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Can You Freeze Hollandaise Sauce?

Diane Westphal
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by Diane Westphal

If you love rich foods, you may already know how terrific hollandaise sauce is. It goes great with tons of dishes. Often when you make a batch, there could be leftovers. By freezing that leftover sauce, you won’t have to discard any extra delicious flavor that you could use in your meals later.

So, can you freeze hollandaise sauce? Here’s what you need to know.

Can You Freeze Hollandaise Sauce?

Yes, it is possible to freeze hollandaise sauce, but you need to follow this guideline. Because it is an emulsion-type sauce and incorporates egg yolks, the freezing and thawing steps are distinctive to avoid having it spoil or separate.

Having frozen hollandaise sauce on hand can save you time in the kitchen, especially if you are preparing a meal for many people at once. It is also convenient when you are making a single meal and do not want to use the effort to make a batch for your dish. You should consume it within two hours of making it or thawing it out to avoid it spoiling.

If you freeze small batches of a hollandaise base, you can thaw it out later to create an alternative for an enticing dish without all the work. Save yourself time and energy later by having this base available in your freezer when you need it.

How To Freeze Hollandaise Sauce

Hollandaise sauce is an oil-in-water emulsion product, which can make freezing and thawing a tricky process. If you do not follow the steps correctly, you risk egg separation from the other ingredients. You do not want to go through all the work if the sauce is unusable later.

How you store it in the freezer will also affect the thawing process. It is better to handle smaller portions of hollandaise sauce rather than one large amount. This way, you can minimize the chance of it spoiling as it thaws. Large chunks will take longer to thaw and reheat than smaller amounts will.

If you want to make large batches of hollandaise sauce to use later, you can. You will have to freeze and store it in smaller quantities to make the reheating process more effective.

Step 1 – Gather Your Supplies

If you want to freeze your already prepared hollandaise sauce, you can use various ways to store it frozen. Keep in mind that you should keep the amounts small for easy thawing later. You can use a freezer tray, a small airtight container, or freezer bag.

If you do not use airtight containers, you risk the sauce becoming freezer burnt or absorbing other odors. These elements will change how it will taste when you use it next.

Step 2 – Pour the Fresh Hollandaise Sauce into the Container or Bag

Carefully pour the sauce into the freezer trays, airtight containers, or bags, trying not to spill any, and transfer them to the freezer. If you are using a tray, you will need to remove them from the tray once they are completely frozen. Transfer them to an airtight container or bag for long-term storage to avoid any future issues.

Ensure that you label the containers with the date so you will not try guessing how old your hollandaise sauce is the next time you reach for it in the freezer. Having the date on your batches will make it simple to use the oldest first if you continuously prepare it ahead of time.

Step 3 – Thawing it Out

When thawing out your frozen hollandaise sauce, you want to ensure that you do it in small batches. It will help keep the consistency as you prepare to use it once again. You do not want to throw it in your microwave for quick thawing. This method will only create separation and ruin your sauce. It should thaw at room temperature to avoid this result.

If you plan ahead of time, take your frozen hollandaise sauce out of the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight to thaw out.

If you forgot or have decided to use your sauce on a whim, you can still use it within minutes without ruining it. Place your frozen cubes in a sealed bag or the container, and run it under cool water until it becomes liquid once again.

Ensure that you whisk it thoroughly and pour it over your hot dish to enjoy immediately.

How Long Will Hollandaise Sauce Last In The Fridge/Freezer?

If you wonder how long does hollandaise sauce last, it will depend on how you store it. You can keep prepared hollandaise sauce in your fridge in an airtight container or bag for up to two days.

If you want to keep it longer to use later, freezing is your best choice. Freezing it will ensure that it stays fresh for up to an entire month.

How To Tell If Your Frozen Hollandaise Sauce is Bad

Remember that it does contain eggs, and if it sits in your fridge for longer than two days, you should not consume it. Hollandaise sauce can break, curdle, be too thin, or look grainy in texture. The butter could be in a pool on top, separate from the rest of the sauce.

