Can You Freeze Coleslaw? How to Freeze Coleslaw for Longer Periods?
Coleslaw originates in Roman culture and is now predominant across many European countries. It’s usually served as a side dish along with barbecues and sandwiches. However, if you ever end up having more of it than necessary, here are a few tips to help you freeze coleslaw.
Use it as a salad dressing or eat it raw, coleslaw can be shaped into different recipes with a fun taste. Coleslaw is low in fat and sufficiently high in fiber thus, it acts as a great appetizer for dieting individuals as well.
Apart from soothing your cravings, coleslaw is an extremely rich source of vitamins A and C. Thus, it has proven benefits of improving the quality of your skin cells. Coleslaw acts as a great ingredient to detoxify your body from within and support your immune system as well.
There’s a list of other things that coleslaw does to your body but for now, let’s focus on ways to freeze coleslaw.
How to Freeze Coleslaw for Longer Periods?
How to freeze coleslaw for longer periods in its basic form? Can you freeze mayonnaise stuffed coleslaw? What about the store-bought coleslaw? All these questions may pop up in your mind while making or buying coleslaw in large quantities. Do not worry! We are here to help you with the answers!
There are two situations that most people face when freezing coleslaw. Firstly, if you have store-bought mayonnaise stuffed or coated coleslaw, then, unfortunately, you won’t be able to freeze it.
On the other hand, if you have homemade coleslaw or at least the ones that have a vinegar dressing, then, no need to worry. They will freeze effectively for longer periods. Follow these quick and easy steps to freeze coleslaw in no time.
First, prepare your coleslaw dressing like you usually would and try to reduce the number of veggies you add to it. Rather you can add fresh vegetables later on while using them. Then, take clean unused airtight, or freezer-safe bags and start scoping coleslaw to them.
Do not fill the bags with extra amounts of coleslaw, i.e., leave some space for contents to expand on freezing. Remove all the air from the bag by gently pressing using your palms and seal tightly.
That’s it, now drop your bags in the freezer in a horizontal manner and you are done. You see that’s how easy it is to freeze coleslaw. However, remember that this process of freezing is only for homemade varieties.
You shouldn’t try doing the same process with mayonnaise variety.
Can you freeze the coleslaw mix?
Yes, coleslaw mix can be frozen. Typically advised to add some fresh vegetables like chopped carrots and cabbage, coleslaw mix can also occasionally include other vegetables like onions and red peppers. To store the coleslaw mix, put it in a freezer bag or container and keep it there for up to six months to freeze.
In the case of dry coleslaw mix, the procedure is quite similar. Place the dry coleslaw mix in a freezer bag with no extra air within it to freeze. Label and date the container or bag before securing it.
Can you freeze coleslaw with mayonnaise in it? | Tips to Remember While Freezing Coleslaw
By now, you must have understood that freezing coleslaw isn’t that big deal. But, there are some mistakes that many people tend to make which ultimately lead to the degradation of coleslaw. So check out these tips to prevent such mistakes.
1. Freezing mayonnaise dressing of coleslaw is not worth it. It’s because mayonnaise isn’t stable at cold temperatures. Mayonnaise will break apart and ultimately burst out of your bags and destroy both your freezer and coleslaw.
2. Try to freeze coleslaw individually and avoid freezing the dressing together. It will help you to increase the shelf life of coleslaw by several weeks. You can freeze veggies of your choice in separate bags and use both ingredients later on.
3. Although carrots and cabbages are most commonly used in coleslaw dressings, you can use other greens as well. Thus, do not restrict yourselves to the same old recipes. Try out new combinations of vegetables to get bold flavors on your plate.
For How Long Can You Freeze Shredded Cabbage Coleslaw?
Freezing coleslaw depends on the type of coleslaw you are freezing. If you freeze shredded cabbage coleslaw without dressing then your coleslaw will last in the freezer for up to six months without losing its texture. But, if you are freezing it with dressing then four months is the limit.
Moreover, you should use coleslaw dressing within three months or as early as you possibly can. Because coleslaw loses its texture and turns soft and mushy when frozen with dressing. If you do not follow the method mentioned above and try to store coleslaw directly in the freezer, then it will remain fresh for three days in airtight containers like Tupperware. After three days there is a 99% chance that it will go bad and degrade.
How to freeze store-bought coleslaw? Can you freeze KFC coleslaw?
Coleslaw is a simple dish to cook at home and can be made in a variety of ways. However, you can get coleslaw from the grocery store if you don’t have a chance or the time to make it yourself. Store-bought slaws are just as tasty and fresh as those from home. Well, you will have to make sure that the slaw is not expired before buying it.
This raises the question of whether KFC coleslaw can be frozen. How should coleslaw be stored properly to maintain its freshness? Don’t you worry! We are here to help you with that!
Yes, you can freeze store-bought coleslaw or KFC coleslaw. Be aware, though, that the vinegar-based slaw in the freezer holds up better than the creamy mayonnaise-based KFC coleslaw. In other words, KFC slaw may not stay fresh in the freezer longer than vinegar-based slaw, but the latter freezes more effectively.
KFC coleslaw, whether store-bought or homemade, keeps well in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. But keep in mind that the way you store your slaw will affect how long it keeps in the fridge.
How to thaw frozen coleslaw? – Defrosting and Refreezing Coleslaw
So, you are thinking about whether or not to defrost coleslaw. Well, the best way to use frozen coleslaw is by thawing it overnight in the fridge. Take out your coleslaw bag from the freezer and shift it to the refrigerator in a separate bowl.
Do not open the seal of the bag and simply allow it to rest in the bowl. By morning, you will notice that your coleslaw has taken a liquid consistency in the bag. Well, apparently you will have to get rid of this excess water by straining your coleslaw.
Now you can thaw frozen coleslaw and use it for three days straight. However, we would strongly condemn the idea of refreezing it. It’s because if you try to refreeze previously frozen coleslaw, there are high chances of bacterial growth and contamination of the same.
Therefore, whenever you are freezing coleslaw, try to store it in batches and small bags. So that every time you need a serving of coleslaw, you can thaw the requisite amount and not the entire batch.
Recipes to Try With Frozen Coleslaw
Now that you are enlightened with freezing tips and tricks for coleslaw, here are some of our top recipe recommendations to try with frozen coleslaw!
1. Coleslaw Tacos: Tacos taste good with new types of stuffings every time! So prepare a coleslaw stuffing of your choice by mixing ingredients with different tastes and stuffing them in your tacos. Or you can simply use it as a side dish to serve with tacos.
2. Rice and Coleslaw: When preparing rice recipes, directly add coleslaw dressing to the pan. Cook it along with rice and savor your taste buds.
3. Salad Dressing with Coleslaw: Preparing a salad dressing with coleslaw is a very easy and quick recipe. Thaw your frozen coleslaw overnight and then add freshly chopped veggies to it. You can also add frozen vegetables to the dressing. Add olive oil or other oil of your choice and garnish with mixed herbs and freshly chopped coriander.
Coleslaw is a staple food that is rich in many nutrients. It’s good for your immunity, cardiovascular health, and overall gut health. It’s a light meal option for those days when you don’t feel like cooking. Follow these tips to freeze coleslaw for later use without losing its essence.