Can You Freeze Meringue?
Impressive how two common ingredients—egg whites and sugar—can create such a sophisticated, straightforward, and delectable dessert. They are a tasty treat that cannot be resisted. But they take time to be prepared. So, can meringues be prepared in bulk? Can you freeze meringue? Do they freeze well, too?
Meringue is so delicious that we use it in all kinds of delicious delights! And as a result, occasionally we produce more meringue than is required for a specific dish. And because we detest throwing away good meringue, we’ve figured out how to freeze it so we may utilize it in future dishes.
Therefore, you’ve come to the correct spot if you’re looking for the quickest and most reliable method to preserve your remaining meringue.
We’ve been asked multiple times if meringue can be frozen, and we’re delighted to answer that it can! You may make meringue of any kind, whether it’s Swiss, French, or another sort. You can freeze meringues.
How To Freeze Meringue?
The most popular meringues are French.
Pavlovas and Eton’s mess are made with French meringues. French meringues have a chewy center and a crispy outside. But how are these meringues frozen?
- Quick Freeze: Put the meringues on a fresh baking sheet after they have cooled, then wrap them in cling film. Try to keep the baking sheet as level as you can when you place it in the freezer.
- Remove: After several hours, examine the meringues to determine if the outside has completely frozen firm. Remove the tray if they have it.
- Greaseproof paper should be used to line the base of a container. As many meringues as you can accommodate in a single layer should be added to the container.
- Cover and Repeat: Add more greaseproof paper on top of the initial layer of meringues and repeat.
- Freeze: Continue piling them until the container is full of meringues. If you don’t want other flavors to contaminate the meringues, firmly fit the lid and afterward cover the box in cling-film before putting it in the freezer.
- It will be simple to take out one 1 or 2 meringues from the refrigerator as needed if you freeze them this way.
Just be cautious while handling them because they will be pretty brittle and will shatter easily if you’re not careful.
Tips For Freezing Meringue!
Even while merely following the above instructions will produce ideal frozen meringue, here are a few suggestions I’ve learned along the way to make sure your meringue continues to taste delicious even after freezing:
Begin With Fresh Meringue
The finest freezing technique is useless if you attempt to freeze an old meringue. Therefore, for the greatest results and flavor, always freeze the meringue as soon as it is made. No matter what kind of meringue you are dealing with, this is true.
While a meringue that has been kept at room temperature for a few days can still be frozen, any taste loss that has already taken place cannot be reversed.
Only use airtight containers.
Although some people advise using freezer-safe bags, I just don’t. Use a sealed plastic container made for freezing instead.
These packaging options often have superior seals and guard against freezer squishing or crushing of your meringue.
For these reasons, I usually advise selecting a hard shell container that can be frozen. Additionally, I think that they are simply simpler to work with, so it is ultimately well worth it.
How To Freeze French Meringue?
The most popular meringues are French. have a chewy center and a crispy exterior. But how are these meringues frozen?
- Flash Freeze: After they have cooled, arrange the meringues on a clean baking sheet and wrap them in cling film for flash freezing.
- Remove from the freezer: After a few hours, examine the meringues to determine if the exterior has completely frozen firm. And then remove them from the freezer.
- Line Container: Line the base of the container with a greaseproof base and place the meringues in single layers. Layer another paper and repeat the step carefully.
- Seal and freeze: Seal the containers tightly. You can also wrap the box in cling film for better protection and stack them in the freezer.
Your French meringues are ready to freeze. Just remember to handle them carefully because they will be rather brittle.
How To Freeze Italian Meringue?
Italian meringue may be frozen a little more easily, but you shouldn’t color it. Italian meringue is frequently spooned on top of lemon meringue pie and tarts, then heated with a blow torch to give color.
Instead, complete it to the point at will and color it before proceeding as directed:
- Cool: The meringue must be given time to cool to room temp.
- Portion: Pour the mixture into packets to serve. Seal the bag once you’ve added a portion to it. You want to empty the bag with as much air as you can.
- Freeze: Last but not least, put it in the refrigerator.
The meringue must then slowly thaw overnight before being used as usual. Of course, freezing egg whites and then making fresh meringue is the alternate solution.
How To Freeze Swiss Meringue?
Swiss meringues are prepared similarly to Italian meringues but are softer and denser than French meringues. Swiss meringues can be frozen in the same way as French meringues.
If you have created individual Swiss meringues, let them cool first. Then flash freeze them, and then package. There won’t be any need for flash freeze if you’ve produced a substantial Swiss meringue base. Simply wrap it up airtight, put it in a bag, and freeze it.
How Long Can Meringues Freeze?
Meringues may be stored in the refrigerator for approximately a month. Depending on the purity of the eggs used in your meringues, they can sometimes last even longer.
In general, if indeed the meringues have had an unusual scent or flavor, discard them. It makes no difference how often time has elapsed till that happens.
Fresh, uncooked meringue batter can be frozen for a maximum of ten months if firmly wrapped immediately after mixing.
Raw or undercooked meringue and meringue prepared with sugar syrup will only be kept in the fridge for 24 hours. French meringues, on the other hand, will be stored in the freezer for about 2 weeks.
How Do You Thaw Frozen Meringue?
Place the meringues in the refrigerator to defrost overnight. If you need this one to occur quicker, set them on your workstation where they will need three hours at ambient temperature.
You may either reheat them inside the oven or eat them right away.
Can Meringue Be Refrozen?
We do not recommend refreezing meringues. It can substantially degrade the meringues, leading them to dry out and become too brittle. They will also lose chewiness.
Instead, attempt to just thaw what you require at a time.
Does Meringue Freeze Well?
You can’t tell the difference between fresh and frozen meringue if it’s properly preserved and defrosted, specifically if you refrigerate the batter or reheat ready-frozen meringues.
Does Meringue Change in Texture or Flavor When Freeze-Dried?
No. When you employ this procedure, freezing meringue, your meringue hardly changes. Although it should be thoroughly defrosted, freezing it won’t change the texture or flavor.
The most important thing is to take these actions and utilize an airtight container.
After your meringue defrosts, there could be some separation, but that is nothing to worry about. Simply whisk your meringue to bring it back to its original state if it does split.
The length of time that your meringue freezes is the main component that might result in taste loss. For up to a month or two, I have not noticed any flavor loss, but after three months, there will be an obvious shift.
Is it possible to freeze a pie with meringue on top?
Up to three months can pass when frozen lemon meringue pie. Although some people choose to freeze the base and meringue separately, it is not strictly required and has little to no impact on the flavor or texture.
Meringue may be frozen as long as it is first placed in an airtight freezer-safe container. The shelf life of baked meringue (such as pavlova or meringue cookies) is up to one month, but the shelf life of uncooked meringue is up to ten months.