the pastry needs to be as dry as possible while it defrosts to ensure that it is adequately thawed.
Do not thaw pinwheels in the fridge – thatās a moisture-rich environment, and youāre likely to damage their structure quite easily.
Can You Refreeze Pinwheels?
Yes, you can refreeze pinwheels, so long as you follow the steps above to avoid freezer burn wherever possible.
We advise against refreezing pinwheels containing meat, as thawed and refrozen meat can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms.
Do Pinwheels Freeze Well?
Yes, pinwheels do freeze well.
When frozen well, they retain their shape, size, flavour, and crispiness effortlessly. This means that they can be prepared way ahead of time and frozen to ensure that you can prepare an excellent option for guests.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing pinwheels or pinwheels in general, then these may help:
Yes, tortilla pinwheels can be frozen for around 2 or 3 months, but this depends hugely on the fillings. Some fillings will freeze well, but others will suffer.
Placing a kitchen towel over the top of the pinwheels as they defrost is a good way to absorb excess moisture, which can go some way toward preventing them from turning complete soggy and mushy.
