Meringues can be made quickly. These light, fluffy sweet treats can be used to decorate cakes and cupcakes as well as in other desserts.
Sometimes, however, you can whip too many eggs whites and end with lots of meringues.
Can you freeze meringue? You can freeze meringue. You can freeze meringue of any type, whether it’s baked French meringue cookies and meringue that doesn’t need cooking. You can extend the shelf life of your meringues by preventing them from coming in contact with moisture.
This article will help you freeze meringue. This article covers everything you need to know about freezing meringue cookies and popular desserts made with meringue.
Follow these steps to freeze meringue. Also, learn tips and tricks for making it more efficient.
How do you store Meringue the best way?
Meringue is made traditionally from stiffly beat egg whites and sugar, with a little acid such as lemon juice for stability.
Depending on which meringue variant you’re making, the mixture of whipped eggs whites can be baked or left as-is.
Meringue can be used to top many desserts and baked goods. Meringue can also be the main ingredient of desserts.
You probably already know there are many types of meringue if you’re even slightly into baking. French meringue is the most widely baked and popular.
These crispy and light meringues can be stored at room temperatures in an airtight container
The airtight containers will keep the meringues dry from moisture, keeping them soft and airy from the inside while remaining crunchy and firm from the outside.
The meringues will last as long as they are stored in an area of your kitchen that is not affected by direct sunlight or heat.
Can You Freeze Meringue?
You can freeze meringues if you bake multiple batches of meringues but aren’t sure if you’ll be able to eat them all in the time allowed.
Freezing is a good option for meringues, if you use a proper technique.
Frozen meringues can be kept in the refrigerator so that you can take as many out as you need to decorate or prepare certain desserts. You can also eat the meringues plain as a sweet snack.
Can You Freeze Meringue Cookies?
Meringue cookies can be made the same way as regular baked French meringues. If you have any leftovers from a meringue cookies recipe, you can freeze them using the same instructions as for freezing meringues.
How to Freeze Meringue
You can freeze meringues that have been baked for too long if you aren’t going to eat them within a few days.
Baked meringues should be frozen in an airtight container so they don’t crack and lose their crispiness.
Here are the instructions to freeze the most popular meringue type - French meringue, also known as baked meringue.
- Allow the meringues to cool off if they have been freshly baked. Place the warm meringues into a container. Keep it covered in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
- Select a container with an airtight cover. Consider the number of meringues that you will need to freeze and the size of your container.
- Place the meringues into the container, creating the first layer.
- Continue with the parchment paper layer. Place parchment paper between the layers of meringue to prevent them from sticking together.
- Do not press down on the Meringues. They are fragile and may break if you put pressure on the layers.
- Seal the container. Don’t let the lid touch the meringues or crush them. It’s always a good idea to leave some room between the last layer and the lid.
- The date should be written on the container and the meringues kept in the freezer. Consume the meringues in 1 to 3 months.
How to Defrost Meringue
The best way to defrost meringue is to transfer it from the freezer to the fridge and let it come back to life slowly.
You can let the meringue thaw at room temperatures if you don’t have much time. Do not place the whipped eggs in direct sunlight or close to heat sources.
Some prefer to warm up French meringues first before they are eaten. You can defrost the meringues and then warm them up in the oven for a few moments.
It is essential to keep the meringues from absorbing water while they are defrosting , as this could cause them to soften.
You should not freeze the meringue in its original container. Instead, place it on a plate or rack.
What Does Freezing Do to Meringue’s Health?
If you use the right freezing and defrosting techniques, meringue’s texture and flavor will not be affected by freezing.
The texture of the meringue will not change if it is frozen in an airtight container or bag.
Even if uncooked meringue splits after defrosting, you can solve it by mixing the two together for a few moments .
It is almost impossible to tell the difference between fresh baked, defrosted, and reheated French meringue.
Avoid flavor changes in the meringue by not letting it sit in the freezer for more than a few months . The flavor will deteriorate over time.
Another important step is to keep the whipped egg whites in a sealed container. The meringue will absorb any odors from your freezer if it is not tightly covered.
Tips to Freeze Meringue
These are some tips to help you freeze your next batch.
Keep it fresh in the freezer
It doesn’t matter what kind of meringue is being frozen, it is better to keep it fresh.
The meringue will last longer if it is fresh when it is first frozen.
Do not freeze the Meringues in Bags
To save space, you might be tempted flash-frozen the meringue leftovers and putting them in a ziplock bag.
This may seem like a space-efficient storage method, but the meringues will be crushed. Or you will have to move the bag containing meringues around to ensure that they are at the top of all other items in your freezer. This isn’t very practical.
Freezing meringues inside a hard-sided container that will keep them is always better.
Freeze egg whites
Egg whites are the main ingredient for any meringue recipe. You can also freeze egg whites , in addition to freezing meringues .
