In all honesty, noodles aren’t something that I think about freezing all too often. But this is probably only because I eat them so frequently that it would never ever be an issue of them going bad. I don’t think I’m alone on this. Noodles of any kind are extremely versatile and super tasty. They’re also super simple and quick to use!
I can’t even begin to count how many times egg noodles have made my life easier. You can make so many different quick and easy meals – particularly dinner – with egg noodles.
However, unlike other kinds of noodles, like pasta, that don’t really have an expiration date, egg noodles don’t last quite as long. So to extend their shelf life, can you freeze egg noodles? Yes, you can!
Read on to learn everything you need to know about freezing egg noodles.
Do Egg Noodles Freeze Well?
Yes, egg noodles freeze very well! They freeze best when they aren’t cooked but it’s still totally possible to freeze cooked egg noodles as well.
However, before you freeze your egg noodles they are some things that you may want to consider. While egg noodles don’t last forever, they still have quite a long shelf-life, particularly dried egg noodles.
Though you should check the packaging for a rough estimate, uncooked noodles can even be fine to eat up to 1-2 years after their sell-by date.
Of course, this is only if they are stored in proper conditions. This means that they need to be kept in a dark, dry, and cool place like your pantry as moisture and heat can cause them to go bad.
Can You Freeze Cooked Egg Noodles?
Yes, you can definitely freeze cooked egg noodles too! However, as I previously mentioned they don’t freeze as well as raw, fresh, or dried egg noodles. You may find that they break in the freezing and thawing process.
Expect frozen cooked noodles to not be more broken up and in shorter pieces after you’ve defrosted them.
Another drawback when it comes to freezing cooked egg noodles is that since there isn’t any juice, liquid, or other components they are frozen with, they tend to get sticky. They can also turn mushy and not hold their form either.
So, if they are cooked, it’s best that they are either frozen as part of a dish, or frozen raw. This is for the best results. You can still freeze cooked noodles by themselves but it’s more likely to be successful raw or as a part of a dish.
How to Freeze Raw Egg Noodles
You can freeze raw egg noodles a few different ways depending on a few different factors like if they are store-bought and/or pre-dried. Let’s get into each specific factor and how you should deal with each of them.
Homemade
If you made fresh egg noodles at home then you shouldn’t just put them directly into the freezer straight after you’ve finished making them. They need a bit of time to sit. Here’s the best way to freeze homemade egg noodles:
- First, air-dry your noodles by letting them air-dry on a drying rack until they’re completely dry. How can you tell if they’re completely dry? You’ll be able to snap one in half. Ensuring they’re dry is important to get the best results when storing them.
- Place the egg noodles into an airtight freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Label the bag and place it in the freezer. Make sure to put them in an area they won’t get smashed and then shatter. They are fragile after all.
- You can store your homemade egg noodles for up to 12 months.
Tips for Drying Homemade Egg Noodles
While the drying process is pretty straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The more air contact the noodles have, the quicker they’ll dry. So it can take longer (between 24 and 48 hours) if they are left on a baking sheet.
You can put them on a cooling rack or even a special noodle drying rack to make the process go faster. If you’re concerned about leaving your egg noodles out to dry then you can use a dehydrator to dry them as well.
Also, there are some other things that can determine how long it takes for the noodles to dry. These are things like the temperature, humidity, and how thick you cut the noodles. The ingredients used can play a role too. If you added other ingredients like spinach, that can also extend the drying time.
Store Bought (Fresh)
While it’s hard to beat homemade egg noodles, sometimes the store-bought variety can be just as good or even better.
They can be particularly good for more difficult types of egg noodles to make, like spinach noodles. They’re also great if you don’t have the time to make your own noodles.
The good news is that freezing store bought fresh noodles is very simple! You pretty much just follow the steps as if they are homemade (minus the making them at home part, of course)
- Remove the noodles from the package.
- Air-dry the noodles on a drying rack.
- Place the egg noodles into an airtight container.
- Label and put in a safe place in the freezer.
- Like homemade noodles, you can store them for up to 12 months.
The reason you dry them is the same reason why you want to avoid freezing cooked egg noodles by themselves. It’s the moisture and the negative impact it can have.
Whilst it’s possible to freeze fresh storebought noodles in their original packaging, they may stick together or become mushy when you defrost them. It’s much better to properly separate and dry them first!
Store Bought (Dry)
While dry storebought egg noodles may not be the tastiest of the bunch, their usefulness makes up for it.
Whilst unopened, they can last in your pantry for years, you may still want to be safe and store them in the freezer. This is particularly true if you happen to live in a place that is very warm and/or humid.
The easiest way to freeze dry egg noodles is to freeze them directly in their unopened packaging.
However, what’s more likely is that you’ve already opened the packaging. If that’s the case all you need to do is put the egg noodles into an airtight and freezer-safe bag or container, label it and put it in the freezer. Super easy, right?
How to Freeze Cooked Egg Noodles
As I have already mentioned, if possible try to avoid freezing cooked egg noodles by themselves.
If you freeze them in a dish like beef stroganoff or something like that, then the overall taste and texture will likely still be good. Otherwise, the mushy texture may be off-putting. That’s not to say that it’s impossible though. Here is how you should freeze cooked egg noodles:
- If the cooked egg noodles are already part of a complete dish, simply freeze the dish as you normally would. If they are by themselves, continue on to the next steps.
- Place the noodles into a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and label it.
- Place the noodles in the freezer.
- They can be stored for up to 6 months.
Note that the lifespan of cooked egg noodles is also half that of dried egg noodles, so make sure to keep that in mind as well.
How to Defrost Egg Noodles
It’s best to avoid defrosting egg noodles in the microwave. Depending on how much time you have you should put them in the fridge and allow them to defrost there. Usually this will mean planning ahead and defrosting them overnight.
If you’re short on time and craving noodles now, you can leave them on the countertop and allow them to thaw there. Usually, about 20 to 30 minutes on the counter does the trick. Or, depending on what you’ll be using the egg noodles for, you can put them directly into boiling water to cook.
If you follow this last method, however, make sure to only put in as much as you would use. Keep in mind that the cook time will be slightly longer than if they are thawed.
How to Use Thawed Egg Noodles
The reason freezing egg noodles is so great is that you can use them exactly the same way that you would before you froze them.
This means that egg noodles are not only versatile in how you can use them but also when you can use them. A couple of my favorite ways to use thawed egg noodles are beef stroganoff and tuna casserole. Some other great ways to make a meal out of thawed egg noodles include (but are not limited to):
- Chicken noodle soup
- Swedish meatballs alfredo
- Skillet lasagna
- Stroganoff (chicken, beef, etc.)
- Creamy skillet noodles with peas
- Taco noodle casserole
- Beef noodle soup
- Fiesta beef & noodle skillet
As you can see there are some super tasty things you can make with thawed egg noodles. Bon appetit!