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Hollandaise sauce is an integral component of several tasty dishes. As you are probably aware, you will find it as a common ingredient for many breakfast or brunch dishes.
Its creamy texture and the sharp taste can’t help but make any dish shine. It is a classic sauce in every sense of the word
That said, it would be really handy if you always had it on hand. After all, you will probably be using this sauce frequently in the foreseeable future.
So can you freeze hollandaise sauce? Yes, you can freeze hollandaise sauce for up to a month. Since it is an emulsion sauce that contains egg yolk, it needs to be frozen and thawed properly so that the ingredients don’t separate or spoil.
The short answer to that is yes. However, we will delve deeper into this. This is because there is a proper way to do it. All of it, including other questions you might have, will be covered in this comprehensive freezing guide. So, be sure to keep reading!
What is Hollandaise Sauce?
Hollandaise sauce is considered to be one of the five mother sauces in French cuisine. It plays a crucial role in several dishes and it goes particularly well with vegetables, meats, and fish.
For most people, they would probably be familiar with hollandaise as the sauce that is often served with an eggs Benedict.
Of course, it is worth mentioning here that one of the main reasons why people keep asking if it’s alright to freeze hollandaise sauce is because it is such a pain to make. It involves creating an acid reduction from scratch then straining and clarifying the butter.
Needless to say, it is a complex and drawn-out process that entails a lot of whisking and demands your full attention.
Hollandaise is an oil-in-water emulsion sauce. Its main components are egg yolk, melted butter, and lemon juice. However, some recipes use vinegar or white wine reduction instead of lemon juice.
Then the flavors are rounded out with various seasonings including salt, white pepper, and cayenne.
Two ingredients immediately stand out – egg yolk and butter. As you are probably aware, these two ingredients need to be stored carefully to prevent them from going bad. Needless to say, their presence in hollandaise sauce makes it incredibly sensitive.
The fact that it is an emulsion is also a cause of concern for some people. They are concerned about how the freezing process will ultimately affect the mixture and the consistency of the sauce itself once it is thawed.
However, as we will explain in the following sections of this freezing guide, this should be no trouble at all. All you need to do is follow the correct freezing and thawing procedures.
Storing Hollandaise Sauce Properly
As a rule, ensure your fresh-made hollandaise sauce is kept warm before eating. Specifically, keep it out of the temperature danger zone between 40 to 140ºF (4 to 60ºC). As you probably know, this is the temperature where bacteria multiplies most rapidly.
At the same time, it is recommended that you consume the sauce within 2 hours at most. Otherwise, we recommend that you store and save your extra hollandaise sauce to prevent it from going to waste.
In this regard, you have two options available to you: you can either store it in the refrigerator or the freezer.
That said, know that both methods will affect the emulsion as the cold temperatures will cause the butter in the mixture to solidify. However, there are ways to fix this during the reheating process. So, let’s delve deeper.
Refrigerating Hollandaise Sauce
Refrigeration is a good option if you want your hollandaise sauce to last longer. If done correctly, it can last you for as long as two days in the fridge. So, be sure to follow the instructions presented below so that you can store your hollandaise sauce properly.
To refrigerate hollandaise sauce, follow these steps:
- Prepare a large bowl or a sealable refrigerator-safe bag.
- Carefully pour your excess hollandaise sauce into your container of choice.
- If you are working with a bowl, then carefully place the lid over it to ensure a tight seal. Otherwise, simply close the seal on the bag.
- Look for a clear spot in the refrigerator
- Store the sauce in the refrigerator for one to two days.
Take note that if you made your hollandaise sauce properly then you should have no trouble working it into your recipe even if it has been refrigerated overnight.
For instance, if you decided to refrigerate your leftover hollandaise sauce, know that you can even mix it with a newer batch. All you need to do is simply whisk until thoroughly combined.
Now, some people might be concerned about how the refrigeration process will ultimately affect the emulsion. To be more specific, they are concerned with how the sauce will be affected by the butter solidifying as it cools.
