Quiche, which is essentially an egg-based pie, is a popular treat. But what about preparing it in advance and freezing? If you’re looking for an answer to this question, read on.
Quiche can be made extremely healthily and can include just about any vegetable you can imagine. Because quiche is a rather versatile dish, many people have wondering if you can freeze quiche for use at a later date.
Can You Freeze Quiche?
The simple answer is yes, you can freeze quiche. Because a quiche is made primarily of egg, freezing can be accomplished with both a cooked and an uncooked quiche, although uncooked quiches have a shorter lifespan in your freezer than ones that have been previously baked.
Frozen quiches that are unbaked can generally last up to one month in the freezer. Frozen quiches that are pre-baked can be left frozen for up to two months before they should be used. Remember, however, that when dealing with vegetable heavy quiches, freezing an unbaked version may lead to a texture that seems off. Because vegetables have a high water content that seeps out, especially during the thawing process, they can lead to a thinner, more watery quiche. For vegetable-heavy quiches that you’d like to freeze, it is best to pre-bake them, or, at the very least, blind bake the crust to ensure it doesn’t end up overly soggy.
What is the Best Way to Freeze Quiche?
Now that you know you can freeze quiche, you might be wondering what the best freezing method actually is. Opinions on this topic vary, but many people have success with tray freezing the items until they are firm. Tray freezing food is the process of freezing the item until it is firm on a tray, uncovered. Once the quiche is firm, it can be wrapped in freezer paper, aluminum foil or in a freezer bag. Some find that wrapping it in freezer paper, the sliding the quiche into a freezer bag helps to protect the item from freezer burn for longer than one or the other. Both pre-baked and unbaked quiches can be frozen this way with great success.
When freezing a quiche it is important to write down the date it was frozen as well as the date it must be used by on the bag or paper you are using. This will help ensure you know exactly when a particular item was made and how long you have to use it. This will significantly cut down on waste and is the best method of ensuring the safety or frozen foods.
How Do I Heat Frozen Quiche?
When it is time to pull your frozen quiche out of the freezer, you needn’t thaw it before hand. In fact, most experts agree it is best not to thaw your quiche before cooking, regardless of if it was frozen before or after baking. If your frozen quiche is unbaked you’ll want to place it in the oven at the temperature you would normally bake it but extend the time for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or so. Each oven’s true temperature varies, so simply keep an eye on the item. No additional steps are needed with a frozen, unbaked quiche.
For a quiche that has been pre-baked the warming process is relatively easy. Again, there is no need to thaw the quiche prior to reheating it. Experts suggest putting the item in the oven at 350 degrees for around 30 minutes. The crust of the quiche should be covered with a layer of aluminum foil to prevent burning.