Can You Freeze Chocolate-Covered Pretzels?
Do you ever just get that sweet tooth and you need something quick and simple to snack on?
One of our favorite treats to keep on hand is chocolate-covered pretzels. We can make them easily and they’re relatively inexpensive as well.
You can do a lot of things with chocolate-covered pretzels and they seem like they last forever without ever going bad. The biggest struggle is not eating too many or keeping them from going stale before you make it through the huge batch that you made.
Can you freeze chocolate-covered pretzels? Yes, you can freeze chocolate-covered pretzels. Freeze them in an airtight, freezer-safe container so they stay dry since any moisture will cause freezer burn. Frozen chocolate-covered pretzels keep their best quality for up to 12 months.
You don’t even have to thaw your chocolate pretzels to enjoy them. In fact, you might find that you really enjoy frozen chocolate-covered pretzels. There is just something about frozen goodies like that!
In this guide, we will walk through the process for freezing chocolate-covered pretzels from start to finish. We will let you know all of the most important tips and tricks for the process and let you know just what to expect as well.
Keep reading to learn how to freeze chocolate-covered pretzels and more.
The Ultimate Guide to Freezing Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Chocolate-covered pretzels are a nice treat and a great way to make a semi-healthy snack. This is a simple snack or treat that you can pack up and take anywhere.
You can make them however you like, using dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate even. Pretzels and chocolate are relatively affordable so they make a budget-friendly snack as well.
Of course, you can also purchase chocolate-covered pretzels already made so you don’t have to mess with them if you don’t want to!
Making them is simple but storing them is also very simple and doesn’t take a lot of extra effort. The nice thing is, you don’t have to freeze or even refrigerate chocolate-covered pretzels but you can certainly do one or both of these if you like them chilled.
Properly Storing and Freezing Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate-covered pretzels can remain fresh for up to one month if they are stored properly. Even if you purchase specialty-made chocolate-covered pretzels, you can expect freshness for an extended period.
This is perhaps one of the most positive things about these tasty treats. Apart from extended storage, chocolate-covered pretzels can be stored at room temperature.
However, if you are worried about them, or if you like a chilled treat, you can put them in the fridge or the freezer and this will extend their shelf life overall.
You don’t need much for the best storage of your pretzels:
- Clean, airtight storage method with tight sealing to prevent staleness
- Dry storage, away from direct sunlight or high moisture areas
Now, let’s cover the official storage and freezing processes for your chocolate pretzels. After all, that’s why we’re here!
Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Freezing Process
As we mentioned earlier, your storage process for chocolate-covered pretzels is super easy.
You can store them at room temperature for about a month without ever worrying about them going bad or getting stale. The key is to be sure they are kept dry in an airtight container when you store them.
However, there are people who prefer to use freezer storage because they like the pretzels chilled, or perhaps they simply want to save them for longer than a month. You might experience this is you make a large batch or if you make your holiday candies ahead of time.
Freezing is a good option, although it is not necessary unless you need extended storage for your chocolate-covered pretzels.
Here are your steps for freezing chocolate-covered pretzels:
- Be sure that your pretzel chocolate is in a hardened state and that they are not freshly dipped or still slightly wet.
- We recommend a double wrapping process as well as separating them into layers or small portions. You can use small freezer bags or you can layer with wax paper.
- Start by either portioning your pretzels or layering them with wax paper. This will help to prevent them from sticking together in the freezer. It will also be beneficial to make small portions if you plan to just grab them and go later on.
- Wrap prepared pretzels in a layer of wax paper or plastic wrap. This is the first layer of protection against the freezer and will help reduce any likelihood of them going stale.
- Place wrapped pretzels into a freezer bag or airtight container.
- Label, date, and seal all packaging.
- Pretzels can be frozen indefinitely but we recommend enjoying them within 12 months.
Using Chocolate-Covered Pretzels After Freezing
The key to really being able to enjoy your pretzels after you’ve frozen them lies in how you treat them afterward.
If you like your pretzels chilled or frozen, you can eat them right away. There’s nothing special that you have to do here. You don’t have to thaw them or anything else.
BUT, if you don’t plan to eat them while they are frozen, there are some things you should know. In order to avoid your chocolate-covered pretzels potentially tasting stale after they’ve been frozen, there are some tips.
The most common problem with freezing these pretzels is the fact that the freezer has natural moisture in it that can affect the pretzels and make them taste stale or soft.
It is because of this that you want to be mindful if you are going to let your pretzels thaw out.
Here’s your process for thawing frozen chocolate-covered pretzels:
- Remove pretzels from the freezer and leave unopened (if not eating them right away).
- Allow the pretzels to remain wrapped while they thaw out.
- Leave the pretzels fully packaged and wrapped until they reach room temperature.
- Unwrap and enjoy at your leisure.
You don’t have to eat them within a specific time frame but the same storage rules apply as with non-frozen pretzels. Be sure to store them in an airtight container in a dry storage space. They should remain good for at least a couple of weeks.
Pros and Cons of Freezing Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Now, let’s talk about the pros and cons of freezing pretzels to give you an idea of what to expect during the process.
Pros to Freezing Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
- They are quite tasty when chilled.
- Freezing can extend the overall shelf life.
- They last indefinitely in the freezer.
- They’re convenient to pull from the freezer and go.
- No thawing is required.
Cons to Freezing Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
- The overall texture could be affected.
- The pretzel may absorb moisture from the freezer, making it stale.
- Pretzels may stick together when frozen.
- You might forget they are there.
It’s quite clear that the pros far outweigh the cons in terms of freezing chocolate-covered pretzels.
The one thing you should be aware of is the possibility that they will possibly feel stale or soft when you eat them, compared to the crispness that we are used to.
For the most part, when you make chocolate-covered pretzels, the recommendation to chill them is to only chill them long enough to harden the chocolate. However this chilling is not required as the chocolate should harden on its own at room temperature.
Freezing Chocolate-Covered Pretzels –
Conclusion
We want to remind you that you don’t need to freeze pretzels at all. They will last quite some time without being frozen.
However, there is nothing wrong with the process if you want to freeze them. After all, sometimes you just want a nice frozen treat.
Simply be aware that freezing them could lead to your pretzels being soft or potentially stale. However, if you follow the tips and tricks we’ve lined out for you in this guide, we don’t think you will have any issues with your pretzels.
Related Questions
We hope that you find this guide to freezing chocolate-covered pretzels to be a valuable source for the entire process. The process is nice and easy. Just remember to keep the air out when you package them.
We invite you to review the following question and answer sections for some additional details that might be helpful to you.
What is the Best Kind of Chocolate for Melting?
You can use any type of melting chocolate, including almond bark bars or chocolate chips. If you’re looking for the very best option, couverture chocolate melts very smoothly, but know that it can be hard to find.
Are Chocolate-Covered Pretzels Healthy?
Pretzels are a fairly healthy snack and if you’re mindful of the type of chocolate that you use, chocolate-covered pretzels can be fairly healthy as well.
In many cases, they are mostly low in fat and calories, especially when eaten in moderated portions. On the flip side, however, they contain very little nutritional value.
Will Chocolate-Covered Pretzels Go Stale?
Yes, it is possible for chocolate-covered pretzels to go stale, though maybe not as quickly as traditional pretzels if stored properly. They will last for several weeks if they are stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
