One of my friends asked me whether it is safe to freeze cooed meatballs in sauce.
In this post, I will share my answer to this question.
So, can you freeze cooked meatballs in sauce? Yes, you can freeze cooked meatballs in the sauce without problems. It is a good idea because it saves money and time.
If you purchase frozen meatballs, defrost them to use with your favorite red sauce recipe.
You can also make the meatball recipe then freeze the baked or fried meatballs for later use.
How to freeze cooked meatballs in sauce?
Freezing cooked meatballs in the sauce is easy.
The first thing you need to do is to prepare the sauce and meatballs.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius).
Bake or fry your desired meatballs and seal them in freezer bags, jars, containers, etc. Then cover it with the sauce of your choice.
Simply freeze it until needed. You can use the frozen cooked meatballs in various recipes.
A well-known recipe is the spaghetti and meatball recipe which requires cooked meatballs that are thawed and then served with warm tomato sauce.
For convenient serving, allow the frozen food to defrost before proceeding with the cooking process.
This may take a few hours depending on how much food you have thawed but it is worth the wait.
For faster results, place your food in a water bath.
Another option you can use is to microwave it but ensure that you do not overheat or boil the food since this may cause problems with its quality and consistency.
How long can you freeze cooked meatballs?
If properly packaged, cooked meatballs will remain safe for consumption as follows:
Packaged with sauce – up to one year
Unfilled or filled without sauce – up to six months.
Can you freeze cooked meatballs in tomato sauce?
Yes, you can freeze cooked meatballs in tomato sauce.
They can be stirred later on when thawed or heated in the microwave.
Frozen homemade meatballs are easy to prepare with your favorite tomato sauce.
Package them according to their weight. For example, a pound of meatballs can be stored in a one-pint freezer bag, and so on.
When you need to use the frozen meatballs, first thaw them and then add them into a pan that has been preheated at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 Celsius).
You can also bake these in an oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius) but ensure that they do not become dry.
This recipe is good to serve with pasta or other suitable dishes.
Can you freeze partially cooked meatballs?
Yes, you can freeze partially cooked meatballs.
But first, make sure that you cook it until you can cut it with a fork.
Boil the meatballs while stirring occasionally and discard the water before sealing the frozen cooked meatballs in a freezer bag or container.
Freeze them for up to three months. They will be good enough to eat after being thawed and reheated as needed.
You can add it to your spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, or pizza recipe.
How long do meatballs in sauce last in the fridge?
Meatballs in sauce last in the fridge for seven or eight days.
They can be frozen for up to six months.
The meatballs that you prepare can stay in the fridge for three days if they are not consumed right after preparation.
Freezer storage is the best option when you need to keep these for longer and do not have the time.
Can you cook frozen raw meatballs in sauce?
Yes, you can cook frozen raw meatballs in sauce.
You have to prepare a pot of sauce and drop the frozen meatballs into the pot.
Cook it until all of the meatballs have thawed from the center.
Make sure that when they are cooked, their centers are at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 Celsius) so you can be assured that they are safe for consumption.
These meatballs can then be served with pasta or any other favorite dishes.
Can you freeze cooked spaghetti and meatballs separately?
You can freeze cooked spaghetti and meatballs separately but they will be mixed up when defrosted.
So if you want to save time with your recipe, then the best option is to mix them during cooking so that they are defrosted at once together in a bowl or container.
This way, you do not need to wait for each ingredient to thaw.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, you can safely freeze meatballs in the sauce as long as you are aware of the storage times and requirements.
You can add frozen raw meatballs to your family’s favorite pasta dishes or serve them during parties.
Follow these tips and it will surely be a stress-free experience!
A simple way for freezing cooked meatballs in the sauce is first to cook the meatballs, defrost them before mixing them with the sauce, and then seal and store this mix in a freezer bag.
Happy freezing your cooked meatballs!
