Whether you accidentally put a package of frozen Eggos in the fridge or wonder how waffles would taste if you first defrost them, it’s likely got you thinking- can you keep frozen waffles in the fridge?
The short answer is that you shouldn't store your frozen waffles in the refrigerator. However, we don’t recommend it because it can alter the quality of your waffles, and you could end up investing more time into heating them than if you kept them frozen.
So, have your maple syrup on standby as we delve more into the intricacies of why it isn’t a good idea to keep your frozen waffles in the fridge.
How Van’s Frozen Waffles are Mass Produced
Now you know the answer to “Can you keep frozen waffles in the fridge?” is that it’s best to avoid doing it. So, let’s explore why it’s so bad.
Frozen waffles naturally create condensation as they defrost.
Furthermore, if you put frozen waffles with freezer burn in your fridge, your waffles might even be soggier. That’s because freezer burn is the process of water molecules forming on top of food, often occurring if you don’t use an airtight container. While harmless, it causes waffles to be too dry when frozen and too soggy when they thaw in the fridge.
In either case, most of us seek a slightly crunchy waffle exterior and soft but not soggy interior.
Storing your waffles in the refrigerator will make them soggy and hard to heat up
Therefore, if you thaw frozen waffles in the fridge or store leftover waffles in the refrigerator instead of the freezer, you risk them soaking up so much moisture that they’ll remain limp in your toaster oven.
Although sogginess is an issue you could face by putting frozen waffles in the fridge, you run the risk of encountering several other problems, including:
In fact, some people use bread as a natural deodorizer in refrigerators. The problem with this is that if you store your waffles in the fridge without properly sealing them, they could take on the smells and tastes of other food items if you have a smelly fridge.
However, if you absolutely must keep your waffles in the fridge to make room in your freezer, make sure not to leave them out on the counter at room temperature first. Otherwise, bacteria could begin building on them within a couple of hours, and you might make a trip to the doctor instead of the breakfast table.
When you take frozen waffles out of your freezer to eat, they’ll go from an icy solid state to a warm breakfast popping out of your toaster within minutes.
However, heating refrigerated waffles can get tricky. For starters, you should wait for them to thaw entirely. Otherwise, you could end up with a waffle that cooks too fast on the outside and not fast enough on the inside.
We’re sure that biting into a waffle with a cold center isn’t how you want to start your morning.
Furthermore, you’ll often have a better outcome if you cook frozen waffles in the oven. To do so, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 350°F, set them on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and bake them for 10 - 15 minutes.
Doing this increases the chances of them turning out crispier and less soggy. Otherwise, you might feel beside yourself with soggy waffles, having to start from scratch by pulling out wheat flour and a waffle maker to create a homemade batch.
Needless to say, even though it seems counterintuitive, keeping your waffles frozen is the fastest way to cook them consistently.
Whether you make homemade waffles or buy the already frozen variety from your grocery store, keeping these waffles in the fridge will reduce how long they’ll be good for.
You can expect them to last 5 - 7 days if you make and freeze waffles at home. However, manufactured frozen waffles can only survive up to 3 - 5 days in the fridge.
In contrast, both homemade and store-bought waffles remain edible for 8 - 12 months in the freezer.
With proper care, your waffles will last much longer
Needless to say, if your significant other accidentally places a box of Eggo waffles in the fridge instead of the freezer, you won’t be out of your waffle investment. However, you’ll need to make sure to eat them within a few days after they go in the freezer.
After making waffles, you may realize that you have some leftover waffle batter. The good news is that you can freeze waffle batter for use in the future. Freezing waffle batter involves using a plastic bag or an airtight container. Since batter contains liquid content, you need to allow a little bit of room for your frozen batter to expand without ripping through the plastic bag or popping the lid off of the container.
You should always defrost frozen waffle batter in the fridge.
That’s because most waffle batter contains eggs. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should never leave eggs at room temperature for over two hours.
So, it’ll be nearly impossible for you to thaw your batter in that short amount of time. And if your waffle batter is in temperatures over 90°F, it’ll thaw faster but won’t be able to handle even two hours on the counter.
That said, the FDA advises never to refrigerate egg dishes for more than 3 - 4 days. So, it’s crucial to calculate when you’d like to cook your breakfast in a waffle iron so that you don’t waste your precious waffle batter.
Provided that your previously frozen waffles stayed in the fridge without spending extended time at room temperature, it’s okay to put them back in the freezer.
