Since we are already way deep into minimalizing food waste to the greatest extent, I bet some of you are probably wondering whether or not freezing fat can be done, especially duck fat.
To that, I would say yes. You can, in fact, freeze duck fat as a way of storage instead of throwing it away.
Besides the fact that you can buy canned duck fat, it can also be produced from roasting a whole duck, duck legs, or duck breasts!
And since I know not that many people know how exactly to use duck fat, I am going to give you a little idea about the different meals that could go very well with duck fat:
How to use duck fat?
Searing meat: yup. Searing your meat in duck fat instead of regular butter or vegetable oil takes a simple steak to a whole new level. I mean, the mix of delicious flavors is incomparable!
Popcorn: You should definitely try popping your popcorn with duck fat, if you haven’t already. No need to add any flavor to the popcorn as it will already be flavored enough!
Duck fat roast potatoes: Roasted potatoes are almost always a constant in every Christmas meal. And my secret ingredient is duck fat. Which gives it an extra crispy edge and a whole new delicious flavor!
That’s why I like to freeze my duck fat. It allows me to have it ready whenever I fancy any of the delicious dishes I mentioned above, and many more!
Not to mention the fact that I can even freeze duck fat roasted potatoes ready to use in Christmas dinner!
How to freeze duck fat?
The only rule that you need to keep in mind before freezing duck fat is the amount you want to freeze. That depends on the purpose of using the duck fat later on. Meaning, if you don’t have a certain purpose for the frozen duck fat, then I suggest you freeze it in a silicon ice cube tray and then move the cubes to a freezer bag.
This will allow you to defrost only the number of cubes you need without taking the whole frozen amount out of the freezer, just to use a tiny portion of it!
- Once you have your duck fat, wait for it to cool down to room temperature before pouring it in a container and freezing it.
- When it is cool enough, either pour the duck fat into a silicone ice cube tray and allow it to solidify in the freezer for 1-2 hours, or pour it in a freezer-friendly container to store it as a whole.
- In case of using a silicone ice cube tray, then after leaving it for an hour or so for it to solidify. Unmold the duck fat cubes and place them in a freezer bag.
- Label the freezer bag or the container with the date of freezing and its contents so that you can distinguish it from the other food stored in the freezer.
How to defrost duck fat?
Just move the container with the frozen duck fat from the freezer to the fridge and allow it to slowly thaw overnight.
But you don’t always need to defrost duck fat first before cooking with it. For example, if you are going to use it to sear meat or vegetables, then add the frozen duck fat cubes immediately from the freezer to the pan without defrosting them!
Try to prevent any contact of the duck fat with water, including the water on the meat and vegetables you are going to cook it with. Try to dry them using a kitchen towel prior to adding the duck fat to the pan.
How long will duck fat keep in the freezer?
It can withstand freezing for up to 4 months, keeping its excellent quality. And even stay for longer in the freezer and be safe and ready to eat, but with a slightly diminished flavor.
You have another option for storage. If you are going to use it within a week, then you can just leave it in the fridge, no need to freeze it.
Related articles:
Can You Freeze A Roast Dinner?
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