While everyone knows you can freeze raw mince, you might be wondering if it’s possible to freeze cooked mince? So let’s find out whether it’s worth cooking mince before freezing it or not.
Can You Freeze Cooked Mince?
Yes, you can freeze cooked mince for up to 4 months. Once it has cooled, portion it out into good-quality freezer bags, seal them up and then pop them into the freezer.
Does Cooked Mince Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Cooked Mince? Yes
How to Freeze Cooked Mince
Freezing cooked mince isn’t rocket science, but you will need to make sure you get the process right to avoid your mince going bad. Below are the simple instructions you need to follow to freeze your cooked mince.
- Allow it to Cool: You must wait for your cooked mince to cool to room temperature before you think about freezing it. Take it off the stove and remove it from the pan where you browned it, as it will cool down more quickly. A regular soup bowl will work perfectly fine. Then cover it with a plate and cool for a few hours.
- Separate Into Portions: This step is optional. If you don’t think you will use all of the mince at once when you’ve defrosted it, we would advise separating it into portion sizes before you freeze it. After all, it’s easy enough to defrost more than one portion if you decide you need more than one serving.
- Place in Freezer-Safe Bags: Place your portioned cooked mince into individual freezer-safe bags. Push out as much air as possible from the bag before freezing to protect your mince from freezer burn. Also, don’t fill the bags to the very top – leave at least an inch or two at the top of the bag.
- Label and Freeze: Write the date that you cooked the mince on the freezer-safe bag, as well as the use-by date. Remember, you can freeze cooked mince for up to four months in the freezer.
How to Freeze Cooked Mince in a Sauce
If you want to add a Bolognese sauce to your cooked mince before freezing it, it’s more than safe to do so. It’s also fine to add onions and mushrooms to your mince, if you’re preparing a particular dish.
We would advise you not to add herbs at this stage, though, as some herbs don’t freeze overly well, particularly when they’re part of a pre-prepared dish.
3 Tips for Freezing Cooked Mince
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cooked mince to have the best results:
Freeze Cooked and Raw Apart
You should never freeze cooked mince alongside raw mince. If, for instance, you decide to cook half a batch of shop-bought mince before freezing it, and leave the other half raw, you will need to freeze them in separate bags. You can freeze raw mince by following the same steps listed above besides step 1.
Consider Portions
You can freeze cooked mince in whatever portion sizes you think is appropriate. However, as a guide, consider setting aside 100-200g per person.
Alternatively, check your recipe book before you freeze your cooked mince and separate them into the portion sizes suggested. It’s always a good idea to prepare your recipes in advance!
Extend Life of Raw Mince By Cooking
If your raw mince is about to reach its use-by date, browning it and freezing it is an excellent way to preserve it. While it might seem like hassle at the time, it will save you having to throw it away or risk eating it when it’s bad!
How Long Can You Freeze Cooked Mince?
You can freeze cooked mince for around four months.
You always have to be careful with meat, so don’t be tempted to freeze it for any longer than that.
Considering you can use your cooked mince in so many recipes (think tacos, spag bol, lasagne etc), you shouldn’t be stuck for ideas of how best to use it when your four months is up!
Cooked mince can be kept in a covered dish in the fridge for around 24 hours. This is great if you want to enjoy leftovers the following day but beyond that you’ll want to freeze it.
How Do You Defrost Cooked Mince?
The safest way to defrost cooked mince is to take it out of the freezer the night before you intend to use it and transfer it to the refrigerator.
You should never defrost cooked mince or any other meat on the countertop, as the meat can easily be contaminated by harmful bacteria.
It’s possible to thaw your mince in the microwave, but you will need to use it immediately once it’s thawed. If you do defrost it in the microwave, be sure to follow the reheating instructions suitable to the model.
Can You Refreeze Cooked Mince?
It’s safe to refreeze cooked mince that has been defrosted in the refrigerator.
However, we advise you to freeze your mince in portion sizes and only take out what you need, to save you from having to worry about refreezing leftovers.
If you think your mince might have gone bad, don’t take any chances – throw it away.
Does Cooked Mince Freeze Well?
Cooked mince freezes extremely well.
Providing you wrap it well and store it for no longer than four months, you probably won’t even notice the difference between fresh and frozen mince when it comes to enjoying whatever meal you prepare!
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing cooked mince or mince in general, then these may help:
Yes, if you have frozen raw mince and then cooked it into a dish, you can freeze this dish once it has cooled down.
We would recommend defrosting mince before cooking it. If you cook it from frozen, there is a risk that the meat will thaw unevenly, leaving you with cold spots that aren’t fully cooked through.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
