Light and creamy, bright and dreamy… Is there any dessert more pleasing to the eye and the taste buds than the caramel-laden goodness of flan?
Not only is easy to make, but it’s a real crowd pleaser too!
To top it all off, the very nature of flan’s ingredients allows you to keep it fresh for extended periods of time. If you only need it to last for a few days, the fridge is a great option for storing flan, but what about weeks?
Or even a month?
Is the fridge still the best choice or is freezing your flan a better idea instead?
The good news is you can freeze flan without too much trouble, provided you take a few simple steps along the way. If you follow the steps we outline below, then you can expect it to keep quite easily for about a month.
In fact, the whole process is very simple and with a little prep, you shouldn’t have any problems stashing away your favorite dessert for safe keeping.
So, when you’re ready, let’s get to it!
Does Flan Freeze Well?
Yes, as long as you take the proper steps to ensure that you’re protecting your dessert once you place it in the freezer, you’ll have no problems freezing it.
How Long Can You Freeze Flan?
Correctly stored flan can keep in the freezer for a month with no issues. It can last longer depending on conditions, but a minimum of one month should be fine for most situations.
How To Freeze Flan
There are two scenarios in which you are probably considering freezing your flan.
The first of these is freezing any leftovers that you have. For example, if you’ve previously refrigerated your flan and then served to guests, all of it might not have been eaten.
Sad, I know!
The second situation is where you’ve prepared a fresh batch of flan and want to store some (or all) of it to consume (or serve) at a later date.
The main difference between these two situations will be the temperature of the flan. The important thing to remember is that you want it to be at least room temperature but no warmer prior to freezing it.
The basic reason is for controlling the temperature is to ensure that your flan holds its shape and keeps its flavor profile intact.
If you can remember one thing, it’s that you want to avoid putting warm flan in the freezer.
With that said, just follow the steps below to freeze your flan properly and you’ll be able to enjoy it when you’re ready.
1. Ensure Your Flan Is at Least Room Temperature (Or Cooler) Prior to Freezing
As stated above, it’s important that you make certain your flan is no warmer than room temperature and, if you have the time, slightly chilled from the fridge first.
The reason for this is that you want the flan to be fully set and formed prior to freezing. By doing so, you ensure that the dessert can maintain its structure when you defrost it in the future.
If you freeze warm flan, it will not have a chance to set properly. If frozen in this state when you defrost it, the texture of the dessert will be soft and mushy.
2. Portion the Flan Depending on the Serving Size (One Large Flan vs. Individual Ramekins)
How you’ve prepared your flan will determine the best way to proceed in this step.
If you’ve made a large flan that you’ll cut and serve in slices, the best thing to do is go ahead and portion it out that way.
Alternatively, if you’ve made your flan in ramekins (and not yet removed them) for individual service, those can be placed directly in the freezer.
Otherwise, if you’ve already removed your flan from the ramekins, just treat them the same way you would if sliced from a large flan.
3. Cover (Or Seal) Your Flan
All right, so now that you’ve made sure your flan is the right temperature and portioned it out according to your needs, the final step is to ensure they can withstand the freezing process.
The primary reason that you want to seal the flan securely is that the ingredients in flan (especially eggs) can very easily absorb unwanted odors. Also, because of the delicate structure of custard, they can be highly susceptible to freezer burn without proper storage.
So, in the case of a single large flan that you’ve sliced, the next step is to seal each slice in a layer of freezer paper followed by a layer of plastic wrap.
For an additional layer of prevention, you could take the individually wrapped and sealed slices and place them inside of an airtight container.
For individual flans, you’ll also want to wrap them with freezer paper and then plastic wrap. Again, if you have additional airtight containers available, placing them inside will add another layer of protection against odor and freezer burn.
| Scenario | Temperature Prior to Freezing | Portioning | Covering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leftovers (any leftovers that you have) | Room Temperature or Cooler | Sliced or Ramekins | Freezer paper and plastic wrap, airtight container (optional) |
| Fresh batch (prepared a fresh batch of flan and want to store some (or all) of it to consume (or serve) at a later date) | Room Temperature or Cooler | Sliced or Ramekins | Freezer paper and plastic wrap, airtight container (optional) |
How Do You Defrost Flan?
With any luck, you are successful with sealing and storing your flan, so when the time comes to enjoy it, what’s the best way to thaw it out?
The good news is that flan is very easy to defrost as long as you’re patient and give your dessert enough time to defrost fully.
The easiest way to do it is to remove as much flan from the freezer that you need and stick them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight if you have the time.
Doing it this way allows the custard to gradually return to a chilled state and maintain the texture you’ve come to love with a delicious helping of flan.
Can You Refreeze Flan?
While it’s possible to refreeze flan, it’s not a good idea.
The reason is that although custards can withstand an initial freeze and thaw cycle with no issues, repeated cycles of defrosting and freezing again will cause it to degrade.
Instead of refreezing, try to only use what you need from the freezer. That way, you don’t have to worry about refreezing it and get to enjoy your flan as intended!
Can I Put Flan in the Freezer to Set?
Yes, you can put your flan in the freezer to set, but you’ll need to keep a close eye on it.
Ideally, you should have already portioned your custard into the baking dish or ramekins you’re going to use. You don’t want to place your custard in the freezer without taking this step, so portion prior to freezing for best results.
Since you’ll only leave the flan in the freezer for 10 or 15 minutes, it’s not necessary to cover it – neither odors nor freezer burn will be an issue for a short period like this.
Hiya! I’m Kimberly, a contributing writer here at Miss Buttercup. I was born and raised in the UP, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for those who don’t know, the land of beautiful, beach-filled sunny summer days and bone-chilling long winters. Growing up there made me appreciate all the little things about life, especially the way a delicious meal can bring people closer together. I try and put that same feeling into each article I write and I hope it comes across that way!