Make meringues by taking out frozen egg whites and letting them thaw before whipping them up.
Can You Refreeze Meringue?
You should not freeze meringue.
Refreezing baked meringues will result in them becoming brittle and dry. Refreezing unbaked meringue will greatly affect its consistency.
Can You Freeze Meringue Before Baking?
We don’t recommend freezing French meringue prior to baking because the mixture of whipped eggs whites and French meringue is unstable.
French meringue that has not been baked will be affected by freezing and it may not be suitable to bake again.
Swiss and Italian Meringue: Can You Freeze Them
There are many variations of meringue, even though they are made with only a few ingredients. These meringue variations are all made from egg whites and sugar. However, each one is made in a different way.
There are three types of meringue: Swiss meringue (or Italian meringue), French meringue and French meringue.
This is the meringue we have discussed in this article. It’s egg whites that are whipped with sugar until they reach stiff peaks.
French meringue, unlike Swiss and Italian meringue, must always be baked. To give the batters lightness, French meringue can be added to them if they are not baked.
Swiss meringue is made by heating egg whites with granulated sugar to about 160 degrees.
To ensure that the sugar is fully incorporated, you must thoroughly blend the mixture. Mix the egg whites with the sugar mixture until it cools to room temperature.
The egg whites should be whipped until they form peaks. Swiss meringue differs in that you must add butter to the egg white mixture, one by one.
This mixture should be silky smooth and perfect for topping baked goods and desserts.
To make Italian Meringue, you will need to make hot sugar syrup. Whip egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Once you achieve the desired consistency, heat the syrup to 240 degrees.
To make perfect Italian meringue you must continue whipping the mixture till it reaches room temperature.
It is the most stable meringue variety and doesn’t need baking. It’s great for recipes that don’t require the meringue cooked or to be torched.
Can You Freeze Italian Meringue?
You can also freeze Italian meringue just like Swiss meringue. Bakers recommend that you store any leftover Italian meringue in the freezer, rather than in your fridge.
The meringue can ‘weep’ if it is kept in the refrigerator. When the meringue starts to release water droplets, it is called the weeping.
Uncooked meringue varieties can experience weeping. If your meringue has too much moisture, it may start to weep after a few days.
These are the steps to freeze Italian meringue.
- Let the meringue cool.
- Divide the meringue in smaller pieces
- Mix the ingredients and place in heavy-duty zip-top bags.
- The bag should be emptied of excess air and frozen.
- Place the bags containing the Italian meringue into the freezer.
Can You Freeze Swiss Meringue?
Swiss meringue should be kept at room temperature, away from heat sources and sunlight. It will last for around 2 days. The shelf life of Swiss meringue will be 5 if it is kept in the refrigerator.
But luckily, Swiss meringue freezes quite well. It can be frozen in the same manner as Italian meringue. Both Swiss and Italian meringue can be frozen for up to 10 month.
Can You Freeze Meringue Frosting?
Meringue frosting consists of whipped egg whites and sugar. This fluffy topping makes cupcakes and cakes look better as well as tastes better. What if you have meringue frosting left over? Can you freeze it?
The mixture is not strong enough to withstand freezing or thawing.
Freshly made meringue frosting is the best. You can refrigerate baked goods with meringue frosting for up to two days.
Can You Freeze Meringue Roulade?
Once the meringue is ready , you can freeze it . The dessert can be chilled for several hours before being served. However, it can also be frozen. Make sure you wrap the roulade properly before putting it in the freezer.
Wrap the roulade in wax paper or baking paper. Wrap the meringue with cling wrap. This will prevent it from freezing and absorb odors.
Wrap the roulade in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer so that it doesn’t crack.
Serve the roulade immediately after taking it out of the fridge . Let it sit at room temperature for two hours before you serve it.
Can You Freeze Meringue Pies?
Frozing a meringue pie is something we do not recommend.
Meringue pies such as the popular lemon meringue cake don’t freeze well because the top meringue suffers from major changes after freezing and thawing.
The meringue egg whites make the top layer of the pie unstable. It is recommended to freeze all but the meringue layers of the pie.
You can also make a meringue pie from scratch by removing the meringue layer using a knife. Then, freeze it.
It takes only a few minutes to make meringue for the top of the defrosted pie. It will still make the dessert look fresh.
Is Pavlova possible to freeze with Meringue
Pavlova is a popular dessert you can make using meringues. If you have all the ingredients, it is very easy to put together. Pavlova, a beautiful dessert, is the perfect end to any meal.
We don’t recommend freezing a complete-assembled pavlova. The dessert will not look good after it has been defrosted.
Freeze the meringue, berries, and cream separately to save time and make the dessert faster. Before serving, let all ingredients cool completely.
Make sure the cream for the pavlova dessert freezes well. This will save you time and help you to make the meringues.
