Can You Freeze Hot Dog Buns?

Have you just had a huge BBQ with your friends, loved ones, and neighbors?

Did you maybe overestimate how many hot dogs buns you would need?

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. You may be wondering whether there is a way to preserve them or if you have to denote them to the trash.

You definitely can preserve them, and all you have to do is put them in the freezer!

That’s correct - freezing hot dog buns is absolutely fine, in fact, it is encouraged if you have a bun surplus! 

The trick is ensuring you freeze them correctly, and then defrosting them properly too, to ensure they will be just as tasty as they were on the day you bought them.

Keep on reading to find out exactly how to freeze them, thaw them, and any factors you need to consider before you freeze your buns.

How to freeze hot dog buns

Bread is super susceptible to freezer burn, so you need to make sure that the hot dog buns are properly protected when you freeze them.

For this reason, it is best to wrap each hot dog bun separately too. This will prevent them from sticking together and possibly breaking when you try to tear them from each other.

One of the best ways to wrap your individual hot dog buns is by using a layer of aluminum foil. Ensure the pieces you use to wrap them are much bigger than the hog dog buns to ensure it is completely covered and wrapped tightly. Try not to leave any gaps for it to get through, too, as this could also cause freezer burn, or worse still, sogginess! 

After wrapping these hot dog buns in your layers of aluminum foil, you should then place them in a large resealable freezer safe bag. This can house all of the hot dog buns in your wish, as they would already have been wrapped separately. Now comes the important step, ensure you label them stating what they are, and most importantly, the date you froze them.

The date is super important to keep a note of as the hot dog buns will last around 3 months, any longer than that and they will not taste good when they are finally defrosted. Keeping the date in mind will ensure that they are eaten in time, and all your hard work wrapping them will not have gone to waste. 

If you have a whole bag of unopened hot dog buns then you have hit the jackpot! Ensure that you write the date you are freezing them on a label and stick it to the front.

You can then stick them straight into the freezer, without the need for wrapping in foil or placing them in another freezer bag! Quick, convenient, and easy! 

With all of the above methods, ensure that the hot dog buns are not going to be squished by any other products in your freezer, or else you will be super disappointed when you finally come to use them.

You would have been expecting soft delicious hot dog buns, but instead, you will have a flat slice of bread.

How to defrost hot dog buns

When it comes to defrosting your hot dog buns, you must ensure due care is taken to defrost them adequately.

For example, you may think that letting them defrost slowly in the refrigerator is the best thing to do, however, doing this can increase the risk of mold growing on your buns.

In our opinion, the best way to defrost your delicious hot dog buns is by keeping them out at room temperature. To do this, remove the hot dog buns from your freezer in plenty of time before you would like to use them.

They defrost pretty quickly, so an hour or two beforehand should be fine! Take them out of their resealable freezer bags, but leave them in the foil wrap. Place them on a plate whilst still foil wrapped, and leave them on your kitchen worktops or table.

After around 30 minutes you can check on them to see how they are doing. Depending on whether you want to heat them up, toast them, or have them as they are will determine your next step.

If you would like them heated you can pop them in the oven by preheating the oven to 300 degrees Farhenheit and placing them on a baking sheet. Warm them for 5 minutes, keeping them in for longer if you want them more golden.

For those of you who would like to toast your hot dog buns, you can cut them in half (or if they are already sliced just forgo this step), and place them in your toaster on low until they are done to your liking.

If you simply want to use them as they are, leave them out a little longer than the half an hour recommended to ensure they are completely thawed throughout. 

Factors to consider before freezing hot dog buns

There are, of course, some factors that need to be considered before you go ahead and freeze your hot dog buns.

The first consideration to make, as with all foodstuffs, is the freshness of the item. If your hot dog buns have already been opened and are waiting around in your kitchen for a considerable amount of time, they may well already be showing signs of going bad. Ensure you check the hot dog buns carefully before freezing for signs of mold.

Opened hot dog buns only last a couple of days outside their packets, so even if you cannot see any signs of mold, you may find that upon defrosting them they start to quickly develop mold spots. If the pack is unopened, just make sure you freeze it before the best before date is up. For all methods, always ensure you note the date that you are freezing them. 

Also, consider where in your freezer you plan to store them. Because hot dog buns are very soft and delicate, they can get easily squashed. Ensure there is nothing placed on top of them in your freezer, or else you may well end up with sliced bread instead of soft buns!

Summary

To summarise, hot dog buns can definitely be frozen safely.

They can turn out just as good as the day they were freshly bought, provided the instructions given above on freezing and defrosting them are followed.

Remember to take any factors listed above into consideration first, too.

Enjoy your hot dogs!

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Hi there! My name is Caroline Stevens, and I am an American mom of three wonderful children. I started this blog to help everyday families be more sustainable and save money by preventing food waste. I currently live in Wisconsin, and enjoy crafting, cooking at home, and traveling. I have a degree in art and previously worked in the restaurant business.

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