Baklava is becoming more and more popular around the globe. People are making it fresh at home, and since it’s such a novelty for many, it isn’t yet clear how best to freeze and store it.
You can freeze cooked baklava by wrapping it in either plastic wrap or foil and putting it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. It will stay at peak freshness for up to 4 months. Once ready to eat, just put it in the fridge for 6 hours or longer to thaw it out.
Are your storage containers really airtight? I recommend these containers, available on Amazon. They work great for meal prep or storing just about anything you want in the fridge or freezer.
The rest of the article will answer some other common questions about storing baklava.
How to Freeze Uncooked Baklava
If you decide to freeze uncooked baklava before baking, don’t forget to line your baking tray with paper or foil before adding the ingredients. Place your ready-to-bake baklava in the freezer overnight. For longer than that (up to 5 days), you will need to store it in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
Once it is completely frozen, take the dessert out of the tray, helping yourself with the foil or paper lining. For better conservation, wrap the baklava with plastic food wrap or place it in an air-tight container, like this one.
How to Freeze Cooked Baklava Correctly
You might have baked too much baklava and feel like it’s best to store it away for a couple of days before enjoying it again. In this case, you can freeze baked baklava. Or, you can even keep it in the freezer for up to 5 months, and it’ll still bake just fine.
To freeze cooked baklava correctly, carefully wrap a couple of layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil around it and choose an airtight container or ziplock bag that is big enough. This way, the consistency and taste of your dessert will be almost intact when you are ready to defrost and eat it.
How Long Does Baklava Last in the Fridge?
Baklava, because of the ingredients and the preparation procedure, lasts longer than most desserts.
The shelf life is up to 2 weeks in the fridge when stored in an air-tight container. In fact, it lasts just as long at room temperature. However, the texture will be better preserved when it is kept cold.
Of course, there are some considerations to make when it comes to keeping it in the refrigerator.
One of the main characteristics of this Turkish-Greek dessert is its crispiness. If you don’t mind your baklava becoming chewy and slightly harder, you can store it in the fridge. Some people actually prefer it this way.
Because of the unique moisture content this dessert has, you’ll know you need to quickly eat your dessert once you realize it is starting to dry out.
Pro Tip: Baklava is made up of many layers, meaning that you have to store it properly to maintain its optimal texture. Wrapping individual portions in plastic might be the best option to keep this dessert in optimal conditions.
How Long Does Baklava Last in the Freezer?
Baklava can last up to 4 or even 5 months in the freezer when stored correctly. It really does not matter if you froze the dessert before or after baking.
If you follow the instructions we included in this section, you can enjoy your delicious dessert long after you’ve baked or prepared it. And you will be able to enjoy its unique taste and texture to the fullest.
You might prefer freezing the pastry in small batches or even individual serving sizes. Doing this will avoid you from having to thaw the entire dessert when you are in the mood for a treat.
Related How Long Can A Sandwich Sit Out Unrefrigerated?
How Do You Know if Baklava Has Gone Bad?
Not many know that it is the unique moistness of this dessert that prolongs its shelf life. With that said, it is not that complicated to detect whether it is still good to eat or not.
The best way to know if baklava has gone bad is by the way it looks. When your baklava begins to dry out, it’s getting close to the end of its shelf life. If tears or holes start to form, your baklava is going is probably close to going bad. The same applies if you notice spots or discoloration.
We mentioned that baklava lasts a couple of weeks at room temperature or in the fridge. However, outside temperature plays a role here. If you prepare baklava during summer, your dessert might last less at room temperature. In that case, it is best to store your pastry either in the fridge or in the freezer.
How Do You Reheat Frozen Baklava?
If you have frozen baklava before cooking, you should thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it rest at room temperature for a couple of hours. Cut the desired serving sizes before baking to avoid your dessert breaking up. Preheat the oven and place the baklava for 1 hour at 350 degrees F to cook it.
Pro Tip: It is best to wait a couple of hours before serving to enjoy this dessert the traditional way. In the Balkans and the Middle East, the areas of origin of this dessert, they always eat baklava at room temperature. Also, if you give the dessert some time to reach optimal temperature, all the flavors will come together in a delicious combination.
If you have frozen baklava after baking it, you should thaw it in the fridge for at least 6 hours. Even if some people like to eat it cold, despite the “tradition,” you shouldn’t be impatient during the thawing process. It is better to wait a couple of hours to get the most out of the unique flavors of this dessert.
If you are among the people that prefer their baklava warm, you can heat your cooked baklava in the oven. To avoid it drying too much, make sure you set your oven on low heat. Remember that you are just reheating the dessert and not baking it a second time.
If you are in a rush, you can always use the microwave on low power to warm it up a little. Just make sure it doesn’t dry, as that will completely change the taste of your dessert.
Can You Make Baklava Ahead of Time?
Baklava is a complex dessert to prepare. However, all the time and sweat poured into preparing it is worth it. The great news is that you can make this dessert ahead of time and enjoy it whenever you feel like it, given that you follow the appropriate procedures to store it and thaw it.
Depending on how you store your dessert, you might be able to preserve its characteristic crispiness. Retaining the optimal texture might be difficult in the fridge, but it is not impossible. All you have to do is ensure the container you store it in is air-tight. However, you should expect it to become slightly harder and chewy than when freshly made.
Final Bite
The great thing about freezing baklava is that you can be sure your dessert will have the same taste and texture as when freshly baked. We have mentioned it already, but it might be worth repeating it. For practical reasons, storing your baklava in individual portions can be a good idea.
I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for stoppin’ by!
For more, don’t miss Is Honey a Good Survival Food? How Should It Be Stored?
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
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