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Choux is a delicacy in Southeast Asia, with a soft texture, and delicious taste. It is a type of pastry that has a paste-like consistency, with the dough consisting of water, flour, butter, and eggs. In Southeast Asia, choux is very popular and has its market, which generates a large sum of sales every day. People try to reserve it so that they can eat it later on.
However, the question is, can you freeze choux pastry? Yes, you can freeze your choux pastry either cooked or just the dough. It is a common practice among bakers and home cooks to freeze their pastry and thaw them before use.
To answer that question along with many others, we came up with an article that will provide an in-depth discussion on choux pastry, whether it is possible to refrigerate, and additional tips to help you continue to eat your favorite pastry.
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Can you freeze choux pastry?
Choux is made from a dough that has a paste-like consistency. Just like other pastries, you can freeze the choux you buy from the market. But can you freeze homemade choux pastry?
Yes, it is the same concept; moreover, when you put choux in a refrigerator, it also increases its shelf life. That allows people who love these types of pastry, to store and eat them whenever they prefer. Usually, at room temperature choux has a shelf life of 1 day, but can you refrigerate choux pastry? Yes, you can and in a refrigerator, you get up to three to four days.
Can You Freeze-cooked Choux Pastry?
When you bake choux, it usually has a shelf life of a day. Cooked food goes bad very quickly, especially pastries due to the surrounding temperature of the environment. However, cooked pastry is put in a refrigerator, freezing it increases its shelf life to around a month.
That provides the vendors the necessary window to properly store and sell the pastry. So, does choux pastry freeze well? Yes, it freezes well and retains its quality for almost a month. When you reheat it at 150 degrees Celsius on a baking sheet for 5 to 8 minutes, the choux pastry delivers the same taste. Moreover, when you fill the choux pastry with cream or any other fillings, there is no other option but to freeze them to retain the smell and taste of the pastry.
Another question is can you freeze unfilled choux pastry? Yes, it is the same concept as filled choux pastry.
How long can you freeze choux pastry?
Choux pastry in room temp has a shelf life of around one day; however, you can freeze it for up to a month. It is recommended for baked pastry. However, uncooked or just the dough has a longer shelf life at room temp.
When you can make the choux pastry dough, a damp towel is enough to preserve it for a day. In a freezer or a refrigerator, it can last a month or slightly longer.
Tips: Raw choux dough should not be in the freezer for more than two days.
The effects of freezing on choux pastry
Freezing your choux pastry does improve its shelf life but it also affects the overall dish. Uncooked pastry delivers the most difficulties when you freeze them for a longer period. The cream inside becomes more compact. Moreover, the dough itself, which is a paste, does not puff as much as you would want it like fresh and unfrozen pastry. These things happen with the traditional choux pastry recipe.
We recommend making it in éclair or profiterole with cream filling, which will help to freeze the pastry and also does not ruin the overall puffiness and taste of choux pastry.
How to thaw frozen choux pastry
Thawing is like reheating; however, in terms of choux pastry, it is a fairly effective method to use when you have less time.
For example – if you are expecting guests, then you can prepare the choux pastry and leave it in the fridge overnight. Then take it out the next day and put it in a hot oven. That allows the pastry to become moist on the inside and also crips up the outer texture of the pastry. It is like baking frozen choux pastry, but only heating them and making it crispy on the bite.
Tips for using frozen choux pastry
Choux pastry is very simple to handle especially when you freeze them and then cook or bake them in your oven. However, the process can be somewhat difficult to follow when using frozen choux pastry, so here are some tips to make it much easier –
- Thaw your pastry. That means putting it in the fridge overnight, which will allow the pastry to defrost and make it much easier to use.
- Always unfold your frozen choux pastry after it is fully thawed. When using frozen choux pastry, it can be hard and difficult to fold. Moreover, it can tear or break the texture of the pastry. That is why it is important to start working with it after it is fully thawed.
- Try to dissolve the sugar and salt in the water before it comes to a boil. That will help prevent any cracks from forming on the shell of your choux pastry.
Tips for freezing choux pastry successfully
Now, the question is how to freeze choux pastry successfully. There are two things you will require to know. Number one is that the dough and the cooked pastry require two different methods to freeze. The second one is that the process is not the same. Here are some tips to freeze your choux pastry –
For the dough –
- First, take the dough and put it in a piping bag.
- Then take your tray and put parchment paper on the tray. It will prevent the dough from sticking to the tray.
- After that, start piping the dough onto the trays.
- Now, put the tray in a freezer and let it fully freeze overnight.
- Finally, take the frozen tray out and put the dough in a Tupperware, and store it in your fridge.
For the baked choux pastry –
- For the cooked choux pastry, you will need to put them on a tray with parchment paper. Leave spaces between each pastry piece.
- Then freeze the baked choux pastry for an hour and take it out.
- Now, put those in an airtight container.
- After that, you can now freeze the pastry and eat it when desired.
Alternative storage options
The above discussion follows how we traditionally store the choux pastry. However, here are some alternative storage options for more convenience –
- A damp towel over the dough can allow you to store the choux pastry dough overnight.
- Plastic wrap is a great alternative for storing your choux pastry in a fridge if you do not have airtight containers.
- Cling film is another method you can use to store the pastry.
Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs):
Can Choux Pastry Be Made in Advance?
Yes, you can; however, you will need to keep it chilled until you use it or bake them in the oven.
Can You Freeze Unfilled Profiteroles?
Unfilled profiteroles are still amazing after you freeze them overnight. Moreover, it also stays crips after chilling in the fridge.
Can You Cook Choux From Frozen?
When you work with frozen choux, make sure to thaw them on a wire rack before adding them to the oven. That will crisp up the pastry and smooth out the interior.
What Are The Disadvantages of Choux Pastry?
Choux dough requires eggs to make; however, too much egg in the dough will make it difficult to bake and work with.
Is it Better to Use Milk or Water in Choux Pastry?
Both options are amazing. We recommend using a milk and water combination as water allows more baking time and the protein in the milk provides a perfectly browned crust.
Final Takeaway
Choux pastry is a delicious item that is preferable at any time. It is the type of thing people like to have at any time and anywhere. However, it is not possible to have it available all the time without properly storing and freezing your choux pastry. That is why we covered in our article that can you freeze choux pastry, and how you can do it without compromising the taste and texture of the pastry.
