Can You Freeze Vodka Sauce?

Vodka sauce is a popular dish across the country, enjoyed at big family meals or cosy date nights.

But it can feel time consuming to cook, especially for one after a long day at work doesn’t it?

Many people opt for batch cooking the sauce which provides you with several tasty meals, but knowing how to store your extra sauce can be a pain can’t it?

Well, here is some good news for you!

Vodka sauce can be frozen! It can be frozen as the sauce on its own, or already mixed in with pasta, allowing you to meal prep to your heart’s content!

Keep reading for advice on how to freeze your much-loved sauce, defrost it, and any key points you may need to think about!

Happy cooking, freezing, and of course, eating!

How to freeze vodka sauce

Freezing your vodka sauce is a simple process that can be done fairly quickly too.

First you need to make sure that the sauce has completely cooled down. This can be done by leaving your sauce on the counter, a lid does not need to be air-tight to allow for steam to leave.

Freezing your vodka sauce before it’s completely cool can cause ice crystals which lead to freezer burn, ruining your dish you have worked hard to create!

Be sure not to leave it out for too long as this can cause any milk or cream used to go off.

Once the sauce has cooled to room temperature it will be ready to be frozen.

This can be done with containers, or freezer bags, whichever you have available to you.

A freezer bag is a better option, as this allows room for any expanding that may happen. You can also stack freezer bags vertically providing neat storage in your freezer, an added bonus!

Pour your cooled sauce into the bag or container, if you are using a bag leave some room at the top for any expansion.

Make sure to securely seal and label your sauce before you put it in the freezer.

As we mentioned earlier you can freeze the sauce with any extra pasta you used also. If you are doing this, mixing the pasta thoroughly through the sauce should stop the pasta from drying out!

How to defrost vodka sauce

Defrosting the sauce is just as easy as it was to freeze it!

There are a few ways you can defrost your vodka sauce that we will go through now.

In the Fridge 

Defrosting your sauce in the fridge is probably the easiest option to go for.

Simply pull the sauce out of the freezer and pop it in the fridge.

It’s a good idea to pop the freezer bag on a plate to catch any ‘sweat’ that may come off the sauce.

The fridge will keep the sauce cool as it defrosts, avoiding any milk or cream you used from spoiling.

This process will take several hours and is best to do overnight.

Once fully thawed, pour your vodka sauce into a saucepan to heat it up. This should take no more than a few minutes and voila, vodka sauce for dinner again!

On the Counter

For those who forgot to pull their sauce out the night before, we have another option for you.

You can pull the sauce out of the freezer, again popping the freezer bag on a plate or bowl and place it on the counter.

It should take a few hours at room temperature to defrost.

Make sure once thawed it is heated up straight away or popped in the fridge to avoid any milk or cream used from spoiling.

In the Microwave

For those after an even speedier process, let your handy microwave take centre stage!

Remove the sauce from the freezer, if needed swap your sauce into a microwave safe container and pop into the microwave.

It should only take a few minutes depending on the power of your microwave and it saves on needing to heat the sauce up separately.

Be sure to routinely take the sauce out of the microwave to stir it (every 30-60 seconds is a good time to avoid any burning).

Once fully thawed you can cook immediately or allow it to completely cool before putting the sauce in the fridge.

Factors to consider when freezing vodka sauce

Before you begin your batch cooking bonanza, there are a few factors to cosider when freezing your vodka sauce

Time

Its important to consider how long you will have to eat the sauce. Once frozen your vodka sauce will last no longer than three months.

After you have defrosted your sauce, eat within a few days and keep refrigerated once it has thawed entirely.

Make sure you label and date the sauce before you freeze so you can keep an eye on when this needs to be defrosted and eaten by!

Texture

As with most things we freeze, the texture of them can change once defrosted.

Your sauce may feel slightly grainy in texture, and thanks to the milk or cream used, it can also separate.

But there is no need to panic! This does not impact the taste of your delicious sauce.

You can fix this easily by using a whisk to stir the sauce while it heats up. This will help return the consistency to normal and allow you to enjoy your sauce again.

Refreezing 

You can re-freeze the vodka sauce once it has fully thawed if you have defrosted more than you need.

To do this simply cook the sauce again and allow it to cool fully. Follow the earlier steps to freeze the sauce again.

Remember that if you refreeze the sauce, the texture of the sauce will be further compromised.

Summary

To bring us to a lovely close here, yes vodka sauce can be frozen.

It’s important to remember to freeze once the sauce has cooled to room temperature.

A freezer bag or container will do the job, just make sure it’s securely sealed and labeled.  Make sure to leave some space in the bag for any expanding sauces!

The texture can change as the milk or cream can separate. This can also result in a slightly grainy texture on the sauce, nothing a simple stir when its heating up can’t fix!

The bottom line is you can enjoy your vodka sauce without having to keep cooking it, simply make up a big pot, portion out and relax!