Can the fish cake be frozen? - The Ultimate Guide

Fish pie, also called fisherman’s pie, is a traditional British dish usually made with smoked white fish, prawns, potatoes, cream sauce or cheese, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs.

It’s a delicious, hearty meal that you can prepare in individual or family servings, and it makes a great, filling dinner when served both fresh and leftovers.

So can fish cake be frozen?

The answer is: absolutely! You can freeze the fish cake both before and after it has been cooked, although each situation requires a different procedure. 

Read on to find out the best way to freeze, thaw, and reheat fish cake. We’ll also answer some common questions that arise when cooking and eating fish pie.

Fish Pie - What is it?

We’ve already briefly touched on what fish pie is, but let’s dig a little deeper into this beloved British food. Although it is popular throughout the UK, some believe it originated in Scotland.

Fish pie is not really a pie, but rather a type of casserole, very similar to shepherd’s pie, with the fish and filling being covered by potatoes rather than pastry dough or wrapping.

Fish cake always contains, you guessed it, fish. The fish is usually smoked white fish, such as haddock or cod, and prawns are often included as well.

Fish cake is also made with potatoes, onions, butter, milk, and flour. You can also carry cheese, corn and peas. Hard-boiled eggs are occasionally added, although these should be omitted if you plan to freeze the fish cake.

How to prepare the fish cake

To know the best way to freeze and reheat fish cake, it is convenient to know a little bit about how it is prepared.

All its separate parts are cooked (potatoes are boiled, sauce is prepared, fish, if raw, is stewed) before it is all combined in a large pan and baked in the oven. The dish is then assembled and baked. 

If you’re going to make your fish cake from scratch, we recommend checking out this article: The Best Cutting Boards for Fish.

We love this recipe from Donal Skehan on Jamie Oliver’s YouTube channel. You can check it below.

Freeze and reheat fish cake

Fish cake can be frozen before or after baking, although it is always assembled before freezing. The method of freezing and reheating will vary depending on whether or not the fish cake has been pre-cooked.

Read on to find out how to freeze and reheat fish cake, both pre-cooked and uncooked. 

How to Freeze Cooked Fish Cake

Maybe you made a fish pie and couldn’t finish it all. Fish pie lasts much longer in the freezer than it does in the fridge, so properly canning and freezing those leftovers will provide you with a delicious meal whenever you crave fish pie.

To freeze cooked fish cake , you must first allow it to cool completely, as it is never a good idea to freeze food while it is still warm.

Immediately after it has cooled , cover the plate you made the fishcake on with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or divide it into smaller plates for quick and easy serving.

You can also freeze it in airtight freezer-safe containers.

The already cooked fish cake will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Just a reminder: do not freeze hard-boiled eggs, if you choose to include them, as they will become rubbery after freezing.

It may also be best not to include the peas if you plan to freeze the fish cake, as refreezing food that has already been frozen is not ideal.

How to reheat cooked fish cake

When you’re ready to reheat the fish cake, you can do it in the oven or microwave. The best part is that you don’t even have to thaw frozen fish cake before reheating it.

To reheat frozen fishcake in the oven, remove plastic wrap and cover fishcake with aluminum foil, baking at 350 degrees F for 1 ½ hours. Remove the foil and raise the heat to 400 degrees F, cooking for another half hour or so, until the top is golden brown.

If you have time to thaw the frozen fish cake in the fridge before reheating it, this will certainly reduce the cooking time. To reheat a thawed, pre-cooked fish cake, bake it at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes, until heated through.

Lastly, if you’ve frozen your fish cake in small freezer- and microwave-safe containers, microwaving it makes for a quick and convenient meal.

To do this, it is recommended to first defrost the fish cake in the refrigerator. Your thawed, pre-cooked fish cake can be reheated in the microwave by cooking on high power for about 3 minutes.

How to freeze fish cake before cooking

If you are preparing a meal or have overcooked fish cake, you can freeze it before baking to save time and have a delicious fully prepared meal available in the freezer.

To freeze uncooked fish cake , cook each individual component (fish, potatoes, etc.) and assemble it, but instead of popping it in the oven, let it cool and cover it with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. You can freeze the uncooked fish cake for up to 3 months.

Again, you’ll want to skip the hard-boiled eggs and maybe even the peas if you plan to freeze the fish cake.

If you still want to include these components in your dish, consider making them on the side while the frozen fishcake is reheating and serving them on top or as a side dish.

How to cook frozen fish cake

To reheat a frozen, no-cook fish pie, you must do so in the oven.

Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil, cooking at 410 degrees F for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, until fish cake is heated through.

Since the fish cake wasn’t cooked the first time around, you’ll want to make sure it’s heated all the way through the center, and keeping it covered when reheating is a good way to ensure that.

Related questions

How long does fish cake last in the fridge?

You may not want to freeze the fish cake because you know you will eat it in a few days.

You’ll be happy to know that cooked fish cake can last up to three to four days in the fridge.

Just reheat it using the same method used to reheat pre-cooked fish cake that has been frozen and then thawed.

If you want to make the fish cake ahead of time to prepare for a party or even a weeknight dinner, you can cook each individual component and assemble it.

Just as you would when preparing a no-cook fish pie to freeze, cover and store in the fridge for up to 36 hours. When it’s time for dinner, bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Can you eat the fish cake cold?

If you’re in a hurry, or just like to eat your fish pie cold (without judging it), it’s possible to do so, but only if it’s already cooked fish pie.

However, it is only recommended that you do this a few days after you have prepared the fish cake, as eating a cold fish cake that has been frozen and thawed would be undesirable.

How long does it take for the fish cake to defrost?

If you prefer to thaw your fish cake rather than cook it straight from the frozen, you should allow about 16 hours, depending on the size of the fish cake.

If you’ve frozen the fish cake in small, individual plates, it will take less time to thaw.

The best way to thaw fish cake is to move it from the freezer to the fridge the night before you are going to cook it.

It will be safe in the fridge during this time, and this will ensure that the fish cake has fully thawed before reheating.

What is the best garnish for fish cake?

Fish cake is a hearty and creamy dish , so vegetables are an excellent option when choosing a side dish.

Avoid cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, which can be too heavy for this type of dish. Sautéed spinach, glazed carrots or shredded cabbage are great vegetables to accompany fish pie. 

Plus, you probably won’t need another starch at the table when serving fish pie, thanks to its thick layer of potatoes, so feel free to skip the bread and chips.

If you want to lighten up the meal, serve it with a refreshing salad, like a Gem Lettuce Salad or a Classic Garden Salad. Avoid creamy dressings, as the fish cake is already very tasty.

What is the best thing to drink with fish cake?

When it comes to the drinks for the fish cake, you will have to avoid excess gas , which will not go well with such a heavy dish.

If you’re a wine drinker, stick to white wine, which goes best with white fish. Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, or any smooth, dry white wine will work.

If you prefer beer, we recommend a lighter beer , such as a wheat beer or pale ale.