Flash Freeze Your Food in 2 Easy Steps for Smoothies, Quick Meals, and More

BH&G Food Editors
·5 min read

Sometimes you need just a handful of this or a little bit of that: strawberries for a smoothie, a single hot dog to satisfy a hungry child, or a quick lunch to take to work. By "flash freezing" small or individual portions of food, that individual berry smoothie or slice of cheesecake is ready and waiting in the freezer. So what is flash freezing? In the food industry (and on those fast-paced cooking shows we love to watch), flash freezing (aka blast freezing) refers to freezing foods at extremely low temperatures with cold, circulating air. This quick-chill method keeps ice crystals small, which prevents moisture loss in the food when it thaws. For the home cook, flash freezing refers to the practice of freezing individual pieces of food separately (usually spread out on a baking sheet or tray), then packing the frozen food in airtight containers for longer storage. The first step of this process keeps individual pieces of food from fusing together during freezing. Flash freezing allows the cook to thaw and use just the amount of food needed, rather than thawing larger amounts of the food all at once.

How to Flash Freeze Foods

To get started, you'll need a baking sheet or tray (make sure it fits in your freezer) and freezer-safe containers or resealable bags. Depending on what you are freezing, you may need plastic freezer wrap and/or heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Marty Baldwin

1. Prepare Food for Flash Freezing

Most foods do not need to be washed. You'll always want to wash berries (or any fresh produce) by gently rinsing and patting them dry. If applicable, divide food into small, individual portions or pieces. This can be foods such as shaped individual dinner rolls, individual chicken breasts or chicken breast slices, meatballs, and single servings of cooked meat loaf. Place the food on a baking sheet or tray. Make sure the edges of the food do not touch, as this can cause the pieces to fuse together as they freeze. Freeze 2 to 3 hours, or until firm.

Test Kitchen Tip: For easier cleanup, line the baking sheet or tray with parchment paper, waxed paper, or plastic wrap before adding the food.

Marty Baldwin

2. Seal or Wrap, Label, and Freeze

Remove the food from the baking sheet and either wrap it in plastic freezer wrap or heavy-duty aluminum foil, or transfer it to resealable freezer bags or freezer-safe food-storage containers with tight-fitting lids.

  • Label the package using a wax crayon or a permanent marker, indicating the name of the item, the quantity or size, and the date it was frozen.

  • Return the food to the freezer.

Test Kitchen Tip: Do not use foil to wrap foods that contain acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes or lemon juice. Acid reacts with aluminum foil. Instead, use plastic freezer wrap.

Foods That Can Be Flash Frozen

Whether raw or cooked, just about any food that comes in individual pieces (or can be broken or cut into individual pieces) can be flash frozen. The best candidates, however, are those foods that freeze well in general and are particularly useful in smaller portions. Here are some examples:

  • Fresh berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries

  • Individual portions of meats, such as chicken breast halves, steaks, and hot dogs

  • Cooked or uncooked hamburger patties, meatballs, and bacon slices

  • Fish steaks or fillets, shrimp, and scallops

  • Baked cookies, scones, and muffins

  • Baked bread slices, rolls, and biscuits

  • Unbaked bread dough, shaped into rolls

  • Shaped unbaked cookie dough

  • Individual slices of cake, fruit pie, or cheesecake

Foods That Should Not Be Flash Frozen

Because they lose flavor, texture, or overall quality when frozen, these foods won't do well flash freezing:

  • Eggs in shells, whether raw or cooked

  • Cooked egg whites or yolks

  • Custard- or cream-based pies or other desserts with cream fillings

  • Cheese

  • Battered and fried foods

  • Stuffed chops or chicken breasts

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables: Most fresh fruits (with the exception of berries) and vegetables are not suitable for flash freezing. They may be frozen but require specific steps beforehand, such as blanching or packing in water, fruit juice, or syrup.

  • Soups, stews, and other soft or liquid dishes. (These are freezable, just not an option for flash freezing since they can't stand on their own on a baking sheet.)

Blaine Moats

How Long to Freeze Flash-Frozen Food

According to the USDA, food stored at temperatures of 0°F or below will always be safe to eat. That's because freezing prevents the growth of the microorganisms that cause food-borne illness. However, after time, frozen foods might lose flavor, texture, or overall quality. We recommend sticking within the times suggested here:

Cooked Items

  • Baked cookies, slices of cake, fruit pies, quick breads, and yeast breads: 3 months

  • Individual slices of cheesecake: 2 weeks

  • Cooked meats, such as pork chops, chicken breasts, and meat loaf slices: 3 months

Raw Items

  • Berries: 1 year

  • Uncooked ground meat patties: 3 months

  • Uncooked fish and shellfish: 3 months

  • Uncooked steaks, chops, and poultry pieces: 3 to 6 months

  • Unbaked bread and cookie dough: 3 months

When ready, thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, never at room temperature (a few exceptions include breads and sweets that can safely be stored at room temperature). With a freezer stocked with ready-to-eat servings, consider going all out and making entire family meals that are freezer-friendly.