If it smells or tastes off, with a sour or tangy taste that does not seem to be characteristic of your batch, it is best to discard it and make some new sauce.

If you have hollandaise sauce over a month old in the freezer, it should be thrown out and not used for your next meal.

How to Fix Frozen Hollandaise Sauce That is Broken

Depending on the texture and consistency of your thawing hollandaise sauce, you can try various methods to bring it back to perfection.

  • Try whisking another egg yolk in and blend well
  • Add a few drops of warm water
  • Add 1 tsp of melted butter at a time

When adding additional ingredients, ensure that you are whisking it well and continuously blending it thoroughly.

Why is Hollandaise Sauce a Favorite?

Hollandaise Sauce

Culinary speaking, hollandaise sauce belongs to the five mother sauces in French cuisine. The term ‘mother’ describes these sauces because they are the base to many dishes, and you can alter them to create secondary sauces. They contain a liquid, a thickening agent, and additional spices or flavorings to make them unique.

There are a few different ways to make hollandaise sauce at home. Each variation will change the flavor slightly. You can experiment and see which alternative you prefer to use or make them all. Once you have a hollandaise base, you can create these smaller sauce blends:

  • Béarnaise Sauce: Includes adding white wine vinegar, tarragon, shallots, and peppercorns to the hollandaise base. It is great for steak, chicken, and fish, as well as egg dishes.
  • Choron Sauce: This is a variation of Béarnaise, by adding tomato paste, puree, or diced tomatoes. It is terrific for steak, chicken, fish, and egg dishes.
  • Dijon Sauce: Add dijon mustard to the hollandaise base for an alternative for fish, chicken, or vegetable dishes.
  • Foyot Sauce: Build onto the Béarnaise by adding meat glaze to compliment many meat dishes. It goes well with vegetables, eggs, and other grilled meats like chicken or fish.
  • Maltaise Sauce: Add the juice from blood oranges to the classic hollandaise base for a sweeter variation. It is perfect for vegetables like asparagus or broccoli.

To create your perfect hollandaise base, you will need clarified butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice. Some individuals will add cayenne or black pepper or branch out to dijon mustard and other alternatives. Anything additional will change the flavor, giving you a distinct taste to your base.

What To Do With Frozen Hollandaise Sauce

Hollandaise Sauce

Having frozen hollandaise sauce can spice up many dishes easily, giving you a flavorful alternative to an otherwise boring meal. It is not just for eggs benedict anymore. Try reaching for this sauce next time you are preparing these dishes:

  • Steamed asparagus
  • Roasted broccoli
  • Poached salmon
  • Crab Imperial
  • Baked Turbot
  • Boiled brussel sprouts
  • Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches
  • Scallops
  • Chicken breasts
  • Breakfast pizza
  • Breakfast poutine

When pairing this creamy and rich sauce with seafood or other meat dishes, eggs, or dark vegetables, you cannot go wrong. Imagine if your meal will burst with more flavor by adding a lemon sauce, like hollandaise. If lemons compliment your dish, adding hollandaise is probably a safe bet.

The Takeaway

When someone asks can you freeze hollandaise sauce, be sure to tell them that it is possible, and it could save you time in the kitchen later. With ready-made sauce on hand, you can spice up numerous dishes and add that touch of flair, making it unique and delicious.

Don’t let the task of making this cream sauce deter you from using it more often. If you freeze hollandaise sauce to use later, you are sure to enjoy it on many more dishes than ever before. Surprise your dinner guests or family members when you whip up a batch of hollandaise sauce for your next meal.

About Diane Westphal
Diane Westphal
Diane lives with her husband and 2 children on a small ranch in Southern California, where she's able to grow a good portion of the food that she prepares for her family in a variety of kitchen creations.Diane has been formally trained and has spent stints in multiple noted restaurants in her region and currently consults with commercial catering businesses. She enjoys writing about food as much as she engages in making her creations.
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