How to Freeze Hamburger Buns? Simple Ways to Follow
Hamburger buns are not necessarily expensive, but it seems like a luxury when you compare it to a standard loaf of bread. So, if you are like me, you will end up buying more packs of hamburger buns when they are on sale.
But, what about the excess buns now? Well, you freeze them. It is economical; it keeps the bread edible and ensures that you don’t have to worry about the bread’s integrity. Remember that like any other type of bread; even the hamburger buns won’t stay fresh for long when left out on the kitchen counter.
Hamburger buns can be frozen in the freezer for up to 3 months and here’s how you do it.
Is it Safe To Freeze Hamburger Buns?
Yes, freezing hamburger buns are entirely safe. You need to know the correct way of doing so. Freezing bread is a fantastic way to keep it fresh but also to keep it edible for longer.
So, in case you have a lot of leftover hamburger buns that you want to extend the shelf-life of, grab some freezer bags and freeze them up to 3 months without any issues at all.
How to Freeze Hamburger Buns?
Freezing hamburger buns is not rocket science. You need to know the basics, and you are all set to keep them fresh for longer. Here’s what you need to do.
Cool Them Down
If you are making your batch of hamburger buns, you need to let it rest and cool before you chuck them in the freezer. Please wait for the buns to cool down to room temperature before you freeze them.
Use Freezer Bags
The next thing that you need to do is grab a few freezer bags. Storing them in airtight containers is space-consuming. So, if you don’t have a lot of space in your freezer, I’d suggest you use the freezer bags instead. These also help you vacuum the bags and squeeze out all the air and then freeze them for longer shelf-life.
Label
It is a crucial step to ensure that you don’t eat the buns frozen over three months. If your ziplock bags are see-through and you can check whether molds are growing around, you don’t need to label them. But, just for safety purposes, label the bag with a marker.
Once you have followed all these steps, you can take the freezer bags and freeze the hamburger buns for up to 3 months without any risks. Make sure that you maintain a constant temperature in the freezer.
How to Thaw Frozen Hamburger Buns?
Freezing the hamburger buns isn’t the challenging part; thawing it is. The last thing you want is to freeze everything correctly and then end up struggling with the defrosting process.
For the thawing process, follow these steps mentioned.
- Take out the individual hamburger buns and wrap them in a paper towel.
- Keep them out to defrost, flipping it halfway through the time.
- Doing this prevents the bun from becoming soggy and keeps the insides fresh and airy.
Defrosting in the Oven
In case you don’t want to wait the process out and want to use an oven for defrosting, here are a few steps that you can follow.
- Take out the frozen hamburger buns and wrap each one of them individually in an aluminum foil.
- Once done, spread them out on a baking sheet or tray.
- Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes and let it defrost.
- Once the 10 minutes mark is done, take them out of the oven and open the foil to check if it’s done. If the buns are thawed enough, you can eat them as it is, or you can chuck them back into the oven for another 5 minutes.
Defrosting in the Microwave
Not just in the oven, you can also use a microwave to defrost your frozen hamburger buns. It takes a lot less time compared to the oven. Here’s what you need to do.
- Remove the hamburger buns out of the freezer and then use the defrost setting in your microwave.
- Instead of putting the buns for a longer time, reheat them in 30-45 seconds increments.
- Ensure that you space out the buns inside the microwave and not pile them one over the other.
- If required, you can wrap each bun inside a wet paper towel and then reheat them in the microwave.
Can One Refreeze Hamburger Buns?
Yes, it is possible to refreeze hamburger buns. But, it is not something I’d recommend you do. Instead, thaw a portion of the buns that you’d need instead of thawing the entire batch and then refreezing them again.
Doing this consistently tends to make the bread taste very stale and soggy in the long run. It might also reduce the buns’ shelf life, which again is the last thing you need.
How to Use Leftover Hamburger Buns?
If you have a lot of leftover hamburger buns in the freezer or lying around in the kitchen, there are a few effective ways you can use them. Here are a few easy recipes that you can look out for.
Bread Pudding
It is the easiest and one of the tastiest ways to reuse your leftover hamburger buns. It is a very mildly sweet dessert that you can enjoy with a scoop or two of your favorite vanilla bean ice-cream.
French Toast
I can’t stress how many times I have used up my leftover hamburger buns for making some delicious french toast. All you have to do is make the batter with some eggs, sugar, milk, and cinnamon and dip the half-cut buns and fry them up with some butter.
Panini
It is a savory twist to your leftover fantasies. It is a DIY sandwich option that you can fill up with your favorite stuffings, ranging from turkey slices to some ham and cheese. Pickles work well too.
Also Read:
How to Reheat Cornbread?
How to Reheat a Burrito?
Conclusion
It took me a few failed attempts to finally learn how to freeze the leftover hamburger buns. The process is simple, and the results are pretty enticing, so if you have some excess bread lying around in your kitchen that you don’t want to throw out, freeze them instead.
