Bread pudding is a great recipe to use when you need to use up a loaf of stale bread. It’s a simple and delicious dish that everyone will love. However it is filling so often after one slice of bread pudding you often simply can’t eat anymore!
So you might be wondering, what should you do with your leftovers? Can you freeze bread pudding? The good news is that yes, you can absolutely freeze leftover bread pudding!
Although the recipe includes ingredients such as eggs, milk, butter and soggy bread, bread pudding freezes well if done correctly. The best way to freeze your leftover pudding will depend on whether it is homemade or store bought. Whether it is cooked or uncooked will also make a difference.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about freezing and defrosting your bread butter pudding. I’ll also share some creative ways you can use your bread pudding leftovers and how long they’ll last in the refrigerator and freezer.
Does Bread Pudding Freeze Well?
A typical bread pudding usually contains eggs, milk, cream, some spices, and of course bread. The combination of ingredients is rather delicate, and you might twice before freezing. For the best quality, you should ideally eat it as soon as you can.
However, bread pudding surprisingly freezes well if done correctly! You can freeze bread pudding uncooked or cooked. I personally would recommend the latter for best results.
Can You Freeze Homemade Bread Pudding After Baking?
A good bread pudding recipe is a great use for stale bread. However, depending on how much you have, you might be left with a huge batch of bread pudding that you simply can’t finish in one go. So, what can you do? Well, after baking, you can indeed freeze your homemade bread pudding to store it and make it last a little longer.
I recommend leaving your bread pudding to cool before freezing. Once cool, you can pop it into the freezer. More instructions and tips for freezing and defrosting your bread pudding will be shared with you below.
Can You Freeze Store-bought Bread Pudding?
What about store-bought bread pudding? The easiest way to store it would be to ask your guests to bring some home or eat all of it on the same day. However, if you do have some leftovers, you can still freeze store-bought bread pudding.
Store-bought bread pudding often comes with a caramel sauce. So, before freezing store-bought bread pudding, the important question is, has the sauce drizzled over your bread pudding?
If the caramel sauce has been drizzled over, it may not be the best idea to freeze it. This is because the sauce will already have been absorbed into the pudding. As a result, you may end up with a soft and soggy mess when freezing and defrosting.
So, if possible, it’s best to avoid pouring caramel sauce all over your pudding if you intend to freeze it. Instead, pour it onto a smaller area or directly on to the slices you’ll be eating.
How to Freeze Bread Pudding
So, it’s clear that you can indeed freeze bread pudding, and it freezes rather well. Now, let me share with you how to freeze it for the best results.
As mentioned before, you can freeze your bread pudding loaf uncooked or cooked. However, many suggest freezing your bread pudding cooked. This is because when uncooked, the ingredients may separate, and the texture and consistency may change when frozen.
Nonetheless, I’ll share both ways you can freeze it, and you can decide what’s best for your situation.
Freezing Cooked Bread Pudding
First, let your bread pudding cool. If your bread pudding loaf is fresh out of the oven, let it cool to room temperature before going further in the freezing process.
Placing hot or warm items into the freezer is a big no. This is because the heat may change your freezer’s temperature and the surrounding food, causing it to defrost and refreeze again. This may damage its texture and consistency.
Place your bread pudding into a freezer-safe container. Next, store your bread pudding in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. At this point, you may decide to cut it into slices to make defrosting slightly easier.
Wrap the container in plastic wrap. Tightly wrap your pudding in plastic wrap. This will prevent any freezer burn as well as help to stop the texture from changing.
Seal the container tightly and label. Once done, cover and seal your container or resealable bag tightly and label it with the contents and date of freezing for future references.
Store and enjoy later! Store your bread pudding upright in the freezer. When frozen, it should last up to 3 months at optimal quality.
Freeze sauce (optional). If your bread pudding comes with sauce, you can also freeze it. Just store it in a freezer-safe airtight container. Wrap it with some plastic wrap, cover, and tightly seal. Don’t forget to label it with the contents and date of freezing.
Freezing Uncooked Bread Pudding
Even though freezing uncooked bread pudding is generally not advised, if this is the best for you, you can still freeze it. Just follow the instructions above.
Tips for Freezing Bread Pudding:
- Freeze them in individual pieces. Maybe you just want to defrost one slice of frozen bread pudding and not the whole batch? No problem. Separating and freezing them in individual portions is the way to go. Just cut your pieces, wrap them in plastic wrap, store and freeze them in an airtight container and you’re good to go!
- Use Aluminum foil. If you don’t have plastic wrap on hand, you can also use aluminum foil to wrap your pieces and prevent freezer burn.
- Separate the sauce and bread pudding. To avoid a soggy bread pudding, freeze your sauce and bread pudding separately! You can defrost it when you’re ready to use it.
How to Defrost Frozen Bread Pudding
Whilst proper freezing is crucial to achieving the perfect bread pudding, defrosting is equally essential. Don’t fret, though. Defrosting is relatively simple to do when you follow these instructions.
Here’s how to defrost frozen bread pudding:
The safest way to defrost the frozen pudding is to remove it from the freezer the night before and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Once defrosted, you can heat your bread pudding up in the oven or microwave. When reheating, do it in 10-second intervals and keep an eye on the texture of the bread. If heated for too long, it may become hard and inedible.
If you’re reheating it in the oven, preheat your oven to 350 °Fahrenheit. Place your portion of bread pudding on a baking tray and bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until thoroughly warmed.
Alternatively, you can also bake or reheat frozen pudding straight out of the freezer when it is frozen. The results will be just as nice. Just reheat it in a 10 second intervals until it is warm.
Similar to the sauce, you may remove it from the freezer the night before or reheat it when frozen. When reheating, be sure to stir it and mix well to reincorporate the ingredients.
Tips for Defrosting Bread Pudding:
- Use an oven instead of a microwave. To get a crisp yet soft finish to your bread pudding, reheat it in an oven. In the microwave, you may get a soggy and soft bread pudding.
- Consume within 24 hours. It goes without saying that once the food is defrosted, you should consume it as soon as possible. That goes for bread pudding as well. Consume your bread pudding as soon as you’ve defrosted it to get the best results.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Bread Pudding
One of the many things I love about bread pudding is that it makes an excellent base for any type of dish. It can also be cooked and used in so many different ways. So if you’re sick of eating bread pudding the way it is, here are some creative ways you can try using your leftovers.
French Toast
The first way to use your bread pudding is to make french toast. As the bread is already dipped in milk and eggs, it’s a great start to make french toast. Just heat up a saucepan with some butter and fry your pieces of bread pudding to make french toast. Serve with some whipped cream or heavy cream for a delicious breakfast treat!
Grill
Similar to french toast, if you have a grill or a griddle pan, bread pudding would tastes great when it’s a little charred and crispy. Just place it under the grill, keep an eye on it and remove when it looks done.
With Ice Cream
To top it off, once you’ve reheated your bread pudding either by the oven or the grill, you can add a scoop of ice cream. Warm bread pudding and a cool scoop of ice cream go really well together.
How Long Does Bread Pudding Last in the Refrigerator?
As bread pudding contains dairy, it will not last as long as you would like. In the refrigerator, if stored properly, bread pudding can last for up to 5 days at its optimal quality. It may still be safe to consume afterward. However, the bread may begin to dry up and go hard over time as it sets in the refrigerator.
In the freezer, bread pudding can last up to 3 months if stored properly. However, my advice is to consume your leftover bread pudding as soon as possible to truly enjoy it!
