Can You Freeze Shortcrust Pastry? How?

If you are looking to freeze some lovely shortcrust pastry, this comprehensive guide has got you covered. 

Several home cooks and I have found these methods to be super helpful. 

Here is how you can go about it. 

How to Freeze Shortcrust Pastry?

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

If you want to keep the pie crust ready to go, you can use this nifty method to freeze the shortcrust pastry. 

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Materials

• Shortcrust Pastry
• Pie Plate or Pan

Tools

• Cling Wrap

Instructions

1. Prep and Portion: Make the pastry dough and cut it into parts that you can use for one pie or pastry dish.
   
   
2. Roll and LayOut: Roll the shortcrust pastry and lay it onto a pie plate or pan that you plan to bake it in.
   
   
3. Cover and Flash Freeze: Cover the pastry with some cling wrap and leave it in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let it freeze solid.
   
   
4. Double-Wrap: Add a layer of cling wrap for added protection. You could also pack it into a Ziploc bag if the bag is big enough to fit the pastry.
   
   
5. Label and Freeze: Add a label with the best before date, and you are all set to freeze the shortcrust pastry.
   
   To get a clearer picture, check out this tutorial by “Laura in The Kitchen” on YouTube -

Freezing Shortcrust Pastry after Double-Wrapping

If you haven’t decided what you plan to use the shortcrust pastry for, you can use this method to freeze it. 

Prep and Roll

Once you make the shortcrust pastry dough, portion and roll it out. You could also freeze it is as a disc without rolling it out. 

Double Wrap

Wrap the shortcrust pastry dough with some parchment paper and then some foil paper. Make sure that it is wrapped tightly and doesn’t have pockets of air. 

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the wrapped shortcrust pastry dough, and you can freeze it till you need it next. 

Here is a video tutorial by “Honeypie’s Recipe” on YouTube to show you how it is done – 

Freezing Cooked Shortcrust Pastry

If you have already baked the shortcrust pastry, you can follow this hassle-fee method to freeze it.

Cook and Cool

Once you have cooked the shortcrust pastry, let it cool down to room temperature. 

Wrap

Using some parchment paper, thoroughly wrap the shortcrust pastry. 

Pack and Seal

Place the wrapped shortcrust pastry into a freezer-safe air-tight container and seal them in. 

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you can freeze the pastry for the long term. 

How Long Can You Freeze Shortcrust Pastry? 

Uncooked shortcrust pastry can last in the freezer for a month or so. Beyond this period, the dough will not give the desired results.

Cooked shortcrust pastry can last for much longer in the freezer, for 3 to 6 months.

The key to freezing the shortcrust pie for long is to make sure that they are thoroughly wrapped and protected from being exposed to air or freezer burns.

It is best advised to double wrap them for added protection. 

How to Store Frozen Shortcrust Pastry? 

You can store frozen shortcrust pastry in Ziploc bags or freezer-safe air-tight containers. You could also store the shortcrust pastry dough simply double wrapped in metal foil.

Another option is to lay them out on a pie plate or pan and then wrap the whole thing and freeze it in the pan. 

When it comes to cooked shortcrust pastry, it would be best to use a freezer-safe air-tight container so that the crust doesn’t bend or break in the freezer. 

Ziploc bags are your best bet when it comes to shortcrust pastry dough. This way, you can store a couple of batches of dough without having to take up a lot of freezer space or worrying about freezer burns. 

How to Defrost Shortcrust Pastry? 

The best way to defrost shortcrust pastry is to leave it in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let it thaw gradually.

It is advised not to thaw it on the countertop because the dough can thaw unevenly, making it mushy and difficult to work with.

Once the pastry is defrosted in the fridge, you will have to leave it on the counter for a while so that you can easily work with the dough.

If you have placed the shortcrust pastry dough on a pie plate or pan, you can cook it directly once you take it out of the freezer.

When using cooked shortcrust pastry, it is best to thaw it in the fridge overnight or at least for a couple of hours.

Can You Refreeze Shortcrust Pastry? 

No, it is best advised not to refreeze shortcrust pastry. Repeated freezing and thawing will affect the texture and quality of the pastry. So, it is best to avoid refreezing them. 

You can, however, freeze the uncooked shortcrust pastry, once you cook them. The cooked pastry can last well for a couple of months in the freezer.

To avoid having to refreeze or waste the pastry once you thaw it, make sure to portion it out beforehand and wrap them separately.

Does Shortcrust Pastry Freeze Well? 

Yes, shortcrust pastry freezes well, especially if it is cooked. The cooked pastry can last for much longer in the freezer, unlike the uncooked pastry which lasts for about a month.

Beyond one month, the shortcrust pastry dough will not give the desired taste or texture. 

But it is the best way to freeze shortcrust pastry for the long term since the pastry will last in the fridge only for a couple of days. 

Bottom Line 

I hope this article helped you freeze and store shortcrust pastry for later. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some pastry tips and tricks, it would be lovely to hear from you. 

Feel free to share this article with your friends and family who love baked goodies.