Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Croissants?
Yes, you can freeze croissants and they can last well in the freezer for a couple of months. The key is to wrap them up or flash freeze them before storing them in freezer-safe air-tight containers or Ziploc bags. You can also freeze croissant dough.
If you are looking to extend the shelf life of some croissants, here is the ultimate guide to help you out.
These methods and tips have worked like a charm for me.
Here is how you go about it.
Outline
- Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Croissants?
- How to Freeze Croissants?
- Freezing Croissants after Wrapping Them
- How to Freeze Croissant Dough?
- How Long Can You Freeze Croissants?
- How to Store Frozen Croissants?
- How to Defrost Croissants?
- Can You Refreeze Croissants?
- Do Croissants Freeze Well?
- FAQs
- Bottom Line
How to Freeze Croissants?
This is a quick and hassle-free method of freeing croissants. Flash freezing will make it easier to separate them later on.
Materials
- Croissants
- Baking Sheet
Tools
- Parchment Paper
- Ziploc Bag
Instructions
Cool Them: Make sure that the croissants have cooled down to room temperature before you get to freezing them.
Lay Out: Lay the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure not to let them touch each other.
Flash Freeze: Leave the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let them freeze solid. Cover the croissants to avoid any odor from seeping in.
Pack and Seal: Transfer the frozen croissants into a Ziploc bag and seal them in after squeezing out as much excess air from the bag as you can.
Label and Freeze: Add a label on the bag with the best before date and you are good to go.
Freezing Croissants after Wrapping Them
Time Taken: 10 – 15 minutes
What you will need:
- Croissants
- Cling Wrap
- Ziploc Bag
Although this could take a while, it is the best way to keep the croissants fresh and moist for longer.
Cool Them
Before you get to work with the croissants, let them cool down to room temperature.
Wrap Them
Using some cling wrap, cover each croissant thoroughly. Take care not to leave any part of the croissant exposed to air.
Pack and Seal
Transfer the wrapped croissants into a Ziploc bag and seal them in. Make sure to squeeze out all the excess air from the bag before sealing it.
Label and Seal
Add a label with the date on the bag and you can leave it in the freezer till you need it next.
How to Freeze Croissant Dough?
Time Taken: 10 – 15 minutes
What you will need:
- Croissant Dough
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Ziploc Bag or Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Container
If you would like to have some freshly baked croissants instead of reheated ones, you could always make a big batch of croissant dough and have them at the ready.
Prep the Dough
Make the croissant dough and ball them into individual portions. You could shape them up if you like.
Lay Out
Place the croissant dough portions on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, keeping them evenly spaced and not touching each other.
Flash Freeze
Leave the tray of dough in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let the dough freeze solid.
Cover the dough if there is any strong odor in the freezer that can seep in.
Pack and Seal
Pack the frozen croissant dough into a Ziploc bag or freezer-safe air-tight container and seal them in.
If you are using a Ziploc bag, make sure to squeeze out all the excess air before sealing it.
Label and Seal
Add a best before date label on the bag or container before leaving it in the freezer for the long term.
You could check out this video guide by “Puratos Canada” on YouTube to see how it is done –
How Long Can You Freeze Croissants?
Although you can freeze croissants indefinitely, it is best to consume them within a month or two to get the best of their taste and fluffiness.
If you are freezing the dough, it can last for a couple of months in the freezer before it starts to lose its rising properties and texture.
The croissants will last longer in the freezer if it is frozen as soon as it is made.
If you are freezing the croissant dough, it would be best to double the amount of yeast and use high protein flour to make it last longer.
How to Store Frozen Croissants?
You can store frozen croissants or croissant dough in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag.
The key is to make sure that they are well protected from being exposed to air or freezer burns. Though it can be cumbersome, you can wrap each croissant in cling wrap for added protection.
If you are pressed for freezer space it would be best to opt for Ziploc bags, especially if you are freezing more than a couple of croissants.
Air-tight containers can take up a lot of space and will not allow you to store more than a couple at a time without crushing the croissants.
How to Defrost Croissants?
The best way to defrost croissants is to take out the portion you need and thaw it in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. Then you can heat it in the oven or microwave.
Try not to thaw it on the kitchen counter or directly in the microwave because it can affect the texture and taste of the croissants.
You can directly put the croissant dough into the oven if you have already shaped them beforehand.
Or you can thaw it in the fridge overnight and then proof and shape them up, before baking them.
Can You Refreeze Croissants?
No, it is best not to refreeze the croissants once they thaw. Repeated freezing and thawing can change the texture and taste of the croissant, and make it unappealing.
You shouldn’t refreeze croissant dough either. Refreezing can affect the way the dough will rise and how the croissant will taste.
To avoid having to refreeze or waste the croissants once it thaws, you can wrap them individually, flash freezes them, or portion them beforehand into quantities that you can easily consume in one go.
Do Croissants Freeze Well?
Though fresh croissants trump frozen croissants any day, it still does well in the freezer. It is a great way to make the most out of an extra batch of croissants than wasting them.
Freezing croissant dough is also a great way to get some prep out of the way and have fresh croissants at the ready.
If you are freezing croissant dough, keep in mind that the yeast and protein content of the dough can affect how well it stays in the freezer.
FAQs
Yes, you can freeze Pilsbury croissant dough and they can last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
You can take the dough out of the can and pack them into freezer-safe air-tight containers or Ziploc bags. You could also bake and then freeze them.
Bottom Line
I hope this article helped you freeze some delicious croissants for the long term.
If you have any queries or would like to share some freezing hacks of your own, it would be lovely to hear from you.
Feel free to share this article with your croissant-loving family and friends.