Can the filling be frozen? - The best way

Do you smell that delicious aroma? It’s almost time for dinner. The family is reunited and the turkey is carved. Your mom is putting the finishing touches on her homemade stuffing, and you’re ready to sink your teeth into filling those plates.

The stuffing is a great accompaniment to food at any time of the year. It doesn’t have to be used just for those special holiday meals. You can make your own homemade filling or buy those easy box mixes that are also very tasty.

Regardless of which way you make the filling, there is bound to be some leftover. The stuffing is incredibly filling and there always seems to be plenty left over at the end of the meal. It’s almost like it multiplies as you eat it!

Can you freeze the stuffing to save those leftovers for later?

The filling freezes quite well for up to 6 months and is also easy to reheat. I recommend freezing it in portions, because once the bread is thawed, you will not be able to freeze it again.

The process for freezing the filling is actually quite simple and we will go into more detail about it later in this guide.

In this guide, we will explain all the details to freeze the filling. We’ll cover some basic information about how stuffing is made and other uses for stuffing if you need ideas for making use of leftovers.

Read on to learn how to freeze the stuffing and much more.

Your guide to freezing stuffing and much more

The stuffing is perhaps best known for being a side dish for turkey or ham. It is often served at meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Actually, the filling can be served at any time, there is no need to limit it to special occasions. Of course, you can limit it to those special occasions if you prefer.

The filling is usually made with bread, onions, celery, butter, and fresh herbs or seasonings. You may also hear it called a dressing. They are both the same type of dish with the same types of ingredients.

There are lots of different ways to make the filling. Some people add their own flair, while others follow the strict traditional way of making the filling.

Also, there are different ways to add to the stuffing and some people make it wet while others make it slightly dry.

You might even know someone who uses leftover bread cubes or croutons to make their filling. It is very versatile and there are many different ways to enjoy or prepare it. This is all before we start talking about supermarket boxed filler mixes.

How the filling is made

We have already talked about how there are hundreds of ways to make the filling. But we also think it’s pertinent to talk about how the stuffing is made so that you understand what we’re working with as we move forward with freezing your stuffing.

Here we will share the instructions for a classic stuffing recipe.

Don’t worry, if your filling isn’t made exactly like this, the freezing instructions should still support it. The concept remains the same through various recipes and the ingredients are also similar in all cases.

This recipe is mainly shared as a benchmark of what’s in the stuffing so you know how freezing can affect those ingredients. 

1. Choose your bread, we recommend French or sourdough bread, but you can use whatever you want. Cut the bread into 2.5 cm cubes.
2. Dry the bread. You can dry it by putting it on the counter and letting it air dry for 1-2 days or you can dry it in the oven. It depends on you and your planning ability.
3. Fresh herbs are best, but feel free to use dried herbs if you need to. You can also buy poultry seasoning for a premium blend of spices.
4. In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and seasonings (not the fresh herbs) to the skillet and cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, just until tender.
5. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and add the onion mixture. Next, add fresh seasonings, such as parsley or fresh herbs of your choice.
6. Pour the broth over the top until the bread is slightly moist and mix gently. You don’t want the mixture to be soggy, so add the broth carefully.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Place it in a baking dish. If you prefer, you can add sticks of butter on top to make it more moist.
9. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes, covered. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy.

Making the filling is really very simple and quite affordable. It does not require any fancy ingredients or complicated steps. The ingredients and process are quite simple, and the result is a delicious side dish that many people consider one of their favorites.

Filler Uses

If you have the post-holiday blues and want to use up that leftover stuffing but are tired of plain stuffing, there are options for you.

Here are some ideas for putting that leftover stuffing to use. 

• Make a Layered Leftover Casserole
• Use it in stuffed peppers
• Leftover stuffed sandwich
• Make waffles (it’s good!)
• Use the filling to make meatballs
• Thanksgiving Leftover Ring (as a taco ring)
• hash for breakfast
• Cheesy Breakfast Pastries
• Chicken casserole, stuffing and rice
• Filling muffins

These are just a few fun ideas for using leftover stuffing. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own creations to this list of great ways to use leftover stuffing.

Freeze leftover stuffing

The filling stores and reheats quite well. You can usually store the filling in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s easy to reheat in the oven or microwave. If you need a quick reheat, the microwave works fine, but the best way to reheat the filling is in the oven.

The filling also freezes very well and will last in the freezer for several months. You can even save your leftover stuffing to last until the next special dinner you want to use it for.

Here are the recommended steps for freezing the stuffing. 

1. We recommend freezing in portions of what you think you will use. Don’t try to refreeze the stuffing if you have leftovers again.
2. Place the filling in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. If you are using a container, cover it with a layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap before putting the lid on.
3. Label, date and seal all containers.
4. Store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Reheat the stuffing after freezing it

You can reheat the filling in the microwave or in the oven. If it is a single serving, the microwave works well, but if it is a larger quantity, we recommend using the oven. The best reheating results are obtained in the oven.

You don’t need to thaw the filling when reheating it, but you can thaw it in the fridge overnight. 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Place the filling in an ovenproof dish and cover it with aluminum foil.
3. If you’re worried about the filling being dry, drizzle a little broth over the top before baking.
4. Bake for 15 minutes.
5. Remove foil and bake 5 more minutes or until hot.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to freezing the stuffing useful and informative. Freezing and reheating the filling is really a breeze and we’re sure your taste buds will thank you when you come back for those delicious flavors later on.

Below we have collected some common questions and answers related to padding. We invite you to take a look to see if there is any additional information that you may find useful.

Can you add egg to the filling?

Some recipes call for the use of eggs as a binder in a stuffing recipe. The traditional filling does not require eggs, so it is a mere matter of preference.

You will need to make sure to refrigerate the filling in time if you decide to use eggs in your recipe.

How to prevent the filling from being soggy?

The key is in the broth. When you add broth, do it slowly. The key is to get the filling slightly wet, but not too much, as this is what makes the filling soggy.

What can you do if the filling is too dry?

Dried stuffing can be saved. You can just add a little more broth and cook it lightly into the filling or you can melt butter and combine it with the broth and drizzle some into the filling.

Let it permeate before serving it. It also doesn’t hurt to bake it for a few minutes.

Can you eat the stuffing cold?

There is nothing wrong with eating the stuffing cold. As long as it has been properly preserved, you can enjoy it absolutely cold if that’s what you prefer.