Freezing Fudge The Right Way (An Easy Guide)
The US government has an official chart showing how to cold store food properly that includes what can and can’t be frozen. While the chart covers plenty of everyday items, fudge isn’t one of them. So can you freeze fudge?
You can freeze fudge to extend its freshness and ensure it’s safe to eat later. As long as you freeze the fudge correctly it can last three months to a year depending on how many ingredients are used in the recipe. Cut and store the pieces in aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or Tupperware containers.
This article will cover what happens when you freeze fudge, how long it can stay in the freezer, how to store it and defrost it to maintain its taste and consistency. Keep reading.
Does Freezing Fudge Ruin Its Taste?
Freezing fudge doesn’t ruin its taste or texture. For this reason, it has become an American favorite and was especially popular during challenging times in the country. Fudge is cheap, delicious, easy to make, and provides a lot of calories using just a few ingredients.
In most situations, the fudge will be exactly the same coming out of the freezer as it was going in. The most common exception is when it has been improperly stored. Failure to store the fudge correctly may lead to freezer burn, the fudge being frozen unevenly, or defrosting and refreezing—all that can reduce the flavor and completely ruin the consistency.
How Long Can You Freeze Fudge?
You can freeze fudge for two to three months for more complex recipes. However, if you have a simpler recipe using two or three items, it can usually be stored for up to a year. Make sure you store it the right way to avoid complications.
Now, why do simpler recipes freeze for longer? That isn’t completely clear, but it might be because those types of fudge are often just condensed milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Other styles can have flour, marshmallow flush, and even eggs. None of those items freeze that well, or at least they can break down enough to cause a different texture. At the very least, they won’t stay tasting fresh for long.
How To Freeze Fudge
If you have fudge leftovers you don’t want to waste, freeze them! You can always eat them later when you’re hungry for them again.
The following discusses how you can freeze fudge the right way.
Cut the Fudge
The first step is to prepare your fudge for the form you want it thawed in. Most bakers will tell you that keeping it in a large, intact block is best. It’s less likely to dry out this way, especially if you plan to freeze it for more than a couple of months.
If you want to eat it over time, cutting it into pieces is best. That way, you don’t have to try to break off a bit from a solid block of frozen fudge. The smaller the pieces, the better if individual. They’re easier to wrap tightly, popping out a few cubes when you want them. And they defrost quickly. You won’t have to wait an hour or more to eat your treat.
Keep the Fudge in a Wrapper or Container
Once ready, choose your wrapper. Aluminum foil is most protective, sealing firmly. Plastic wrap works in a pinch, but make sure you double wrap it to keep the whole surface area covered.
If you prefer not to use these materials, you can keep them unwrapped but separate layers with wax paper. That way, they don’t stick together.
You can use a Tupperware container, but it won’t store as long because of the air. The best option is a plastic storage bag made explicitly for freezers. Put in your fudge, zip partway, then squeeze out all the extra air you can before closing.
If you have a vacuum seal machine (Amazon), you can use that, as long as you don’t mind resealing it each time you take out a piece. However, you should partially freeze the fudge first so that it isn’t so soft. Vacuum seal the bag once it’s solid enough not to be crushed. Don’t do this if you aren’t wrapping each piece, as the wax paper might stick to the fudge on each side if pressed that tightly.
Freeze the Fudge if You Can’t Finish It Within Two Weeks
Unlike many foods, fudge doesn’t have to be frozen the moment you decide to store it. In most cases, it lasts around two weeks. You can keep it in the refrigerator during that time. Ensure you keep it in a container to protect it from absorbing the odors from other items in your fridge.
Tupperware and zipper bags should be plastic, as cardboard or styrofoam can also suck up those odors and impact the smell of the fudge.
Once you reach the end of that two weeks, or you don’t think you’ll regularly eat it, that’s when you know that it’s time to freeze the fudge.
How Do I Defrost Fudge When I Want To Use It?
You can defrost fudge by putting it in the fridge and letting it thaw over several hours. This method is best for fudges that have been cut into separate pieces. Using this method also ensures your fudge’s texture isn’t ruined, like getting chewy or slimy.
Alternatively, you can leave the fudges at room temperature. Unwrap them, then put them on a plate. Cover lightly with a paper towel and leave for 10–30 minutes. If you prefer your fudge pieces to stay cold, you can put them into the fridge for an hour. This should be long enough for the fudge to thaw while remaining nice and cool.
You Can Also Heat the Fudge in the Microwave
What if you like your fudge hot? Will it ruin it to freeze it first? Does it have to be thawed? It’s better that you heat the fudge when it’s frozen than to thaw it first. It’ll help it keep its form better.
Unwrap your pieces, making sure not to leave any flecks of aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Put them on a paper towel and place them in the microwave. Heat them on medium heat for 15 seconds at a time or 10 seconds if your microwave doesn’t have different temperature settings.
You’ll know they’re done because the middle will be springy and warm, but the edges won’t be melting.
You Know a Fudge Has Gone Bad When It Tastes and Smells Funny
You pull out some of your yummy fudge, ready to enjoy, and realize something about it seems off. How do you know if it has gone bad? Especially when rotting odors are covered so effectively by chocolate? Here are some signed:
- The fudge seems really dry. When defrosting fudge, a little bit of cracking isn’t abnormal since exposure to the air can cause surface drying. But if it looks dehydrated, especially as it goes deeper into the piece, it has gone off.
- It crumbles apart. Fudge should hold its form, whether it has been frozen or not. If it crumbles into pieces, you know it’s past its prime or was stored incorrectly.
- It’s slimy or soggy. Fudge is supposed to be a moist but otherwise dry treat. If it’s wet on the top or bottom, gets an oily texture, or feels soggy, it has started to rot. Unlike the two above signs, eating it can make you sick.
- The fudge smells or tastes ‘funny.” While it can vary a bit, fudge has a pretty consistent flavor. Even blondie or caramel fudge has a density to it that is unmistakable. If your batch just tastes strange or different than it did when you first made it, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Conclusion
Fudge keeps its original flavor and texture pretty well when frozen. But if you keep it in the freezer too long, or let it get freezer burned, unfortunately, it won’t come out the way it went in. Follow the above method, and you will get the perfect fudge every time.
