Very few breakfast foods beat waffles when you want to start your morning off with something sweet and filling. But mornings are usually the worst time to enjoy such a treat between needing to get the kids to school and ensuring you have a nutritious lunch packed.
Still, that doesn’t mean you have to go without the breakfast of your dreams on a busy morning. Skip the hassle of whipping up a fresh batch of waffle mix and freeze some in advance instead!
To freeze waffles, put them in a single layer on a baking tray and freeze. Once solid, you can remove them from the tray and store them in freezer bags for the longer term.
How to Freeze Waffles
Arguably, freezing waffles is even easier than making them. Following the method below, you can freeze a few waffles at once or in batches. All you need to ensure is that you have enough room in your freezer to store them:
- Leave To Cool
There is nothing worse than soggy waffles, which you will get if you do not allow your freshly prepared waffles to cool before you freeze them. Wait until the waffles are cool enough to hold before moving on to the next step. - Prepare a Baking Tray
Line a baking tray big enough to fit all your waffles on with some parchment paper. - Arrange Waffles
When arranging your waffle on the baking tray, you need to leave enough room between each waffle to let the cool air flow between them for a rapid freeze. A gap of around 1/2 inch will be perfect. - Flash Freeze Waffles
Place your baking tray of waffles in the freezer and leave to freeze for up to 2 hours. The raw exposure to the cold air will allow the waffles to freeze rapidly, making for crispier results when reheated. - Freeze For Longer If Needed
Check your waffles after 2 hours to see if they have frozen solid. If not, leave for an extra hour or 2 to finish freezing but no longer as they may develop freezer burn. - Transfer to Better Storage
When your waffles are frozen solid, you can move them to a more convenient storage container for longer-term storage. Or, if you have them to hand, use a freezer bag instead of a storage container. - Properly Seal
It is essential to seal away your waffles so that no air can reach them and cause freezer burn. So when using a storage container, ensure that it is airtight and when using a freezer bag, push all of the air out of the bag before you secure it. - Label and Freeze
Before putting your waffles in the freezer, label them with masking tape and a permanent marker. The waffles can last in your freezer for roughly 3 months, so note down that use-by date, and you are good to go!
Like you would with day-old waffles in the fridge, toast your frozen waffles until they are crispy to defrost them. Or, if you prefer, toast them in an oven for extra crispy waffles.
How to Freeze Waffles Successfully
Very little can go wrong with the above method, but nothing is worse than waking up on a busy morning to find that your favourite breakfast food is inedible.
To avoid any disappointments or simply to ensure that your waffles remain crisp and delicious, follow these tips for a successful freeze:
- Do Not Layer the Waffles – When arranging your waffle to flash freeze, it may be tempting to layer them all onto one baking tray to avoid freezing them in batches. However, this will lead to an uneven freeze, meaning some waffles will turn limp and unpleasant when defrosted. Take the time to arrange the waffles properly for a better freezing result.
- Let The Waffles Touch Freezer Walls – For a quicker flash freeze, move the baking tray of waffles to the coldest parts of your freezer. This will be the sides and very back wall of your freezer.
- Double Up Your Freezer Bags – Some freezers are a lot colder than others or are more prone to causing freezer burn. If this is the case for you, use another freezer or plastic bag to wrap around whatever bag or container you have stored your waffles in. This extra layer will limit the waffles’ exposure to the cold and prevent freezer burn in even the most temperamental freezers.
- Add Plenty of Toppings – You may find that the texture of waffles changes when they are frozen and then thawed. You can mask this by ensuring you use plenty of your favourite toppings.
Do Waffles Freeze Well?
Waffles are one of the best breakfast foods to freeze and are just as easy to heat up quickly when you are craving a sweet breakfast treat.
The key to properly freezing your waffles is thoroughly flash freezing them as soon as they are cool to the touch. But if you get the waffles in the freezer within a day or two of making them, you will have no trouble freezing them.
Freezing Waffles FAQs
Do you still have questions about how to go about freezing waffles properly? Then these FAQs might just help you out:
Yes, Belgian waffles can be frozen. Lay them out on a baking tray and pop the tray into the freezer. Once frozen solid, remove the waffles from the tray, place them into a bag and return them to the freezer.
Yes, you can freeze waffle batter. If you’re going to freeze it, ensure you freeze it in portions to make it easier to grab a portion at a time. Simply freeze it in small freezer bags and then place the bags into an airtight container.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
