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Can You Freeze Coq Au Vin?

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By Ross Young

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Coq au vin is a surprisingly easy dish to make, and it is delicious enough to serve guests at a dinner party or even just for a hearty meal for yourself. It’s easy to make this meal in large batches, which might mean you have some leftovers. So, what do you do with them?

Can You Freeze Coq Au Vin?

Yes, you can freeze coq au vin for up to 3 months. Once cooled, portion the coq au vin into freezer-safe containers with tight-fitting lids, seal and then place them into the freezer.

Does Coq Au Vin Freeze Well? Yes

Can You Refreeze Coq Au Vin? No

How to Freeze Coq Au Vin

Coq au vin is one of the easier meals to freeze. There is very little preparation work involved.

This is why coq au vin is a great meal to plan and cook in large batches. Then you can freeze it in handy portions so that you always have a great meal ready to eat on those days when you don’t have time to cook.

To freeze coq au vin follow this method:

  1. Cook and Cool: Cook up your batch of coq au vin. You can use your favourite family recipe or find a new method online to follow. When it is cooked, you need to allow it to cool completely before freezing.
  2. Prepare Containers: Grab some freezer-safe containers with lids. You need to have enough to freeze a portion of coq au vin in each container. You can use freezer bags. If you do this, you have to take extra care not to let any coq au vin spill out of the bag while it is freezing.
  3. Portion Out: Make sure you leave a gap at the top of the container. Don’t overfill them. If you forget to leave this gap, then the coq au vin will expand in the freezer. This could cause it to burst out of the container and make a mess.
  4. Seal: Put the lids onto the containers and pop each container into a freezer bag, and seal that too. The idea of double bagging is just for a little extra protection from spills in the freezer.
  5. Freeze: Label the bags with the date and contents. Then, put the coq au vin into the freezer and leave them to freeze.

3 Tips for Freezing Coq Au Vin

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing coq au vin to have the best results:

Avoid Mushrooms
Mushrooms are one aspect of the recipe that doesn’t tend to freeze well. If you are pre-making your coq au vin, it might be worth leaving out the mushrooms and adding them after you have thawed out the coq au vin. Just sautee up some mushrooms and then add them to the coq au vin as you reheat it.

Leave in the Fridge for a Day
As coq au vin is a type of stew, you may want to leave it in the fridge for a day before freezing. Stews develop their flavour over time, and these few extra hours before you freeze it will ensure your coq au vin has time to fully develop its flavour.

Add Herbs Afterwards
Add freshness to the stew with herbs after thawing and reheating. By sprinkling over some fresh parsley, you can elevate the dish and mask the fact it was ever frozen. 

How Long Can You Freeze Coq Au Vin?

You can freeze most coq au vin recipes for up to around three months, and the meal will still retain its delicious flavour and texture. Some recipes may vary, so check your recipe and follow the advice on any packaging for shop-bought coq au vin meals.

How Long Does Coq Au Vin Last in the Fridge?

Coq au vin can be kept in an covered dish in the fridge for up to 5 days, after which it must be thrown out.

How Do You Defrost Coq Au Vin?

Defrosting your coq au vin is as easy as it is to freeze. It might be even easier! For best results, take your container of frozen coq au vin out of the freezer and pop it straight into the fridge.

Let it thaw out for several hours until it has completely thawed. Then you can reheat it.

If you need your coq au vin a little quicker, you can speed up the process by using a microwave on a defrost setting or emptying the coq au vin into a saucepan.

Put the saucepan on the stove on a low setting and continually stir until it defrosted. You can then heat it straight away.

If you are using either of these methods, then you need to ensure you are planning on eating the coq au vin immediately because heating it in this way to thaw it out will also cause the meat to heat up, and this is when harmful bacteria can grow.

Can You Refreeze Coq Au Vin?

We would not recommend that you refreeze coq au vin that has already been frozen once. You should also be careful not to freeze it if you use ingredients that have already been frozen once before.

For example, don’t use defrosted chicken in your coq au vin recipe and then expect to store it back in the freezer. The chicken will have been frozen twice and isn’t recommended.

Does Coq Au Vin Freeze Well?

Coq au vin does freeze very well. It’s as delicious after it has been frozen as it was when it was cooked freshly. You may even find that it can taste a little better because the flavours have had more time to develop fully.

If you notice any negative change, it will be in the texture, but this will be minimal, and most people won’t notice it at all.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing coq au vin or coq au vin in general, then these may help:

Can You Reheat Coq Au Vin?

Yes, you can reheat it. When you’re ready to reheat it, simply pour it into a saucepan and warm through slowly. Avoid boiling it as this will reduce the sauce and can cause it to become bitter tasting.

Is Coq Au Vin Better the Next Day?

Yes, coq au vin will develop stronger flavours overnight which means it can taste better the following day.

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