Luckily, you can easily restore its emulsification by whisking a single egg yolk into your sauce during the heating process. In short, there is nothing to worry about when we speak of refrigerating hollandaise sauce.
Freezing Hollandaise Sauce
Another effective way to store your hollandaise sauce is by freezing it. Contrary to what some people say, hollandaise freezes perfectly.
This method allows you to prepare larger batches in advance. Then, you can proceed to heat the sauce once the need arises. Needless to say, this presents you with a more convenient way to approach certain dishes that require this kind of sauce.
Before anything else, make sure that you have an ice cube or freezer tray and a freezer-safe bag on-hand. These will come in handy later.
Again, since you are freezing the sauce, we suggest that you make a bigger batch than usual since you’re going to the trouble of freezing it. This way, you’ll be able to maximize the effort you put into the freezing process.
That said, make sure to follow these steps closely when freezing hollandaise sauce:
- The first thing you need to do is to divide your sauce into portions. This is where you’ll need to use the freezer tray.
- Carefully pour the sauce into the tray and ensure that there is no spillage. Then, once the tray has been filled, you can proceed to place it in the freezer.
- Wait for an hour and check to see if the sauce has completely frozen. Once they are solid, take them out of the tray and place the frozen hollandaise cubes into a freezer-safe bag.
- Seal the freezer bags full of frozen hollandaise cubes and leave it in the freezer. Then, you can simply take out a couple of cubes whenever you need to add sauce to your recipe.
Take note that hollandaise sauce can last you as long as a month if properly frozen.
Thawing Hollandaise Sauce
If you decided to follow the instructions above and frozen your hollandaise sauce, then know that you will need to properly thaw it before serving.
At the same time, remember that it will take some time to liquefy. Trust us, the last thing you want is to put your frozen sauce in the microwave in an attempt to speed thawing. That is the best way to ruin a perfectly good batch of hollandaise sauce.
This is because the high heat and the rapid rise in temperature will inevitably break the sauce’s emulsion.
For the best results, you need to ensure that it is thawed at room temperature. To do this, simply take a couple of cubes from your freezer-safe bags and place them in a sandwich bag. Then, run it under cold water and wait for it to liquefy.
Remember, the temperature of hollandaise sauce doesn’t need to go higher than room temperature anyway.
Just make sure to give it a good stir now and then to check its consistency. Once the sauce is properly thawed, you can simply pour it over the hot ingredients of your dish.
Alternatively, if you have the time and patience, you can also leave your frozen hollandaise sauce cubes in the fridge overnight.
Related Questions
We hope this article was helpful for your hollandaise sauce freezing needs. Just in case, we’ve added a few related questions so we don’t leave you wondering about how to take care of your hollandaise!
Freezing Vs. Refrigeration – Which Method is Better?
Now, you may be asking, what’s the difference between these two aforementioned methods? At the end of the day, it depends on how much sauce you have leftover, and when you plan to use it.
For instance, we suggest using the fridge if you only have a small amount of sauce left. This is because your sauce will only last for two days or so.
Needless to say, refrigerating a huge bowl of hollandaise sauce isn’t advisable. As mentioned earlier, freezing is the perfect storage method if you are planning on making a huge batch of sauce that you will then parcel over several servings for the next month.
Can You Freeze Egg Yolks?
Egg yolks are one of the main components of hollandaise sauce, so it’s natural to ask – can you freeze this key ingredient?
The brief answer to that is: yes, you can freeze egg yolks. However, you need to prepare the yolks for the process beforehand. To do this, simply add a pinch of salt for every four yolks you freeze. This is crucial as the salt prevents the yolks from gelling.
There you have it: our guide to freezing hollandaise sauce. Make sure to follow the instructions we have presented here so that you can always have this wonderful sauce ready whenever you need it.
Up Next: How To Reheat Hollandaise Sauce
