The sheer volume of food served up at Christmas means the margin for waste increases – plus, there’s the pressure of making several big meals over the festive period. Whether you want to get ahead by making some dishes in advance or have a pile of leftovers to store, our cookery team has put together a guide on how to freeze your Christmas foods.
For more on freezing your way through Christmas, see our freezable recipe collection, infographic guide to freezer-friendly feasts and 10 Christmas recipes you can make ahead. Make sure you are using the right kitchen equipment with our review of the best fridge-freezers.
21 foods to freeze at Christmas
1. Turkey
Freeze for: Up to two months
How to wrap: Freeze in the original packaging or seal tightly in layers of cling film.
How to defrost: Ideally thaw in a fridge, allowing 8-12 hours per kg. If all the ice crystals in the body cavity have melted, your turkey is ready to cook.
2. Uncooked stuffing
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Shape into walnut-sized balls, then freeze on a tray lined with baking parchment. When frozen, transfer to a freezable container.
How to defrost: Bake from frozen, adding 10 mins to the cooking time. Ensure they are hot through to the centre before serving.
3. Cooked stuffing
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Allow the stuffing to cool completely before transferring it to a suitable freezer-safe container or bag. If you have made stuffing balls, cakes or traybake portions, these can be frozen in individual portions or as a whole.
How to defrost: If you have cooked and then frozen stuffing, defrost it completely in the fridge before reheating. Once defrosted, cover the stuffing with foil and reheat in the oven until piping hot.
4. Roast potatoes
Freeze for: Up to a month
How to wrap: Freeze in large freezable containers.
How to defrost: Roast from frozen for about 1 hour 30 mins, turning halfway through the cooking time.
5. Homemade sauces (including cranberry and bread sauces)
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Leave to cool completely, transfer to plastic food bags, seal firmly and freeze in a flat layer on a baking tray. Once frozen, remove the tray and stack the frozen sauces in the freezer.
How to defrost: Put the frozen bag in a bowl of lukewarm water until defrosted, then reheat until piping hot.
6. Fresh herbs
Freeze for: Up to two months
How to wrap: Finely chop soft herbs and put in ice cube trays, top up with water and freeze. Woody herbs can be frozen whole in freezable containers. Tie rosemary, bay leaves and parsley stems together to create bouquet garni.
How to defrost: Use from frozen – melt the ice cubes into dishes.
7. Pigs in blankets
Freeze for: Up to two weeks
How to wrap: Cover tray tightly with kitchen foil or put in a freezable container.
How to defrost: Bake from frozen in a hot oven for 20-30 minutes.
8. Brussels sprouts
Freeze for: Up to a month
How to wrap: Freeze in large freezable containers.
How to defrost: Cook from frozen in boiling water.
9. Braised red cabbage
Freeze for: Up to four months
How to wrap: Put into a freezable container.
How to defrost: Thaw at room temperature for 3-4 hours before cooking.
10. Mince pies
Freeze for: Up to four months
How to wrap: Pack in a lidded, freezable container, interleaving with baking parchment.
How to defrost: Reheat from frozen in a moderate oven.
11. Egg whites
Freeze for: Up to six months
How to wrap: Put in plastic food bags and freeze in a flat layer (see homemade sauces, above). Label with the quantity of egg whites. Or use a reusable freezable container.
How to defrost: At room temperature.
12. Milk (skimmed and semi-skimmed only)
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Freeze in the container, but pour roughly 2.5cm milk away first as it will expand in the freezer.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
13. Puff and shortcrust pastry
Freeze for: Up to two months
How to wrap: Pat into a flat disc, then wrap tightly in cling film, then foil.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
14. Bread
Freeze for: Up to one month
How to wrap: Put in a large freezable container or wrap well.
How to defrost: Defrost at room temperature. A whole loaf will take about 5 hrs. Rolls, bagels, pitta and baguettes will take about 2 hrs. You can cook baguettes and rolls from frozen if wrapped in foil. Pitta and thinly-sliced bread can also be toasted from frozen.
15. Raw processed meats (including sausages, bacon and mince)
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Freeze in the packaging or transfer to a freezable container. Freeze bacon in 3-4 rasher packs – perfect for bacon sandwiches.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
16. Raw whole meat portions
Freeze for: Up to six months
How to wrap: Wrap individual portions, then transfer to a freezable container.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
17. Cooked stews, vegetables and soups
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Freeze in freezable containers; ensure any chunks of meat are well covered by liquid.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge or put the container in lukewarm water until defrosted. Heat until piping hot.
18. Raw fish fillets, prawns and scallops
Freeze for: Up to four months
How to wrap: Wrap individual fish fillets, then transfer to a large food bag. Freeze prawns and scallops (in or out of their shells) in freezable containers.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
19. Cooked mussels and crabmeat
Freeze for: Up to two months
How to wrap: Once cooked and cooled, remove meat from shells and freeze in a freezable container.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
20. Mash, gratins or roast potatoes
Freeze for: Up to four months
How to wrap: Once cooked and cooled, freeze mash in tubs or gratins in freezable baking dishes. Freeze roast potatoes on a tray until solid, then tip into freezable containers.
How to defrost: Cook roast potatoes from frozen, but defrost mash and gratins overnight in the fridge.
21. Brandy butter
Freeze for: Up to three months
How to wrap: Freeze in a tightly sealed, lidded, freezable container.
How to defrost: Overnight in the fridge.
Tips for freezing food
- It’s important to label frozen foods with the contents and date they were frozen. Sticky labels often come unstuck in the freezer.
- Never refreeze frozen food (unless it’s been cooked into another dish) – this can encourage bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels.
With our helpful guide, make your freezer work for you, you can find more tips and tricks for extending the shelf life of your food.
Freezable Christmas recipes
Be inspired by our freezer-friendly festive treats. From mince pies to party food, we have lots of ways for you to get ahead.
Freeze-ahead roast potatoes
From-the-freezer mince pies
Mince pie brownies
Freeze-ahead chestnut parfait
Triple pigs in blankets
Slow cooker gammon
Tuscan sausage stuffing
Freezable sausage rolls
Christmas fruit buns
Slow cooker red cabbage
Sweet potato & goat’s cheese tart
All our top freezable Christmas recipes
More advice on freezing food
How to get ahead at Christmas
Top tips for freezing food
Video guide to freezing fruit and vegetables
Freezable recipes
10 classic Christmas recipes you can make ahead
Best fridge freezers
How to defrost a freezer
How do you utilise your freezer at Christmas? Leave a comment below…
