Can you freeze cooked enchiladas?
Yes, you can freeze leftover enchiladas. Enchiladas are a favorite dish to prepare ahead of time and then freeze for a quick meal or lunch. And it is the same for making enchiladas leftovers and freezing them.
Enchiladas are a breeze to cook and serve as a fast evening meal or even make use of leftover turkey or chicken to create your own too.
The process of freezing enchiladas is fairly easy to make, particularly given that you’ve already done the work in cooking them.
How To Freeze Enchiladas
When everyone is done serving their Enchiladas and then come back for more it is recommended to put the food on a plate to let it cool.
It is best to let the enchiladas cool before freezing them because the temperature inside the freezer may increase if you store hot enchiladas in the freezer. This could cause damage to other food items that are stored in the freezer.
- After cooling take the enchiladas and scoop them out into the freezer-safe plastic container or into an aluminum foil container that is disposable. Be sure to leave enough space for the enchiladas to expand slightly in the freezer.
- After all the enchiladas have been put into the frozen container you can either cover the container with a lid or cover them with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
- When the enchiladas are coated completely, place them in the freezer.
If you want to keep smaller portions of enchiladas in the freezer to make quick lunches:
- Each one of them should be wrapped with plastic wrap being sure you seal it securely so that no sauce spills out or air remains in the wrap.
- Then wrap the enchiladas in plastic with aluminum foil. This will ensure that the enchiladas are safe when they are frozen.
- They can be put in the freezer’s drawers similar to frozen enchiladas that are stored in containers.
Tips For Freezing Enchiladas
When enchiladas get in tortillas the tortillas tend to get soggy after being frozen and then thawed.
The above and other issues could ruin the flavor and texture of the enchiladas after you open them again. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your enchiladas be as delicious as you can after freezing and then defrosting:
- Be sure to remove as much air as you can when chilling your enchiladas with plastic wrap. This can cause crystals in the freezer that can affect the texture and taste of your meal.
- Try to eliminate any fluid in the enchiladas. This can help stop crystals and freezer burn when frozen enchiladas. It could be as simple as taking the excess liquid sauce out of the container or cooking the sauce down to a thinner consistency in the cooking process to make sure there’s not too much moisture in the sauce when it’s frozen.
- Try adding fresh cheese to at the very top of your Enchiladabefore placing the enchilada in the freezer, if there is any left. The cheese will have melted in the oven and might have been spread unevenly. If you can add more Fresh cheese to the dish, you will ensure that you enjoy that gooey, melted goodness when you defrost and warm leftover enchiladas.
- To ensure that your enchiladas are not soggy You should fry them quickly before cooking or before placing them into an ice cube to store them in a freezer. Frying them in a tiny amount of oil will allow the tortillas to form an airtight seal to ensure that they don’t absorb excess liquid or sauce that could cause them to break and then become too wet. Frying tortillas is the best method to prevent sogginess and also safeguard the ingredients of the Enchilada.
- Create more sauce and freeze it separately in the same enchiladas even if that means taking the sauce into an extra bowl before filling your enchiladas. Save some extra sauce in an additional bag for freezing in case you need it when you are ready to cook your enchiladas. This will prevent you from the hassle of putting too much sauce into the enchiladas before putting them in the freezer, which can result in the tortilla becoming too wet, and it’s best to always have more sauce than not enough!
- It is also advisable to chill enchiladas and sauce in containers made of plastic because the sauce could take on metallic flavors in the case of freezing inside an aluminum foil with the other components part of an enchilada.
- Do not leave your enchiladas out in the fridge for long. Ice crystals begin to develop on the tortillas, and in the sauce following a short time, while they will disperse with the reheating process but after a long time frame, they may ruin the texture of the dish completely.
How To Reheat Frozen Enchiladas
If it’s time to heat your enchiladas you have to be sure to take care to do it correctly to ensure that the enchiladas taste fresh and soft.
The best method to defrost the enchiladas is to keep them in the fridge for a night. They will not get too hot and prevent the expansion of any bacteria while defrosting the dish.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Take off any plastic wrap or aluminum foil protecting the enchiladas. Then put the food in an oven-safe dish that is oven-safe. If you have any leftover cheese or sauce, fill the enchilada dish with them.
Bake the enchiladas in the oven for about 25 minutes before making sure to check. If they require to be heated for a longer period than that, continue heating them in 5 minutes increments until they are the enchiladas are ready.
It is also possible to try the microwave crisping tray it’s perfect for speedily heating enchiladas whenever you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to wait for more than 25 minutes.
Freezing Materials
Your enchiladas’ quality depends on the ingredients used to freeze them. They should be at a safe temperature within the freezer. Here are a few alternatives you could select for freezing:
Disposable Aluminum Pans
Aluminum pans that can be disposed of are wonderful to cook with because there’s no need to wash them afterward, and they maintain their shape well when frozen and can warm the enchiladas in the oven, too.
If you’re planning to freeze a lot of meals using aluminum containers it could cost a lot.
Baking Pans
Glass or ceramic baking pans for freezing enchiladas be sure to ensure that they’re safe for freezing. They also are cost-effective since they can be used over and over.
Simply don’t freeze the tortillas in the pans you frequently use because they’ll likely be used when you put them in your freezer. This will limit the amount of time they can be used which limits the amount of time you can make use of them.
Aluminum Foil Lining
One of the best options to choose is to line a glass or ceramic baking dish with foil made of aluminum. It’s not more than aluminum disposable pans and also keeps dishes clean for cooking.
It is also possible to place the pans lined with foil straight into the oven at a time to cook the enchiladas. This makes it a breeze. After the foil has been lifted from the baking pan there’s very little washing up required and it’s an all-win situation.
Interesting Facts & Questions
How do enchiladas keep within the refrigerator?
Enchiladas retain their texture and taste when stored in the freezer for 3 months if stored properly. If left longer than this time, they’ll remain safe to consume, but freezing burn and ice crystals could ruin the taste of enchiladas significantly.
If you’re planning to make smaller meals from the leftovers from one big pan Separate the enchiladas into separate portions and separate them and note the date on them. prepared and frozen, to keep track of when to consume them.
Do I need to wrap the enchiladas in foil while heating?
If you wish to ensure that the tortillas stay soft as they can be you can protect the dish by covering it with aluminum foil and baking for 20-30 minutes.
In the final 5 minutes, you can remove the foil for the cheese to brown and also allow the enchiladas to be baked more evenly.
What should I serve with enchiladas?
Enchiladas are delicious as is, but they can be elevated up a notch by serving them with a few sides. The most delicious sides to serve with enchiladas can be typically in the refrigerator already.
Serve your enchiladas with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Fresh flavors work well with the baked enchiladas flavor and the melted cheese. Jalapenos can be added to give it a little extra punch.
Freezing Enchiladas
Enchiladas are a fantastic food item to freeze if you’ve cooked too much. You may even want to cook some extra to freeze it for an easy dinner on the weekend.
If frozen and stored properly, enchiladas can stay in the freezer for as long as 3 months. They will still taste good after being baked and thawed to eat.
You can freeze your enchiladas in one large batch to feed your family or split portions for smaller meals throughout the week. Keep some cheese ready to sprinkle on top of the baked enchiladas and you’ll be able to have a delicious and quick dinner ready within a matter of minutes!
