Can cooked enchiladas be frozen?

Enchiladas can be very easy to cook for a quick weeknight dinner, and you can even use leftover chicken or turkey to make them.

So can cooked enchiladas be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze any leftover enchiladas. Enchiladas are a popular meal that are made ahead of time and frozen for an easy dinner or lunch, and the same goes for freezing leftover enchiladas.

Freezing enchiladas is pretty straightforward, especially since you’ve already done the hard work of cooking them.

How to freeze enchiladas

Once everyone has finished their serving of enchiladas and returned for a second round, you should set the plate aside to cool.

It’s best to let the enchiladas cool before freezing them, as the freezer temperature can rise if you place the warm enchiladas in the freezer, which could ruin some of the other food stored in the freezer.

• Once cooled, remove the enchiladas to a freezer-safe plastic container , or a disposable aluminum foil container. Make sure there is enough room for the enchiladas to expand a bit in the freezer.
• When you have placed all the enchiladas in the freezer container, cover them with a suitable lid or cover them with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
• Once the enchiladas are completely covered, you can place them in the freezer.

If you want to freeze smaller portions of enchiladas to have for quick lunches

• Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, making sure to wrap well so that no sauce spills or air remains in the wrapper.
• Then cover the plastic-wrapped enchiladas with a layer of aluminum foil, which will help protect the enchiladas in the freezer.
• They can be placed in your freezer drawers much like containerized frozen enchiladas.

Tips for Freezing Enchiladas

Since enchiladas are made wrapped in a tortilla, they have a tendency to become soggy when frozen and thawed.

This and a few other issues can ruin the flavor and/or texture of the enchiladas when you thaw them to eat again. Here are some tips and tricks to make your enchiladas as delicious as possible after freezing and thawing:

• Be sure to remove as much air as possible when freezing your enchiladas in plastic wrap . This could cause freezing crystals that can definitely ruin the flavor and texture of the food.
• Try to drain the excess liquid from the enchiladas. This will help prevent freezer burn and crystals when the enchiladas are frozen. This may mean pouring any excess watery sauce from the container or even cooking the thicker sauce during the cooking process to ensure there isn’t too much moisture when it freezes.
• Try adding some queso fresco on top of the enchilada before popping it in the freezer , if you have any left over. The cheese will have melted in the oven and may have spread unevenly. Adding a little more queso fresco ensures that it melts and is sticky once you thaw and reheat the leftover enchilada.
• To prevent enchiladas from getting soggy , you should quickly fry the tortillas before cooking or before placing them in a container to freeze. Frying them in a small amount of hot oil gives the tortillas a barrier so they don’t absorb too much sauce or liquid, which could cause them to break and become soggy. Frying the tortillas is a great way to prevent them from getting soggy and to protect the contents of the enchilada.
• Make some extra sauce to freeze separately from the enchiladas, although you may need to pour some into an extra bowl before filling the enchiladas. Freeze some of the extra sauce in a separate freezer bag to have it ready when you heat the enchiladas. This saves you from having to put too much sauce on the enchiladas before freezing, which could cause the tortilla to become soggy, and it’s always better to have too much sauce than too little!
• It’s also best to freeze enchiladas with salsa in a plastic container , as the salsa may take on a more metallic taste if frozen in foil wrap along with the rest of the enchilada.
• Try not to leave the enchiladas in the freezer for too long. After a while, ice crystals will start to form on the tortillas or in the sauce, and although they will disappear when reheated, after a long period of time they could completely destroy the texture of the food.

How to reheat frozen enchiladas

When it’s time to reheat the enchiladas, you want to make sure you do it right so the enchiladas still taste fresh and moist.

The best way to defrost enchiladas is to leave them in the fridge overnight. This way they will not get too hot and will prevent the growth of any bacteria, while defrosting the dish.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove any plastic wrap or foil covering the enchiladas, and place the food in an ovenproof dish. If you have leftover salsa or cheese, top the enchilada with it.

Bake the enchiladas in the oven for 25 minutes before checking . If you need to heat them longer, heat them for more 5-minute increments until done.

You can also try a microwave crisping tray, which is perfect for quickly reheating enchiladas when you feel like you can’t wait 25 minutes.

Freezing Materials

The quality of your enchiladas will depend on the materials you use to freeze them. They must be kept protected in the freezer. These are some of the options you can choose to freeze:

disposable aluminum pans

Disposable foil pans are great because you don’t have to wash them afterwards, and they hold their shape well in the freezer and can also be used to heat enchiladas in the oven.

However, if you plan to freeze a lot of meals using aluminum containers, it can be quite expensive.

baking containers

You can use glass, ceramic or metal molds to freeze the enchiladas, but check that they are suitable for the freezer. They are also cost effective as you can use them over and over again.

Just do n’t freeze enchiladas in pans you use often , as they will obviously be in use in the freezer, limiting how often you can use them.

aluminum foil lining

One of the best options is to line a ceramic or glass mold with aluminum foil. It doesn’t cost as much as using disposable aluminum pans, and it frees up other dishes to cook.

Plus, you can pop these lined pans right into the oven when it’s time to reheat the enchiladas, which is super easy. Once the foil is removed from the pan, there will also be very little cleanup to do, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Related questions

How long can enchiladas stay in the freezer?

Enchiladas can keep their flavor and texture well in the freezer for up to 3 months if stored correctly.  If they sit out longer, they’ll still be fine to eat, but freezer burn and ice crystals can pretty much ruin the quality of the enchiladas.

If you plan to make smaller meals from a large pan of leftovers, separate the enchiladas and freeze them separately and label them with the cook and freeze date so you can keep track of when you should eat them.

Should I cover the enchiladas while they are heating?

If you want to keep the enchiladas as moist as possible, you can cover the pan with aluminum foil while it bakes for 20 to 30 minutes.

During the last 5 minutes, remove the foil to crisp up the cheese and to allow the enchiladas to bake more evenly.

What can I accompany the enchiladas with?

Enchiladas taste great on their own, but can be taken to the next level with a few sides. The best accompaniments to serve with enchiladas are usually already in the fridge.

Serve your enchiladas with sour cream, guacamole , and salsa. These fresh flavors pair very well with the flavor of baked enchiladas and melted cheese. Jalapenos can also be served for an extra kick.

Freeze the enchiladas

Enchiladas are a great food to freeze when you’ve overcooked. You can even cook some more to freeze for an easy weeknight meal.

If stored and frozen well, enchiladas can last in the freezer for up to 3 months, and still taste delicious when thawed and re-baked to eat.

Freeze your enchiladas in one big batch to feed the family, or portion them out for smaller meals throughout the week. Keep some queso fresco on hand to sprinkle over the enchiladas before baking and you’ll have a quick and delicious meal ready in no time!