How to Freeze Cottage Pie?

Cottage pie is an excellent make-ahead supper that can be frozen or stored later in the week or month. Cottage pie freezes well and takes very little preparation. Before freezing, you must bake a cottage pie or prepare the components. After assembling the cottage pie, let it aside to cool to room temperature. From there, divide into servings or freeze whole in a glass dish, container, or foil tray. To make a genuinely delicious frozen (and hence defrosted) cottage pie, you’ll need specific essential tools and equipment.

Tools & Equipment For Freezing Food

These are my tried-and-true food freezing gear and equipment. Whether it’s fresh fruits or fully cooked meals, these gadgets will make the procedure easier while also ensuring that the food lasts longer and tastes better!

Containers:  We prefer glass containers since they are better for the environment, far higher quality, and do not stain like plastic, but they are more expensive. In the meantime, if you’re low on cash, invest in high-quality plastic containers. Just make sure to get your containers in a variety of sizes because you’ll be freezing and storing a variety of items.

Ziplock Bags:  Invest in high-quality freezer bags to keep air out, frost out, and keep your food fresher for longer. The majority of high-quality ziplock bags have a little spot on the bag for you to put information about the food (such as what it is, when it was frozen, and defrosting instructions).

Ice Cube Trays:  Ice cube trays may be used to freeze anything other than water. Instead, we use them to freeze little bits of food like egg whites, tomato sauce, pesto, and so on. Place the food on the tray, freeze it, and transfer it to a ziplock bag. Once frozen, take one or two parts of the meal out and thaw as needed.

Foil Baking Containers: We utilize foil baking containers for cooking frozen meals. They are inexpensive, long-lasting, and come in several sizes, allowing you to portion out or put everything in one huge container to cook later. As if that weren’t enough, most meals can be prepared using the foil container in the oven. This saves time, work, and cleaning — a win-win situation!

Cottage Pie Freezing Instructions

The components must be prepared before the pie is formed to make a cottage pie. You can’t and don’t want to modify this step. Potatoes must be boiled before freezing to ensure optimal freezing and optimum flavor when reheated. Prepare it as you would typically and set it aside to freeze cottage pie properly. Allow the cottage pie to cool completely at room temperature. If you intend to keep the dish intact and reheat it as a whole serving, leave it as is. If you intend to divide the pieces for individual servings, chop them up and set them in individual containers to cool and freeze. Cottage pie is more challenging to keep in anything other than a container since it is considerably softer and lacks structure.

Place an airtight cover on the container once completely cooled before storing it in the freezer. If the container lacks a lid, wrap it with cling film or plastic wrap to create an airtight cover. Then, to make a second shield, lay foil over the top. Place flat in the freezer to keep the layers from shifting.

How To Defrost Cottage Pie

The best approach to thaw a cottage pie is to remove it from the freezer the night before you intend to consume it. Put it in the refrigerator overnight to allow it to defrost naturally. For the finest flavor and texture, thaw a cottage pie in this manner. Put in the oven for 30 minutes once wholly defrosted. If your recipe has different cooking directions, stick to them. Place a single serving in the fridge overnight to thaw. Once defrosted, place in an ovenproof or microwave-safe container and bake for 20 minutes or 3–5 minutes in the microwave.