Meringue is a fast and easy dessert to make and is a treat that all love.
However, many people tend to question whether the meringue can be frozen, and if so how is it done?
What Is Meringue?
To begin, we should first clarify what meringue is.
Meringue is a popular dessert known globally but is usually associated with French, Swish and Italian cuisine.
It is a simple dessert to make, adding to its charm. All you need are egg whites and sugar. Once whipped, this will create a solid mixture which will turn into the meringue.
The great thing about meringues is its health factors. Although by no means is the meringue a healthy dessert, it is still healthier than others.
The meringue holds zero fat and very little calories so is understandably a dieter’s best friend.
Types Of Meringue
There are three types of meringue – Swiss, Italian, French. Each of these meringues are prepared and cooked differently yet still come out beautifully.
Swiss
This is a firm and dense meringue made by stirring sugar and egg whites together. This is stirred over a pot of simmering water until warm before being whipped.
Italian
This one is made using a sugar syrup which has been heated. This is then gradually beaten into egg whites.
French
The French meringue is one which most people know of. Beat sugar into egg white until soft then whip until firm.
Can You Freeze Meringue?
Yes, you are able to freeze meringue and this counts for any type whether that be Swiss, Italian or French.
It is recommended for people to freeze meringue if they are not planning on eating theirs straight away.
By freezing, you are keeping your meringue safe enough to eat.
The way you freeze meringue can impact the end product/quality. It is important to note the different ways of freezing and to ensure that you are choosing a method that will benefit the dessert for the long term.
Below we will be listing the ways to freeze your meringue, splitting this according to its type:
Swiss/ French Meringues
These two meringues are frozen in the same manner. In order to freeze, simply place onto a baking tray and cover in clingfilm (do this once the meringues have cooled).
Place this into the freezer and after an hour check to see if the meringues have turned hard. If so, remove the baking tray.
Carefully layer the meringues in a sealed container before covering that container in clingfilm. By using the clingfilm, you are preventing other odors from entering and contaminating the meringues.
Italian Meringues
After allowing your meringues to cool, spoon the mixture into a bag before sealing, removing as much air as possible.
After that is done, place it into the freezer.
Defrosting Your Meringue
With freezing comes defrosting, and when defrosting you want to make sure that you are doing it in an efficient way as not to ruin the end product.
When defrosting, you want to make sure that you are being careful and to remember that this is a process.
The best method is to transfer the meringue from the freezer into the refrigerator and allow that to slowly defrost in its own time. However, it is not always so easy.
If you are in a rush or do not have enough time to let it defrost on its own, you are able to let them thaw by taking them out of the freezer and leaving them at room temperature.
Alternatively, you can place the meringue in a preheated oven for a few minutes (note that this is for those who do not mind a warm meringue).
Refreezing Meringue: Is It Safe?
It is not recommended to refreeze meringue. This is because by doing so you are impacting the overall end result of the dessert.
Your meringue will turn dry and brittle if refreezing after it is baked. If you are wanting to refreeze when it is uncooked, this too will ruin the end product and result in a bad consistency.
Handy Tips for Freezing Meringue
When freezing meringue you want to come out with the best results, so because of this we have put together a list of some handy tips for freezing meringue.
Bags Are Not Always The Most Suitable
Many people look to use ziplock bags when freezing as it frees up space in the freezer however in terms of meringue this may end up spoiling the end product.
For the most part (aside from Italian) meringue should be placed in a box to conserve its form and quality.
Only Freeze When Fresh
You should only freeze your meringue when it is fresh. Then will it supply the best results and allow it to keep better in the freezer.
This also means that meringue should not be refrozen.
Try Freezing Your Egg Whites
You read that right. You are able to freeze your egg whites too! By having egg whites stored in your freezer, this makes the process much easier.
If you one day wake up and feel like making meringue, simply defrost your egg whites by thawing and cook once done.
This is also a great idea if you ever run out of eggs in your refrigerator – you will always have those frozen egg whites to save the day!
Final Thoughts
To conclude, meringue can be frozen however it is important to know the difference between the three types – Swiss, Italian, French – and to use that knowledge when deciding the best way to freeze.
Freezing meringue ensures you are consuming something which is safe and will allow your dessert to last longer. As well as this, doing so is as easy as making the meringues.
Meringues are a quick and easy dessert to make and is something everyone will love.
By freezing, you are ensuring their long life and you will always have something to look forward to.
Hi! My name is Jessica, and I recently decided to set up the site My Baking Heart, as an extension of my love for baking. It is something I have enjoyed since being a young child, when I would bake cookies and cakes with my grandma
Over the years, I have developed my skills and love to try all kinds of baking, from genoise sponges, to peach cobbler, and everything in between. New recipes are so much fun to follow and recreate.
Through this site, I hope to teach others the basics of baking, from how to use certain equipment, to the best types of recipes to follow. My site is a mixture of useful informational content, recipes, and of course, review of the best types of baking equipment.
- 25 Crispy and Healthy Taro Recipes To Boost Your Taste Buds - May 3, 2023
- 25 Best Fancy Desserts Recipes That Will Always Win - May 3, 2023
- 19 Stunning Crawfish Bread Recipes To Try Out Once - May 3, 2023