Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Meatloaf?
Yes, you can freeze a meatloaf, be it in its baked or uncooked mix form. It freezes well and can last in the freezer for up to 3 months. It is a great meal prep option, and all you’ll need are cling wrap, foil, and any freezer-safe container.
Be it leftovers or as food prep, you can freeze your meatloaf and save yourself a lot of effort.
Be it baked or unbaked – a meatloaf is great to have in stock; once the tough part of perfecting the recipe is done, freezing a meatloaf is quite simple.
Here are some great ways you can freeze a meatloaf, along with some tips to help you along.
Let’s start!
Can You Freeze Baked Meatloaf?
If you are unsure how long your meat has been frozen or how it has been thawed, then freezing your meatloaf after baking would be your best bet. It also makes for a quick meal fix.
Materials
- Baked Meatloaf
- Tin Foil
- Cling Wrap
- Ziploc Bag or Freezer-safe Container
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Cool and Portion - After baking the meatloaf, let it cool down to room temperature. Portion the meatloaf to your preference.
You could freeze it as a whole or cut it into single-serving portions. - Wrap and Flash Freeze - Wrap the meatloaf or individual meatloaf slices with cling wrap and then leave it in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.
- Double Wrap - Take out the frozen meatloaf and wrap it up in cling wrap and then metal foil.
- Bag and Freeze - Put the wrapped meatloaf in a Ziploc bag and after squeezing out all the air, seal the bag. Now you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
You could also freeze the wrapped meatloaf in a freezer-safe container.
Freezing Meatloaf Mix
Time Taken: 10 – 15 minutes
What You Need:
- Meatloaf Mix
- Cling Wrap
- Metal Foil
- Baking Sheet
- Freezer-safe container
If you have brought fresh meat and want to do some food prep, then freezing meatloaf mix – ready to bake – is a great idea.
Portion and Wrap
Portion out the meatloaf into a quantity you would use at a time and lay it out, without touching each other, on a baking sheet or any other flat tray you can put in the freezer.
Then Wrap up the tray using a cling wrap.
Flash Freeze
Leave the tray of meatloaf in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.
Double Wrap
Wrap the individual portions of frozen meatloaf with a cling wrap and then a metal foil.
Freeze
Transfer the wrapped meatloaf mix into a freezer-safe container and after sealing it, put it in the freezer till you need it.
Freezing Meatloaf Mix in Muffin Trays
Time Taken: 15 – 20 minutes
What You Need:
- Meatloaf Mix
- Muffin Tray
- Cling Wrap
- Ziploc Bags
If you want to make single-portion meal prep, then this idea of freezing meatloaf mix in muffin trays is going to be a lifesaver.
Portion and Wrap
Portion the meatloaf mix into a muffin tray and then wrap the tray with cling wrap.
Flash Freeze
Leave the muffin tray in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.
Wrap and Bag
Take out the meatloaves from the tray and then wrap them in cling wrap.
Put the wrapped meatloaves in a Ziploc bag and seal them.
Freeze
Label and put the Ziploc bags in a freezer until you need them.
Tip: You could also bake the meatloaf in the muffin tray and freeze the baked portions as we did previously with baked meatloaf.
How Long Can You Freeze a Meatloaf?
Meatloaf can be frozen for up to three months.
It may even go up to six months, but it is best used within the three-month mark.
Both baked and unbaked meatloaf will last in the freezer for three months.
The durability of the meatloaf in the freezer depends a lot on the meat that is being used in the recipe.
If you have bought fresh meat and haven’t frozen it before then the recipe would last you well up to six months.
But if the meat is less fresh or if you are unsure of the time it has been sitting in the freezer before using it then it is better to cook the meatloaf before freezing and consuming it within three months’ time.
How to Store Frozen Meatloaf?
You can store frozen meatloaf in any freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag.
Make sure to double wrap the meatloaf for best results.
If you have smaller portions or just leftover meatloaf to freeze, an air-tight freezer-safe container would work just fine.
But if you are freezing several extra portions or are storing meatloaf muffins, a Ziploc bag is better advised as it would help you save a lot space in the freezer.
How to Defrost a Meatloaf?
You can defrost the meatloaf by leaving it in the fridge to thaw for a few hours or overnight.
You could also defrost it by placing the bag or container of the frozen meatloaf in a bowl of water and letting it thaw for an hour or so.
Leaving it in the refrigerator is the best option as this is a gradual process and leaves less chances of it spoiling quickly.
Can You Refreeze a Meatloaf?
Yes, you can refreeze a meatloaf, but it is strongly advised not to .
Depending on the meat used, you might want to play it safe and use it up once it thaws.
If the meat used is not fresh or if you are unsure of how the meat has been frozen and thawed before, it is better to not refreeze the meatloaf.
Freezing in smaller one-serving portions saves you the trouble of having to refreeze leftovers.
Does a Meatloaf Freeze Well?
Yes, a meatloaf freezes well and is a great meal prep option.
It can last well in the freezer for up to 3 months, be it baked or uncooked.
If the meat used is fresh and you have double wrapped the meatloaf you could even extend its freezing period to six months whether it is cooked or not.
But if you are unsure of the meat quality it is better to freeze the meatloaf after baking it for better results.
FAQ
You can freeze a meatloaf either way. But if you are unsure of how the meat has been frozen or thawed, then it is better to bake it before freezing.
Freezing the meatloaf, after baking it, is also a great option if you are doing meal preps and are generally pressed for time to cook. You can let the frozen meatloaf thaw in the fridge overnight and then pop it in the microwave when you are ready to have it.
Bottom Line
We hope this article has helped you freeze meatloaves which could come in handy the next time you have some surprise guests.
If you know of any other fun way to freeze a meatloaf, do let us know, and feel free to share this article with your friends.