It can be challenging to know precisely how much icing or frosting to make, so portions often end up larger than intended. Rather than wasting it, it’s good to preserve it for the next time. So, can you freeze icing and frosting?
You can freeze icing and frosting by covering it with plastic and placing it in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Covering it with plastic will eliminate air getting onto the icing, and an airtight container will further protect it. You should use the frozen icing or frosting within four months.
In this article, I will discuss freezing icing and frosting in greater detail. Be sure to keep reading if you want to learn more!
Is It Safe To Freeze Icing or Frosting?
It is safe to freeze icing and frosting if you do it as soon as possible after preparing it. If you leave it sitting out on the counter for too long before freezing, bacteria will begin to grow, and food poisoning is more likely.
Some people assume that freezing kills bacteria, but it doesn’t. All it does is pause bacterial growth, so it’s always essential to get your icing in the freezer as soon as possible.
You shouldn’t run into any safety issues with your icing once you follow the correct method (which I’ll discuss below).
Freezing Icing and Frosting (Super Easy)
The method for freezing icing and frosting is simple and should take no more than a few minutes. Before getting into it, it’s important to note that this method relates to all types of icing and frosting, so no matter what icing you have, you can follow this easy guide.
So without further ado, here is a simple method for freezing icing:
Organize the icing in portions. If you don’t think you’ll use all the icing or frosting in one go, you should organize it into portions to use it as you please while minimizing waste. Skip this step if you want to freeze it as one big portion.
Wrap icing in plastic. It’s not entirely necessary to wrap your icing or frosting in plastic, but it will keep the quality as high as possible by blocking out air, which could cause freezer burn. So although it’s not necessary, you should do it.
Place frosting or icing in a freezer-safe container. Freezing it in plastic wrap alone isn’t enough. After wrapping it, you’ll need to place it in an airtight, freezer-safe container. This will further protect it from freezer burn and other issues.
Place the container in the freezer. Once you have the icing in a container, you can place it in the freezer for up to four months. Ideally, you should use it within two months because the quality will begin to deteriorate around this point.
Remove the icing from the freezer a few hours before using. It’s best to remove the icing or frosting from the freezer the night before you plan on using it and place it in the refrigerator. Defrosting it in the refrigerator may take several hours, so defrosting it overnight will assure that it’s thawed and ready to use.
It’s important to note that if you’re freezing icing in small portions, it’s best to wrap each portion individually so that they don’t get stuck or molded together before freezing. That way, you can easily defrost one section at a time, which prevents waste.
Defrosting Icing and Frosting
To defrost icing, you should remove it from the freezer and place it right in the refrigerator. Although you can leave it out at room temperature, this isn’t ideal because it will be easier for bacteria to grow.
You can remove it from the freezer container and plastic wrap if possible. Sometimes, it can be challenging to get the plastic wrap off when it’s frozen. In this instance, you could leave it in the refrigerator for a while to let it slightly defrost. Then, you can remove the plastic easier.
When removing the icing from the freezer container, you should place it in a bowl. As you may know, it’s easy for smells to get onto different foods in the refrigerator, so you should keep the icing away from anything with a strong odor. You can cover the icing when placing it in the fridge.
It’s best to defrost icing overnight or a few hours before you plan on using it. If you need it in less than a few hours, you can defrost it in the microwave. However, the refrigerator method is always the safest option. Be sure to use the defrost option on your microwave if you use this method.
Can You Refreeze Icing and Frosting?
You might be wondering if you can refreeze icing if you accidentally defrosted too much at once and want to avoid wasting it.
You can refreeze icing and frosting, but it’s not the best idea. There may be some bacterial growth after it has been defrosted the first time, and the taste and texture will likely change if you refreeze it. That said, it is safe to refreeze frosting or icing if it hasn’t been out for too long.
One of the big problems with refreezing is quality deterioration. When refreezing, the icing is more likely to turn mushy, and the taste will begin to lessen. You should be willing to sacrifice some of the original taste and texture if you plan to refreeze it.
According to the University of Minnesota, you should only refreeze food if it has been sitting at 40 °F (4.44 °C) or lower for no more than four days. So you should only refreeze it if it has been kept in the refrigerator rather than on the counter at room temperature.
How Long To Keep Icing and Frosting in the Freezer
You should keep icing and frosting in the freezer for up to four months. Technically, you can keep it frozen indefinitely, but the quality will begin to suffer at the three- or four-month mark. It’s good to write a date on the container when freezing to give you an idea of when you need to use it.
Thankfully, it’s safe to leave frosting and icing frozen for long periods, but you should only do so if you don’t mind the texture turning mushier and the taste changing somewhat. Some people don’t mind this because the icing is only a minor ingredient in most cakes.
Can You Freeze Canned Icing and Frosting?
You can freeze canned icing or frosting from the grocery store, but it’s best to remove it from the can and place it in an airtight container rather than freezing it directly in the can. This ensures it won’t burst out of the can while it freezes and keeps it protected.
The method for freezing canned icing is the same as freezing homemade icing, so you can follow the steps discussed earlier in this article. Try not to leave the canned icing out on the counter for too long before freezing, and be sure to cover it with plastic.
Additionally, the method for defrosting canned icing is the same as homemade icing. The refrigerator is always the best and safest option, but you can use a microwave if you don’t have enough time.
You can freeze icing or frosting for around three or four months before the quality deteriorates. However, you can technically leave it frozen indefinitely if you wish.
To freeze icing, you should organize it into small portions and wrap each portion with plastic. Then, you can put it in a freezer-safe and airtight container and place it in the freezer.
If you want to use the frosting in one big batch, you can freeze it in one large portion rather than multiple small ones. To defrost, place the icing in the refrigerator overnight.
