Can you Freeze Croissants? Ultimate Guide

I know how amazingly tempting it is to have croissants ready in your freezer to take out whenever you crave some for breakfast, especially when you have spent 4 months in France, only living on the heavenly, buttery and delicious French pastries.

So, imagine how hard it was for me to change this short-lived lifestyle once I came back home.

I had to come up with a way to keep croissants for the longest time ever. To answer your question of “Can you freeze croissants?”. Yes, you can freeze croissants and easily do so as well.

In this article, I am going to walk you through the step-by-step guide to successfully freeze your croissant dough, as well as, your baked croissants.

How to freeze croissants?

Freezing your fully baked croissants:

This guide is actually pretty easy and straightforward. At least easier than baking your croissants from scratch.

You will need to carefully follow these steps to ensure perfectly frozen croissants that can last for the entire duration of freezing without losing their amazing flavors.

1. You have to first allow your baked croissants to fully cool to at least room temperature before you attempt to freeze them.
2. Start by spreading your cooled baked croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving enough room between them. you can also use a regular cooling rack.
3. Cover the baking tray with, cling film, plastic wrap or aluminum foil to minimize air entry as much as possible and avoid freezer burn. Allow them to flash freeze by placing the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours till the croissants harden a bit.
4. Once they cool down in the freezer. Remove them from the baking tray and place them into a freezer plastic bag or just a regular ziploc bag. Release as much of the air as possible before you tightly seal the bag. You can also vacuum seal the freezer bag or even use a plastic airtight container. Just make sure to label the container or the top of the freezer bag containing the croissants with the use-by date and its contents so that you can later distinguish its contents from all the other food inside the freezer.
5. Place your croissants inside the freezer to freeze.

Freezing raw croissants:

1. After kneading your freshly made croissant dough, shape it into crescent shaped rolls as you normally would.
2. Place your croissant-shaped dough on a baking tray. Move the baking tray to your freezer and allow them to flash freeze for a couple of hours.
3. Once they freeze, move them into a freezer-safe bag and keep it inside the freezer.

Generally speaking, croissants do have a low moisture content, which means most of their flavor and texture will be retained. However, expect them to be mildly softer once they defrost, but have an exceptional taste nevertheless.

How long do frozen croissants last in the freezer?

Assuming all the previously mentioned steps were exactly followed with no deviation, then expect your frozen croissants to last in your freezer for up to a year. However, keep in mind that they will in fact start losing their taste and texture gradually once they hit the 2-month mark in the freezer.

But of course, the sooner you attempt to freeze them, the better they are going to keep their amazing taste.

If you don’t need to keep your croissants for a long period of time, then you can place them in the fridge which will make them last for a week maximum.

Tips for successful freezing of your croissants:

Now that we have tackled how to freeze freshly baked croissant and croissant dough, it is time to share some ticks and tricks to perfect this task.

• It is better to freeze your croissants inside a freezer-friendly plastic container to avoid crushing your croissants with any of the surrounding frozen items.
• The sooner you freeze your fresh croissants after they cool down, the tastier and fresher they will be when you defrost them. That doesn’t mean you can’t freeze slightly stale croissants.
• Never attempt to refreeze previously frozen croissants. However, you can place your previously frozen croissants in the fridge for a day or two.
• Flash freezing allows each croissant to be frozen separately if you want to. Which is better when you defrost them, so that you can defrost just the quantity you need instead of the whole batch.
• If the edges of the croissants are slightly softer once they are defrosted, placing them in the oven for a few minutes will guarantee crispier edges.
• Make sure your croissants don’t have any moldy appearance, or any change in color or smell before freezing them. I am sure you have an idea about how easily they can grow bad.

How to defrost frozen croissants?

The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to defrosting frozen croissants, whether it is frozen dough or baked croissants, is to never rush their thawing process.

Meaning you should allow them to slowly thaw overnight, preferably on the top shelf in the fridge. This will guarantee a delicious experience just like the freshly-made ones.

If you are in a time crunch and forgot to leave your frozen croissants in the fridge to defrost, you can rush their thawing by leaving them on the countertop. This could only be done if you froze freshly made croissants.

Placing them in the microwave isn’t really recommended as they will result in soft and mushy croissants instead of crusty from the outside, soft on the inside buttery croissants.

Overall, do croissants freeze well?

Technically speaking, nothing can ever beat freshly made, buttery and soft croissants. It simply melts in your mouth. So normally the fresh ones win. However, if you want to have Croissants ready to eat whenever you desire, then freezing them is generally a good option.

Can you refreeze croissants?

Although safe to refreeze croissants, it is highly not recommended to refreeze leftover croissants, as it will ensure a not so enjoyable experience when eating them.

Frequently asked questions?

Now that we have tackled how to successfully and efficiently freeze croissants. I am going to share with you all the questions I came across regarding this interesting topic.

Can You Freeze Croissants from the bakery?

Yes. You can absolutely do so. Just like you would do when freezing homemade croissants. Keep in mind that there is a really small chance that they will keep their fresh, crispy, and buttery taste. But, they will be delicious nevertheless.

What Is the Best Way to Freeze Croissants?

You may have noticed that there is more than one way for freezing croissants. Baked, unbaked, or croissant dough. I find freezing unbaked croissants is a great way to freeze them and often gives the best results. That way, you get to just defrost them, spread some egg wash on their surface, and freshly bake them.

Can You Freeze Costco Croissants?

Theoretically speaking, you can freeze Costco croissants, but just like readymade ones, don’t expect their flaky texture to stay the same after defrosting.

What to do with frozen croissants?

Well, other than reheat and enjoy them?

You can also add jam, butter, maple syrup, cream and fruit to your croissants and enjoy them in the morning. Other options for your croissants include:

• Bread pudding
• Making a sandwich
• Bread casserole
• Croque madame

 

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