Can seitan be frozen? - The Ultimate Guide

If you’ve never heard of seitan, you probably know it by another name, such as “wheat gluten” or “wheat meat.”

If you don’t already know what it is, it’s similar to tofu and tempeh: a vegan meat substitute. While it doesn’t require a lot of work to make, it’s always helpful to be able to defrost food during those busy weeks.

However, can seitan be frozen like you can with meat? Yes, you can freeze seitan as raw dough, in prepared dishes, or in a broth. It features minimal flavor and texture changes, and many prefer the chewy texture that freezing adds. The seitan will last in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.

Surprisingly, you can freeze this meat substitute, and it’s even recommended by many seitan fans. The effects are minimal and it will make dinner a piece of cake.

In this article, we’ll take a look at ways to freeze different forms of seitan, as well as the changes it undergoes and some additional tips and tricks.

What is seitan?

Seitan is a very popular meat substitute in vegetarian, vegan and similar meatless diets. It has a very high protein content and a very low number of carbohydrates.

It is made from wheat gluten (the main protein found in wheat) and water. These ingredients are combined and a dough is formed which is then kneaded and shaped into the desired shape.

This dough can be eaten raw, but it can also be cooked by frying it in a pan, frying crumbled pieces, simmering it in vegan broth (such as vegetable broth), or simmering it in a stew—there are tons of ways to make seitan, just as well. than with meat.

The Ultimate Guide to Freezing Seitan

Freshly made seitan can be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days (store-bought products usually have an expiration date), but of course, sometimes you want to keep it longer.

Freezing seitan will help you make quick dinners and relieve the stress of last-minute meal prep.

How to freeze seitan - Step by step

Luckily for everyone, you can very easily freeze seitan without compromising it. Here’s how to do it:

1. Divide your seitan dough

This step will make your life much easier and more comfortable. Divide your dough into the correct cuts and portion size you will need later (one serving for one or two people, etc.). This will prevent you from having to defrost a large batch and then throw away anything you didn’t use.

2. Cool the portioned masses

This is a very important step, as it will help the dough freeze evenly and quickly. Arrange your portions on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bring to room temperature or in the fridge.

We always recommend keeping food in the fridge as it is a safer temperature for food (bacteria won’t be as likely to grow there).

3. Wrap your portions in plastic

If you have chops or large chunks, wrap each chunk individually in plastic wrap or saran paper.

If you have smaller bits, chunks, or crumbs, simply place them in a resealable freezer-safe plastic bag and lay flat when freezing to prevent excessive caking.

4. Wrap the portions in aluminum foil

Next, wrap the large pieces of seitan in aluminum foil. This will provide additional protection against foreign objects and odors.

You can also write the label information (see next steps) on the aluminum foil if you don’t have a container to store it in.

5. Place in the container

Place wrapped items (zip-top bags or foil-wrapped packages) in an airtight freezer-safe container.

The containers serve as protection against odors, other ingredients and against being crushed under other foods while they are soft. Choose containers that stack easily to save space in the freezer.

6. Label your products

We always include this step in our freezing process as it is crucial. The following information should always be written on your containers

• Content Name (Seitan Dough, Raw)
• Serving size or type of cuts (if applicable)
• Date of elaboration
• Freeze date (this will help you rotate stock)
• Expiration date (about 4-6 months after its preparation)

Labeling your products will help you easily identify them in the freezer and prevent you from accidentally defrosting the wrong product.

It will also help you to rotate stocks (or the FIFO method -first in, first out-), which consists of using the oldest products first and the newest ones last. The production and expiration date on the packaging contributes to this.

7. Place containers in the freezer in a designated area

Create sections in your freezer (doughs, vegetables, pasta, etc.) to easily find the product you are looking for. This will help you avoid having your freezer open for too long (while you search for the right product) and prevent products like seitan, which thaw quickly, from being compromised.

Frozen raw seitan dough will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer if stored correctly. However, check the seitan monthly to make sure it’s still good (no mold or drastic changes in color and texture).

Freeze Prepared Seitan Dishes - Step by Step

These dishes also freeze very well and will save you even more time. They must be consumed within a month of freezing as a safety measure, but they can be kept for up to 3 months.

1. Place the plate in a container

Place the prepared dish in a well-fitting container. The container must be both airtight and freezer-safe. Place a plastic sheet or saran wrap directly on the surface of the food, before placing the lid on top.

2. Wrap the container

Wrap the entire container with plastic wrap. This will prevent juices or sauces from leaking out if the container is dropped in the freezer.

This step is not required, but is recommended. 

3. Label the containers

• Name of the dish (if you want you can include a link to the recipe)
• Serving sizes (if applicable)
• freeze date
• Expiration date (1 to 3 months after its preparation)

4. Freeze the dish

Be sure to place the containers in an area with other prepared foods to make sure you can find it easily and also so you don’t forget about it.

Freeze seitan in broth step by step

This method works great if you plan to make stews or soups. The steps are the same as for ready meals.

Just add the cooled vegetable (or vegan) broth to the bowl with the raw seitan dough pieces. Wrap the container tightly with plastic or saran wrap and label it with the correct information.

Tip : Smaller chunks work better than large chunks.

Flavor and texture changes

As with anything that freezes, change is inevitable. Many people prefer to freeze their seitan to make it chewier, making it more meat-like, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The elasticity of the raw dough will change considerably after 3 months, however the flavor remains very consistent.

tips and tricks

• Seitan dough thaws quickly, so you can take it out of the freezer about 2-3 hours before you need it.
• If you are freezing prepared meals, you can also place the contents in a resealable freezer-safe bag. Freeze the bags on cookie sheets until completely frozen, then stack them in the designated area of your freezer.
• If you’re freezing store-bought seitan, sometimes the boxes only recommend freezing it for 2 weeks, however, lots of consumers say you can store it for 3-6 months and it’s still fine. Check your frozen seitan regularly and make up your own mind about it.
• You can also freeze the cooked seitan. Chill the cooked seitan pieces in the fridge, about 10-15 minutes depending on the size. Then follow the directions for wrapping the raw seitan pieces.

Food safety

Your freezer should never have fluctuating temperatures. Since seitan thaws very quickly, even small fluctuations can affect the batter and cause it to go bad much faster.

The doughs are very porous , so any odor in the freezer will be absorbed by the seitan. Make sure your freezer is clean and free of odors and that the seitan is stored in an airtight container for added protection.

Never wrap food directly in aluminum foil . Some sheets give off a gray color and a metallic taste to food if they come in direct contact with them.

Do not write the label information directly on the plastic or saran paper. The inks tend to seep through the plastic and will stain your food, making it unsafe to eat.

Related questions

We hope you have enjoyed this guide to freezing seitan. We’ve also included some common questions related to freezing and reheating this delicious meatless treat, so be sure to check them out.

How do you defrost seitan dough?

Place the dough on a plate in the fridge about 2-3 hours before you need it.

If you need to thaw it faster, place it in a bowl of cold water, but make sure you have a waterproof container.

How do you reheat seitan?

There are many ways to reheat seitan, but here’s a tip for cooking it. Whichever cooking method you choose, be sure to add moisture as well, as otherwise the seitan will dry out considerably.

Will the seitan be gummy after being frozen and cooked?

The rubbery, hard seitan is not due to the freezing method. The rubbery texture is due to the cooking methods used. Steaming the seitan dough will create a much softer and fluffier product than baking it.