Bread rolls are often served as a side dish to compliment soups, curries, and other main courses. Thus, you might get tempted to buy them in bulk when on sale.
Now, to avoid unwanted food wastage, you might be considering a way to store the thawed rolls for a longer time. The first thing that pops into your mind can be, can you refreeze bread rolls?
You can refreeze major types of bread rolls. They will last you for almost 5-6 months. Bread rolls with fillings can also be refrozen, but they need careful handling. It is safe to refreeze them more than once, but the quality can suffer slightly. Freezing them in small portions can help you avoid this situation.
So, to assist you in refreezing the bread rolls successfully, we have discussed the whole process in depth. To learn more about the pros and cons of refreezing them, you can check out this step-by-step guide.
Table of Contents
Is it Safe to Refreeze Bread Rolls?
It is safe to refreeze the bread rolls if you have defrosted/thawed in a refrigerator. Bread rolls tolerate refreezing very well. However, how well you handle them initially affects whether or not they refreeze well.
In the case of homemade bread rolls, try to freeze them within 24-48 hours of baking. You should know that refreezing the rolls thawed using other methods may result in contamination.
If you want to refreeze store-bought bread rolls, make sure you refreeze them within one or two days. It is due to the reason that if more days pass, refreezing them might not prove beneficial.
If you want to refreeze thawed bread rolls, you shouldn’t let them sit out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours. Suppose you leave the bread rolls at a temperature greater than 40 F. In that case, the bacterial formation might have already started, so it’s best to discard them.
However, if you’re confident that you’ll be using the rolls right away, you can thaw the bread rolls using other methods.
It is crucial to know that no matter how carefully you refreeze them, a change in taste, texture, and quality will occur. Refrozen bread rolls may turn chewy and flavorless, but that doesn’t mean they are not safe for consumption.
Avoid refreezing bread rolls that have started showing signs of spoilage, as using them before/after refreezing might cause food poisoning.
Can You Refreeze Bread Rolls with Fillings?
You can safely refreeze cooked bread rolls with fillings, but it has certain limitations. So, you need to deal with them more cautiously.
How long these rolls last depends on what type of filling you have used in them. Usually, meat and cheese-filled rolls don’t last as long as simple rolls.
Rolls that have turned mushy are no longer safe for eating, so if you notice that the refrozen rolls with fillings have become soggy or mushy, it’s best to dump them.
How to Refreeze Bread Rolls?
Refreezing bread rolls are a great way to increase their shelf-life. Still, if you don’t follow the refreezing instructions carefully, you might end up ruining them.
So you can follow the refreezing instructions given below to ensure safe refreezing of bread rolls.
- First, let the rolls thaw overnight in a refrigerator. Thaw them well for a better refreezing result.
- Next, cut them in half and wrap individual pieces tightly in a plastic sheet or cling film. Refreezing separate pieces will let you control the number of rolls you thaw the next time you want to eat them.
- Now, place them inside a freezer-safe bag/container. Double wrapping will minimize the risk of contamination and freezer burns.
- Label the container/bag with the exact date of refreezing so that you don’t forget how long it has been since you refroze the rolls.
- Finally, place the labeled container in the freezer and let it freeze till the next time you want to eat it.
How Long Can You Refreeze Bread Rolls?
Plain/simple bread rolls are best for use within six months of refreezing. If you store them further, they might get bad even in the freezer.
However, how long they last in the freezer depends on two factors;
- What type of bread roll are you trying to refreeze?
- How well did you prepare it for refreezing?
You should use rolls with meat/cheese fillings within 3-4 weeks of refreezing. These rolls will probably not remain edible once the recommended time limit has crossed. And after the six-month limit is over, you should throw away the rolls.
Can You Refreeze Bread Rolls More Than Once?
You can refreeze bread rolls more than once, as long as they were thawed in a refrigerator and are still in a good state after thawing.
Don’t keep them outside the freezer or fridge at a temperature greater than 40 F for longer than 2 hours if you plan to refreeze them. Storing them at a higher temperature may result in bacterial contamination.
However, refreezing the bread rolls several times will result in compromised quality. The more times you thaw and refreeze, the more the taste will deteriorate.
Refreezing in portions is a much better way to refreeze them, as it lets you take out and defrost the required amount only. Doing so will save the remaining bread rolls from unnecessary thawing.
How to Tell if the Bread Rolls Have Gone Bad?
You can quickly tell if the bread rolls have gone bad if you notice any of these signs.
- The bread rolls have any molds or discoloration on the surface.
- If they start to split or crack, even after a gentle press.
- A noticeable rotten or sour smell indicates spoilage.
If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it is best to toss the rolls out immediately. Eating them after they have gone bad can be harmful to your health.
Conclusion
You can safely refreeze both homemade and store-bought rolls as long as you follow the refreezing instructions carefully. Store-bought frozen rolls can work well as a side dish if the refreezing limit hasn’t crossed.
In the case of both homemade and store-bought rolls, proper handling is mandatory if you don’t want to spoil them. However, if you notice any signs of spoilage even after handling them rightly, you should throw them away immediately.
You can follow the instructions mentioned above to ensure the successful refreezing of bread rolls for a long time.
