Can You Freeze Custard?

Yes you can easily freeze custard for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. But, be aware that it will become quite watery when thawed and needs a few steps to fully restore it.

How to Freeze Custard

Homemade custard is a delicious dessert that's relatively easy to make. It is a combination of milk, egg yolks, vanilla, sugar and cornstarch.

Whether you want to make this dessert head of an occasion or perhaps you want to make it in bulk so that you have some for later, you may need to freeze it since it doesn't last for more than a few days in the refrigerator.

Freezing custard is definitely an option, but you do need to be aware that It takes a few extra steps to restore it. This is due to the fact that custard has a high water content and when water crystallizes and freezes it breaks down the texture of the custard. So, when it's first defrosted or thawed the custard will be watery and separated.

The freezing process itself is super easy and is similar to freezing banana pudding, freezing rice pudding and freezing plain pudding.

Step one

You can freeze either homemade or store-bought custard. Of course, homemade custard will be fresher than store-bought so usually does a little better.

If you are making your own custard, be sure to have it thoroughly cooled before getting started with the freezing process.

Step two

Decide if you want to freeze your custard in a whole batch as bulk or an individual servings. Keep in mind that once it's frozen you can't refreeze it and you also can't section off a serving.

Step three

You can use either an airtight freezer safe container or a freezer bag to freeze your custard in. Simply spoon the custard into your chosen container.

You choose a freezer bag, make sure to press all of the air out of the bag before zipping it shut.

If you choose an airtight container, make sure to fill it almost the top leaving about an inch or two of space between the custard and the lid. This will leave enough room for the custard to expand when frozen but not too much space so that the air will affect the custard.

Step four

Write the date on the bag or container.

Step Five

Finally, place the custered into your freezer.

Tips for successful freezing

• Freeze your custard as fresh as possible so that it is it maximum quality.
• If you use an airtight container, you can put a layer of plastic wrap between the custard and the lid for an extra layer of protection.
• If you use freezer bags, press the custard flat after zipping the freezer bag shut to maximize space in your freezer.

Supplies/Equipment Needed:

• Ziploc Bags
• Plastic Wrap
• Aluminum Foil
• Marker or Pen
• Airtight Freezer Container

How to Defrost Custard

Defrosting custard takes a few additional steps from other Frozen items due to the fact that the custard will be watery and separate when thawed.

To get started, simply remove the custard from the freezer and place it in your refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you could defrost it for a few hours on the counter at room temperature.

Once your custard has defrosted, you will notice that it is watery and separated. Definitely not the texture you're used to in custard.

In order to restore the custard texture and get it put back together, you'll want to place it into a saucepan and heat it on low heat. Make sure that you store frequently with a whisk while it's heating.

Once the custard itself is warm, you can add just a tablespoon or two of warm milk to the custard and mix that in. This should help to reconstitute the custard back to a texture that is more normal.

It is not recommended to defrost or heat the custard in the microwave because it's too much heat all at once and you also can't control how much heat you're applying as well as if you use the stove top.

Freezing Custard FAQ

How long can custard be frozen?

Custard can be frozen for up to 3 months and still be restored pretty well at defrost. It does stay safe for much longer in the freezer, but the quality and texture will continue to degrade over time

How long does custard last in the fridge?

Custard only lasts for around 3 to 4 days in the fridge if it's kept in an airtight container.

Can you refreeze custard?

No, you definitely don't want to refreeze custard. Not only do the temperature changes from hot to cold to hot cold create safety issues but the texture will be significantly watery as well.

Does custard freeze well?

No custard does not freeze particularly well. Due to the high water content, when it freezes in the ice crystallizes and then defrosts the custard gets extremely watery. However, with a few extra steps at defrost, you can restore it almost to 100%.

Can you freeze custard pie?

Yes, you can freeze custard pie, but it's difficult to restore the custard due to the fact that it's in a pie shell.

Does frozen custard turn into ice cream?

No, custard doesn't just turn into ice cream when it's frozen. However, if you take several additional steps including aerating the custard by whipping it pretty regularly for several hours while it's freezing you can turn it into ice cream.