As Americans, we know how much we love Italian cuisine. Whether it is pizza, spaghetti, pasta, risotto, bruschetta you name it. We love it so much that we even make our own Italian inspired meals at home.
One of our favorite dishes to make is the traditional pasta topped with Alfredo sauce. Alfredo sauce is a rich, creamy white sauce that is the perfect companion to delicious pasta meals. Alfredo sauce is the most popular take on classic Italian white pasta sauce, and is one of the easiest and quickest to prepare, but has some of the best results!
Alfredo sauce is typically made with a lot of dairy products such as cream and cheese for a full bodied flavor, however, this does mean that it tends to have a shorter shelf life. This can be a real pain if you are anything like us, and always end up making too much for one meal.
Usually, when we overcook, or make more portions of food than needed, then we can freeze them for later use. This can help to save the original integrity and keep the food fresher for longer. So, this has us thinking, can you freeze alfredo sauce?
Can you freeze alfredo sauce?
With all of the creamy and cheesy ingredients, it may surprise you to find that you can freeze alfredo sauce for later use! Alfredo sauce actually keeps in the freezer for months, and you can take it out and thaw for whenever you need it.
Generally speaking, alfredo sauce can be kept in the freezer safely for up to three months. Any longer than that and you will start to lose the integrity and texture of your alfredo sauce.
How to freeze alfredo sauce
Normally, you can keep alfredo sauce, whether it is homemade or bought from a store for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Typically, you can eat refrigerated alfredo sauce for up to 4 or 5 days after you have opened the jar, or have made it yourself.
However, if you know straight away that you will not use your leftover sauce, then it is best to freeze it for later use, so that you do not risk it spoiling. We always say that generally you can freeze anything, however you will want to be more cautious when freezing certain food items as you will need to keep its consistency and freshness intact.
To freeze alfredo sauce, you will first need to make sure that it has cooled fully before you do anything. You will need several freezer safe bags in order to keep the sauce properly stored for longer.
To make filling the bags easier and mess free, we recommend that you place them over a bowl and curl the edges over the side. This way, it will stay open while you spoon or pour the sauce into the freezer bag without dripping it all over the sides.
You can either pour all of the alfredo sauce into the bag, as long as you leave a space in case the bag expands in the freezer, or you can separate servings into different bags. This way, you can just defrost one as and when you need some delicious alfredo sauce quickly!
Whenever you are freezing food, you should always label and date the freezer bags accordingly. This can help you keep track of your frozen food items, and ensure you are never ingesting anything that is way past its expiration date.
How to defrost alfredo sauce
When you are ready for some more delicious, mouthwateringly cheesy alfredo sauce back in your life, you are going to need to know how to defrost it properly. You should always ensure that you know how to thaw foods correctly to make sure that you are using proper food safety and hygiene measures in your cooking.
The best way to defrost alfredo sauce is by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. You will have to remove the alfredo sauce from the freezer, and place it in a container in the refrigerator either for several hours, or overnight before you want to cook it.
In order to reheat your alfredo sauce, you will need to pour it into a saucepan and stir it vigorously. As there are many creamy and dairy ingredients, your sauce may have separated in the process of freezing and defrosting. Therefore, it will need a good stir with a wooden spoon or even a whisk.
You will want to reheat your alfredo sauce in a saucepan on low heat for a few minutes, and stir throughout. This will make sure that there are no lumps or bumps in your sauce, and so it will be properly heated all of the way through.
If your alfredo sauce has become too thin, then do not worry too much. You can always add a little cornstarch dissolved in some water to thicken it up. Keep simmering the sauce and stirring until it thickens, and your alfredo sauce will be ready in a matter of minutes!
Factors to consider before freezing
If your alfredo sauce has any discoloration, strange scents or signs of spoilage, then it is best to throw it away immediately and do not consume it.
In addition, try not to leave your alfredo sauce out at room temperature for too long before freezing, as this can increase the growth of bacteria and your food may no longer be safe for consumption.
Pasta Alfredo
Eating pasta dishes is one of our favorite things to do. They are so easy and quick to make, just by boiling up some pasta, or your favorite linguine and adding a little homemade sauce to the top. With pre-made alfredo sauce from a few nights ago, you can cook up a hearty meal in just a few moments' notice.