Can margarine be frozen? - The complete guide

Margarine is an essential food at home, for cooking, baking and even for making sandwiches. It is a versatile ingredient, can be easily found in almost all grocery stores, and is quite affordable.

It’s always best to have leftover margarine at home, but when it comes to extending its shelf life, can margarine be frozen? Yes, margarine can be frozen with great results, and it’s also very easy to freeze. Margarine contains about 80% vegetable oil, which means it freezes effectively and easily. When margarine is frozen, its shelf life is extended, meaning you can keep more than one can on hand for when you need it.

Freezing margarine may be simple, but you may still have some questions about freezing margarine that need answers, so here is a complete guide on freezing margarine.

Why you should freeze margarine

Freezing margarine helps extend its shelf life. You may prefer to buy in bulk and have 5 tubs of margarine at home, or you may have found a great deal on margarine at your local store.

You don’t want to keep more than 1-2 tubs of margarine in the fridge at a time, as you risk the margarine going bad before you can use it.

Therefore, freezing margarine is a good option.  Having one or more frozen tubs of margarine means you’ll always have something on hand when you need it, without running to the store.

You would just have to leave the margarine out to thaw before you can use it, so you would have to plan ahead.

How to freeze margarine

Freezing margarine is quite easy and doesn’t take too long. There are several ways to freeze margarine, so it will depend on which method you prefer to use.

The easiest way to freeze margarine is to simply place an unopened tub in a sealed plastic bag and then place in the freezer. Make sure the plastic bag is tightly closed and that you have removed as much air as possible from the bag.

You can also cut the margarine into smaller blocks and put them in a resealable plastic freezer bag. This way you can remove small pieces at a time for baking or cooking without having to defrost an entire block.

You can also wrap the margarine in aluminum foil and put it in the fridge to keep it longer.

A great idea for freezing margarine is to grate the solid block. To do this, you’ll need to lightly freeze the block so that it’s hard enough to grate.

Grate the block of margarine on a tray and place it in the freezer. This will freeze the grated margarine.

Once frozen, place the shredded margarine in a resealable freezer bag. Pre-freezing means the shredded margarine won’t stick, and you’ll be able to grab a handful when you need it, without having to thaw the whole batch.

Grating the margarine also allows it to thaw faster, which is helpful when you don’t have hours to wait for it to soften.

Whichever way you choose to freeze the margarine, make sure it is tightly sealed in a plastic freezer bag to keep air and moisture out and to prevent the margarine from picking up odors from other foods in the freezer.

How to defrost margarine

When it’s time to use the margarine you’ve stored in the freezer, you’ll need to thaw it properly. One way to thaw margarine is to place it in a bowl and let it sit at room temperature.

The margarine will take about 4 hours to thaw. If you can wait a little longer, you can leave the margarine to thaw in the fridge, which will take about 8 hours.

This is the safest way to do it, as it doesn’t expose the margarine to a higher temperature that could spoil the margarine and alter the texture.

If you need the margarine right then and can’t wait for it to thaw for hours, you can thaw it in the microwave.

To do this , put the microwave on the lowest position and leave the margarine in the microwave for 5 minutes. Be careful not to melt the margarine with this method, as it can spoil and you won’t be able to use it much.

What is the shelf life of margarine?

Due to its high vegetable oil content and low milk content, margarine has a longer shelf life than butter.

You can find the expiration date on the margarine on the back of the tub or on the packaging, but it will usually last well beyond this date if stored and handled properly. If the margarine doesn’t smell bad, or if it hasn’t discolored, it’s safe to eat.

Typically, margarine can be used for up to 4 months if stored unopened in the refrigerator, and up to 2 months if it has been opened but stored in the refrigerator. If the margarine has been kept in the freezer and thawed, it can keep for up to 3 months.

If you freeze the margarine, you can keep it in the freezer for up to 12 months. You can choose to keep the margarine frozen for longer, and it’s okay to do so, however it could start to lose its flavor and texture.