However, we discourage you from doing so repeatedly. The more times you defrost and refreeze waffles, the more condensation will build up from temperature fluctuations. And thus, the poorer the waffle quality and taste will become.
The good news is that this is purely an aesthetic issue-your waffles will be safe to eat if you refreeze them after they’ve spent up to a few days in the fridge.
Breakfast Featuring Heated Up Frozen Waffles
Regardless of whether you keep frozen waffles in the fridge or leave them 24/7 in your freezer, no frozen food lasts forever. This applies to packaged waffles (like an Eggo waffle) - or your made from scratch Belgian waffle.
Therefore, below are some signs to look for indicating if your waffles need to make a trip to your garbage instead of the toaster:
Stiff, rubbery texture
Visible mold spots
Rotting odor
Color change
Furthermore, you might notice many small ice crystals on your waffles when you pull them out of the freezer to put in your fridge or toaster oven. That’s the result of freezer burn. While freezer burn won’t harm your health, your waffles won’t be pleasant to eat.
Check the expiration date if you’re on the fence about whether your frozen waffles are bad. Keeping frozen waffles in the freezer after the expiration date passes is a recipe for disaster.
A frozen waffle will still be edible if you keep it in the fridge, provided that you eat it within a few days. However, we recommend keeping them in the freezer for better quality, a longer shelf life, and potentially less cooking time.
The good news is that freezing your waffles will retain their protein, vitamin, and mineral content. That’s especially appealing if you have frozen waffles made with whole wheat or fruit.
So, go ahead and leave your frozen waffles in the freezer and enjoy up to a year of as-good-as-fresh breakfasts.
Let’s say you’ve finished your delicious breakfast but still have a cooked waffle or two left over. Maybe they were homemade waffles you made from scratch from grandma’s secret waffle mix recipe or maybe they were frozen waffles that you heated but couldn’t quite finish all of them.
The good news is that you can store waffles that have already been cooked in your refrigerator. In fact, you must store waffles in the fridge or freezer. Waffles contain a variety of dairy ingredients including eggs, butter and milk - which require refrigeration (or freezing).
First, make sure that the waffles have cooled down to about room temperature.
Next, store your waffles in a manner that keeps them fresh. Usually, an airtight bag - like a Ziploc bag will do just fine. Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag to minimize the impact of oxidation on the waffles. Oxidation can ruin the odor and flavor of many foods including waffles.
You can also use a small airtight container to preserve the freshness of your waffles. In a pinch, you can put your waffles on a plate and use tightly sealed plastic wrap to preserve freshness.
From a food safety perspective, you don’t want to just leave your waffles on the counter - or store them at room temperature after baking, According to foodsafety.gov, waffles may be more resilient to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit than other types of foods, waffles are still susceptible to bacteria growth that can make people ill. You’re best off refrigerating or freezing - then reheat waffles in the toaster oven or air fryer at a later time.
The same goes for any pure maple syrup or whipped cream that you used to top the waffles. Dairy products like creams should always be refrigerated, and maple syrup must be refrigerated after opening.From a food safety perspective, you don’t want to just leave your waffles on the counter - or store them at room temperature after baking, According to foodsafety.gov, waffles may be more resilient to temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit than other types of foods like meat and dairy, waffles are still susceptible to bacteria growth that can make people ill. You’re best off refrigerating or freezing - then reheat waffles in the toaster oven or air fryer at a later time.
The same goes for any pure maple syrup or whipped cream that you used to top the waffles. Dairy products like creams should always be refrigerated, and maple syrup must be refrigerated after opening.
If your waffles are stored properly in the refrigerator, you’ll want to eat them within around 48 hours or so. Letting them go longer than that may result in a poor tasting waffle - even when the waffles are properly stored.
Yes, you can freeze your homemade waffles. Freezing waffles involves a few different steps.
1) Allow your waffles to cool to room temperature
2) Place the waffles in a single layer on a cookie sheet or flat baking tray until they freeze - this should take between 1 and two hours
3) Once the waffles have cooled and hardened, put them in a sealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag to prevent oxidation from occurring which will make your waffles will taste bad. Be sure that waffles are separated from eachother. You can use freezer paper, wax paper, parchment paper or even aluminum foil to keep the waffles from sticking together. Instead of using a gallon sized freezer bag, another option is to use a vacuum sealer like a Food Saver - to eliminate the air in the freezer bag and preserve the freshness of your waffles.
