Can You Freeze White Sauce?

Here is the ultimate guide on how to freeze and store white sauce, or béchamel sauce, to make the most out of it. 

These methods and tips have worked splendidly for me. 

Here is how we can go about it. 

How to Freeze White Sauce?

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This is the most hassle-free and recommended way to portion and freezes white sauce. 

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Materials

• White Sauce
• Cling Wrap

Tools

• Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Container or Ziploc Bag

Instructions

1. Prep and Cool: Make your white sauce and let it cool down to room temperature in a bowl. Place a film of cling wrap on the white sauce so that it does not form a thick layer at the top when it cools.
   
   
2. Portion and Transfer: Portion the white sauce into quantities that you can easily use in one go. Then pour it into a freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag, making sure to leave an inch of space to make room for it expands when it freezes.
   
   
3. Seal Them In: Seal the freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. If you are using a Ziploc bag, make sure to squeeze out all the extra air to avoid freezer burns.
   
   
4. Label and Freeze: Add a label on the bag with the best-before date, and you are good to go.
   
   You could also check out this awesome tutorial by “The Batch Lady” on YouTube -

Freezing White Sauce after Flash Freezing

If you want your white sauce to last a little longer in the freezer, you can use this method with a few additional steps.

Prep and Cool

Make the white sauce and let it cool down to room temperature in a bowl. Cover the white sauce with a film of cling wrap touching it so that it does not form a thick layer at the top.

Portion and Transfer

Divide the white sauce into portions that you can easily consume in one go and pour them into separate freezer-safe containers or Ziploc bags.

Seal Them In

Seal the container or bag. Make sure to leave some headroom in the container for expansion. In the case of the Ziploc bag, squeeze out all the extra air before sealing.

Chill Them

Place these containers or Ziploc bags in a bowl of ice-cold water and let it flash freeze. Leave it in the bowl for 15 to 30 minutes depending on the quantity.

Label and Freeze

Once you add a label on it with the best before date, you can pop it in the freezer till you need it next.

How Long Can You Freeze White Sauce? 

You can freeze the white sauce for up to 6 months and maybe even a whole year. But it is not advised to keep them in the freezer for long as its texture, taste, and quality deteriorates the longer it stays in the freezer. 

If you want to freeze the white sauce for longer, avoid adding cheese or spices into the sauce before freezing. You can add these elements once you thaw and heat it. 

How to Store Frozen White Sauce? 

You can store the frozen white sauce in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. The key is to make sure that it is not exposed to any air. The air can lead to freezer burns and also lead to bacterial growth. 

When storing in a container, especially ones made of glass, make sure to leave at least an inch or two of space at the top.

The white sauce can expand when it freezes, and if it was filled to the brim, the container can crack and leak its contents. 

If you are pressed for freezer space, the best option to choose is a Ziploc bag. They can be stored more compactly by freezing slabs or sheets of white sauce on top of each other. 

How to Defrost White Sauce? 

The ideal way to defrost white sauce is to leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours to let it thaw gradually.

Leaving it to thaw on the kitchen counter or microwaving it would cause drastic changes in texture, and the condensation can increase the chances of bacterial buildup. 

The white sauce can get grainy in texture because the fats and liquid split when it defrosts. But you can fix this by giving it a good stir and incorporating some butter when you reheat it. 

Can You Refreeze White Sauce? 

No, it is strongly advised not to refreeze white sauce. Freezing it once can already change its texture and taste. Repeated freezing will only make this worse.

Moreover, the longer the white sauce is left out, the more chances it has of going bad. So, it is best to consume it as soon as it thaws. 

To avoid having to waste the white sauce once it thaws, you can portion them beforehand into quantities that you would generally use for a recipe or a meal. 

Does White Sauce Freeze Well? 

Although the white sauce stays fresh in the freezer, it is not as great as a freshly made batch once it thaws.

There is a considerable change in its texture and flavor as it gets grainy and the liquids separate. But it is completely safe to eat frozen white sauce.

White sauce made with cheese and loads of spices doesn’t fare well in the freezer and can taste quite different once it thaws. 

It is best not to use the frozen white sauce as toppings and instead use them in cooked recipes. This way the change in texture or taste is least noticeable. 

FAQs

Bottom Line 

I hope this article helped you prep and freeze the white sauce for long-term use. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some methods and tips on freezing white sauce, it would be great to hear from you. 

Feel free to share this article with your friends and family.