How to Freeze Beef Battered Fish
Takeaways can get expensive but there is a way you can save money and still have a great tasting 'fakeaway'. Make your own battered fish and chips from home! It's easier to do than you think.
But, getting the amount you need just right can be tricky and can you freeze batter is a commonly asked question.
Batter can be frozen for up to 1 month. This applies to all batter types including simple fish batter, tempura or fancy beer batter. The method for freezing batter is the same across all these types.
Can You Refreeze Batter? No
Does Batter Freeze Well? Yes
How To Freeze Batter
Freezing batter mix is super simple to do, but you do need to take a little care to avoid spills and messes in the freezer. But, as this is the hardest aspect, then it shouldn't be a problem at all.
- Prepare Containers
Find a container that is suitable for freezing and holding liquids. This needs to be a container that comes with a tight-fitting lid. You can also use freezer bags designed to hold liquids.You may need to grab a few as the easiest way to freeze batter is in portions. This makes it much simpler to defrost and use just the amount you need at a later date.
- Label
Label the container with the date and the contents. - Portion Out
Spoon a portion of batter into each container or bag. You need to make sure that you leave a gap at the top of the container. The batter will expand as it freezes, and if you don't leave the gap, it might burst the container. - Add Cling Film
If you have used a container, it is worth adding a layer of cling film to the top. This needs to be touching the batter and is to stop skin from forming on the top. - Seal
Seal the container tightly. If you can squeeze out any excess air, then this will help freeze the batter successfully. If you want to ensure the batter doesn't spill in the freezer, then you can pop the container into a freezer bag for extra protection. - Freeze
Put the batter into the freezer. Just make sure you keep it flat and upright while it freezes.
How to Freeze Beer Batter
Beer batter is a lovely style of batter that is made from mixing a light style of beer or lager into the batter mix. This gives fish that lovely taste and crispy texture that we all love.
Beer batter is a type of batter that can also be frozen, and you can freeze it in the same method we outlined above. You can also freeze fish, such as cod, that has been battered in beer batter too! There is no excuse for wasting any of that delicious batter.
How to Freeze Battered Fish
What do you do if you have leftover battered fish? Well, we have the answer – you freeze it! The best way to freeze battered fish is once it has been cooked.
So, prepare your fish and cook as normal and then follow these instructions to freeze the fish.
- Cool
Let the fish cool completely before freezing. This will take a minimum of two hours. - Flash Freeze
Once it has cooled, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the fish onto the baking sheet. You need to ensure that the fish isn't touching otherwise you risk the fish freezing together in a lump. Put the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze. - Wrap and Bag
Once the fish has frozen completely, you can take the baking sheet out of the freezer. Wrap each individual fish in cling film and pop them into a freezer bag. - Label and Seal
Label the bag with the date and seal the bag tightly. - Freeze
Put the fish back into the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Batter
Now you know how to freeze it, we've got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing batter to have the best results:
Write Clear Labels
If you're freezing multiple types of batter, then make sure you label the bags with the type of batter so you can easily distinguish between beer batter, Yorkshire pudding batter and tempura batter.
Whisk After Thawing
Batter can lose some of its texture and airiness once frozen and thawed. You can rectify this by giving it a vigorous whisk once it has thawed.
Freeze Uncooked
Although battered fish will freeze well, you will find that the batter can become a little soft. By freezing the batter uncooked, you can ensure it is crispy when you come to cook it.
How Long Can You Freeze Batter?
Most types of batter can be frozen for up to a month. This isn't a super long time, but it is just enough time to extend the life of the batter to give you a chance to use it up before it spoils.
After this time, you might find the batter separates out or starts to become freezer burnt.
You can also only freeze battered fish for about a month before you need to use it. So, make a note of it and use it up before it goes to waste.
You Can Freeze Batter for Around 1 Month
How Do You Defrost Batter?
Batter is something you need to defrost before using and it does take a little time to do so properly. The best method is to take it out of the freezer the night before you need it and pop it into the fridge to defrost slowly.
Unfortunately, this isn't a type of food that is suitable for defrosting in the microwave. You would be in danger of cooking it rather than defrosting it. This would make it unusable.
If you need the batter to defrost quickly, your best option is to use a water bath technique.
To do this, you need a bowl of cold water and then you just pop the container with the batter into the water, which should defrost a little quicker. When the water gets too cold replace it with fresh water.
If you are using battered fish that was frozen then you can cook this from frozen. Just heat up the oven and pop it into the oven and bake until the cook is piping hot all the way through.
Can You Refreeze Batter?
You shouldn't refreeze batter. There will be some texture changes and the more often you freeze it, the more chance there is for the batter to spoil and become unusable.
The only exception to this rule is if you have used frozen batter in cooking. You can then freeze the cooked batter as normal.
Does Batter Freeze Well?
Batter does freeze well but we can't say you won't notice any type of change and how well it freezes will depend on the ingredients you add. Whipped batters containing egg tend to not freeze too well due to the texture change.
You should find that most fish batters freeze fairly well and if you give the batter a whisk before using you shouldn't notice too much of a difference once it has been cooked.
If you've still got questions about freezing batter or batter in general, then these may help:
Can You Freeze Tempura Batter?
Tempura batter, like the traditional batter we have discussed on this page, can be frozen using the exact methodology outlined on this page.
As with a lot of frozen products, the key is to ensure you keep as much air out as possible.
Can You Freeze Yorkshire Pudding Batter?
Although not a batter in the sense that we've been discussing on this page, it is still a common query we see time and time again. Can you freeze Yorkshire pudding batter?
Well, yes you can! If you want to find out how to do it safely and efficiently then check out our dedicated guide to freezing Yorkshire puddings.
Source: https://www.freezeit.co.uk/can-you-freeze-batter/
0 Response to "How to Freeze Beef Battered Fish"
Post a Comment