Often when making recipes that include pudding, you end up with quite a bit of extra. There’s only so much pudding that can go between the layers of a cake, or in a pie crust! Can you freeze pudding? The good news is, that delicious creamy pudding doesn’t have to go to waste – you can always freeze it for later use, with surprisingly good results.
Pudding actually freezes pretty well, in fact, a good way to use up milk that’s on its way out is making and freezing pudding! Pudding’s versatility is convenient if you want to make pudding pies, or other pudding-filled desserts, in advance of an event.
Additionally, having a frozen dessert ready in the freezer could be handy in case of an unexpected invite. Just be aware of the other ingredients in your frozen dessert. While the pudding component will freeze well, any cookies might become soggy, and fruit has a tendency to seep moisture when frozen.
Consider adding toppings after the dessert is removed from the freezer. When freezing a pudding or custard pie, it’s also best to use a pie crust recipe that is high in fat, and low in liquids, like a crushed cookie crust, or a shortbread. This will help the pie crust retain its texture while thawing.
How to Freeze Pudding?
Pudding can be frozen in a few different ways. In addition to making and freezing a dessert with a pudding layer or filling, you could also just freeze containers of plain pudding on their own for later use. Below is the step by step guide on how to freeze pudding:
Freezing Storebought Pudding
When pudding freezes, the consistency becomes like that of a rich and creamy ice cream. This holds true for store bought mixes, homemade puddings, rice pudding and even tapioca pudding.
Because of this, frozen pudding can make a delicious frozen treat on its own – just freeze for a few hours in a storage container, and grab a spoon! Unlike storing pudding in the refrigerator, a skin will not form on the top of frozen pudding, and so you do not need to worry about covering the pudding with plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.
Freezing Pudding in Popsicle Molds
Another great way to freeze pudding is by making popsicles. Simply distribute pudding in popsicle molds or even little plastic cups, insert sticks, and freeze. These are great to have as a quick snack for kids or an easy way to cool down in warmer months, as they are so easy to make!
Frozen pudding may be stored for 4-6 weeks, though frozen desserts made with pudding should be frozen for no more than a month. Be sure to tightly seal any containers, and with desserts, be sure to cover them completely, leaving no parts exposed to the air.
Freezing FAQs
Can you freeze rice pudding?
Although freezing is not the best method to preserving rice pudding, you can do it if only to reduce waste. Rice, along with the other pudding ingredients, are temperature sensitive so expect slight to significant texture and flavor changes when freezing rice pudding. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to freeze rice pudding here.
Can you freeze bread pudding?
Bread pudding is made with milk, butter, eggs, and other temperature sensitive ingredients. If you are making the bread pudding from scratch, perhaps you can skip the addition of the sauce until you are ready to serve. But in a pinch, you can freeze bread pudding leftovers although most culinary experts advise against it. If you’d like to give freezing a try, check out our step by step guide here.
Can you freeze white pudding?
White pudding, also known as mealy pudding, is quite similar to oatmeal pudding. It freezes surprisingly well. The trick to retaining white pudding’s smooth consistency after thawing is to pack the pudding properly. To do that, you can use either an airtight container or a resealable food bag. If you are using a food bag, use a double bag to prevent freezer burns.
To pack the white pudding for freezing, leave the pudding to cool completely. Scoop out the pudding into the container, leaving about an inch of space if you are using an airtight container. Wrap the top of the container with cling wrap then seal with the airtight lid. Write the storage date then stick in the freezer.
Can you freeze banana pudding?
Apart from its temperature sensitive ingredients, banana pudding has high water content so freezing it can be tricky. That’s not to say it can’t be done but don’t expect the pudding to look or taste the same. Here is a step by step guide on how to freeze banana pudding properly.
Can you freeze persimmon pudding?
Persimmon pudding is an old-timey Southern dessert with a distinctly tangy, sweet taste. Although we don’t recommend freezing this dessert because the ingredients are quite sensitive to freezing temps, you can freeze it if left with no other choice.
Again, how you pack the pudding will affect its texture and taste after it’s been defrosted. You want to keep the packaging sealed so frost won’t seep into the pudding and ruin its consistency. We highly recommend using an airtight container for freezing persimmon pudding.
Can you freeze pudding pie?
You can freeze pudding pie if this is the only way to preserve or extend its shelf life but there are caveats. The pudding filling is made of sensitive ingredients so the texture or flavor of the filling might change once it’s frozen. In addition, the filling is high in water so it could soften the crust of the pie.
If you are freezing pudding pie for a special event, we do not recommend it at all. Thawing the pie, it could cause the filling to curdle or become watery, making the pie look unappetizing. But for leftovers, you can experiment with freezing but have reasonable expectations.
You can freeze the pie whole or cut in slices. We recommend using an airtight container for the pudding pie slices. For a whole pie, you can use the pie’s original packaging but use a double bag to protect the pie from frost.
How to Defrost Frozen Pudding?
Thawing frozen pudding is actually quite simple. If you just want to eat the thawed pudding as a snack or use the thawed pudding in a recipe, you can put the container in the fridge overnight, and the pudding will thaw nicely. You could also thaw the pudding at room temperature for a few hours, though this is not recommended for a pre-made dessert.
When thawing a pre-made pudding dessert, like a pie, it’s best to let it thaw in the refrigerator. Thawing a dessert at room temperature will expose the dessert to too much moisture that can be absorbed by the pie crust. With a pudding-filled cake, this is of less concern, if you’re really pressed for time.
If you are worried about how the pudding texture will hold up, you could test freeze a small amount and let that thaw in the fridge before freezing. Each batch of the pudding will be different, based on the factors previously mentioned, so it’s recommended that a test batch is frozen each time. While one batch of pudding might not thaw well, it could still be used as a frozen dessert!
Summary
It’s important to note that the texture of the pudding could change a bit in the freezer, depending on the brand, moisture content and whether or not the custard was overheated before it was frozen.
That said, freezing pudding is a great way to extend your supply of this yummy dessert. Now that you know how can you freeze pudding, there is no need to worry about wastage at all.