You should always try to thaw margarine before the expiration date stated on the package, to be on the safe side.

Again, you should try to consume the margarine within 3 months of thawing and keep an eye on the expiration date.

If the margarine has thawed past its expiration date, but shows no signs of spoilage, it should be safe to eat.

Do the properties of margarine change when frozen?

Freezing the margarine does not affect its flavor or its properties. It will keep fresh for up to 12 months in the freezer without any change in quality.

In fact, it is one of the best foods to freeze, as it maintains its quality for 12 months in the freezer.

Freezing margarine vs. freezing butter

Frozen margarine and butter are very similar, and both are known for their ability to retain their flavor and texture when frozen.

Butter has a shorter shelf life than margarine , so it won’t keep as long, which is why freezing it is a great idea. Both butter and margarine can be stocked up when there are sales and frozen to keep them longer.

You just have to make sure that the butter or margarine is well wrapped in plastic or aluminum foil to prevent any oxidation, which could affect the quality of the butter or margarine.

How to tell if margarine has gone bad

If you’ve taken your margarine out of the freezer and allowed it to thaw, but aren’t sure if it’s safe to use or not, there are signs you should check to determine if it’s okay or gone bad.

Spoiled margarine will be discolored, being light on the inside and darker on the outside, which you’ll notice when you cut the margarine in half.

Obvious signs would be if the margarine is covered in mold, or if it has a sour taste or smell.

Margarine only goes bad in this way if it is left out at a higher temperature for a long period of time, or if it is left in the freezer for more than 12 months.

Refreezing margarine: Is it a good idea?

The general rule of thumb for all foods is that no item should be frozen twice.

Freezing food twice means there is a risk of bacteria growing , which could cause the food to spoil. For this reason, it is best to freeze the margarine in smaller blocks cut from the larger stick and freeze them separately.

This way, you can use a small amount at a time without having to freeze and thaw the entire block, which could potentially go to waste.

What can frozen margarine be used for?

Frozen margarine can be thawed at room temperature or in the refrigerator and used as normal, such as a spread on sandwiches or in cooking and baking. Some recipes even call for frozen margarine to be used.

A good way to do this is to grate the frozen margarine into small pieces to mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Alternatively, for a normal recipe, you can place the margarine in a bowl and microwave it to thaw slightly.

Related questions

Can butter spread be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the butter spread. It freezes very well and can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months if stored properly.

Just be sure to wrap the tub tightly in a plastic freezer bag to protect it. Let the butter spread thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator until soft enough to use.

Can butter be frozen?

Yes, freezing butter usually gives great results. To ensure that the butter stays protected and stays as fresh as possible, it should be wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Butter can stay in the freezer for up to a year if it is kept frozen at a constant temperature and if it has been stored properly. It will still be usable after one year, but the quality may start to deteriorate after this time.

How can you quickly bring frozen butter to room temperature?

The best way to bring butter to room temperature quickly is to grate the stick of butter.

Grated chunks of butter will come to room temperature much faster than a stick of butter would, and can easily be added to recipes for cooking or baking, or even sprinkled on toast to melt on bread.

Can I leave the butter on the counter?

Leaving the butter on the counter, in a container with a lid, allows it to soften, making it easier to spread on bread and crackers. However, this could expose the butter to temperatures that could encourage bacterial growth.

If you plan to keep the butter on the counter , make sure it’s not too hot, and that the butter is kept completely covered in a butter container or in plastic or aluminum foil.

Freeze the margarine

It is perfectly possible to freeze margarine, and you can do it with really good results.

If you freeze margarine correctly, stored at a constant temperature in the freezer and tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, margarine can retain its high quality for up to 12 months in the freezer.

After this time, the margarine can be consumed, but its quality will begin to deteriorate.

Whether you’ve bought in bulk or found margarine at a special price in the store, grab some and keep the margarine frozen to extend its shelf life, while keeping it as fresh as possible!