Can You Freeze Quesadillas? – The Best Way
If you’re anything like the majority of the world, you like to have simple dinner options. In fact, maybe you prefer to prepare options ahead of time and freeze them for later use. The problem is, it always seems like we get in a rut making the same things over and over. We need to change it up!
Quesadillas are a delicious way to change things up. Whether you enjoy Mexican cuisine or not, quesadillas are delicious and they can be made to your personal preferences. Make them with pepperonis and cheese and they resemble a pizza, or you can make them with just cheese. You can also add any veggies and meats of your choice.
Quesadillas are pretty simple to make initially but it’s important to know how to store leftovers, particularly if you’re making them as a meal to use later.
Can you freeze quesadillas? You can freeze quesadillas for up to 4 months, but we recommend using them within 2 months for the best quality. Freezing quesadillas on a flat cookie sheet and then transferring them to an airtight container is the best way to make sure they freeze properly and are easy to thaw and reheat.
In this guide, we will walk you through the entire process for how to freeze quesadillas. We have a lot of great quesadilla information to share with you, from preparing delicious quesadillas to freeze them, and even how to use them after you’ve frozen them. We hope you’re ready for this!
Keep ready to learn all about freezing quesadillas and more.
The Complete Guide to Freezing Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a very simple meal solution that can be made in a number of different ways. They are considered a Mexican dish and even fall into the taco category if you want to be technical about them.
Quesadillas are made using a tortilla and filling it with cheese and then your choice of other fillings. These can include things like spices, beans, meats, veggies, and more. The primary ingredient for a quesadilla is cheese. The other things are just bonus ingredients.
When you serve a quesadilla, you can always top it with things like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. You can serve them with sides of beans and rice.
Or, on the flip side, you can just eat your quesadilla with no sides and no toppings required. The choice is up to you!
You then cook your quesadilla on a griddle or in a pan. Most people butter the tortillas or use cooking spray. This helps to get them nice and crisp and they brown. Everything oozes together for the perfect, simple, cheesy concoction.
Storing and Freezing Quesadillas
Here’s what you need to know to put your mind at ease. Freezing quesadillas is easy. There is a bit of a process to it but it’s nothing complicated. No matter what types of ingredients or fillings you have put in your quesadilla, the process is exactly the same every single time.
You can store quesadillas in the fridge for about 3 days, which is great if you’re just looking for a simple solution for leftovers and you know you’re going to eat it within a couple of days.
If you’re making them in bulk or you don’t plan to eat them within 1-3 days, we recommend just freezing them. It will make your life easier!
If you do store them in the fridge, just be sure that you package them up so they don’t dry out. You can wrap them in foil or plastic wrap or you can place them in a sealing bag or even an airtight container. You just want them to be sealed away so the air doesn’t dry them out unnecessarily.
Here are the steps for freezing quesadillas:
- Lay cooked quesadillas flat on a cookie sheet or pan of some sort.
- Complete a pre-freeze process, placing the tray in the freezer until the quesadillas become firm. This will only take 1-2 hours.
- After you complete the pre-freeze process, wrap each quesadilla individually or place into a heavy-duty freezer bag or an airtight container.
- Label, date, and seal up all packaging to keep the air from drying them out.
- Freeze your quesadillas for up to 4 months. It is recommended that you use them within 2 months for best quality but you can freeze them longer.
As you can see, this is not a hard process. You just want to be sure to complete the pre-freeze portion of the process so that your quesadillas don’t stick together or fall apart in the freezer.
Using Quesadillas After Freezing
When you’re ready to enjoy your quesadillas again after having frozen them, it’s very easy to do so. There are several different reheating methods you can choose. We’re not going to dive too deep into this process in this guide but we wanted to give you a basic overview.
You can easily heat your quesadilla in the microwave. Remove it from the container or storage method, whether it’s plastic wrap or a freezer bag. Heat the quesadilla in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until it is warmed through.
You can also reheat them in the oven pretty simply. This does take a few more minutes by the time you heat the oven and bake it but the result is that you don’t have to worry about a mushy quesadilla. Your quesadilla will taste and feel as good as new when you use this method.
No matter what you do, just know that enjoying your quesadilla is simple, as is the preparation and the freezing process. There’s nothing hard to any of the process and this could be an ideal solution for a quick and easy meal on the go.
Quesadilla Filling Ideas
Making quesadillas is not a challenging process. You simply prep your fillings, prep your tortilla, and then fold the tortilla in half and fill the inside pocket with everything you desire – don’t forget the cheese. The cheese is one of the most important ingredients.
Once you’ve filled it, you cook it a few minutes on each side. Then you slice it and serve it however you like.
Remember that you can add toppings like Pico de Gallo, guacamole, or sour cream. You can dip it in salsa and you can serve it with the accompanying side dishes of your choice.
It’s really that simple!
Here are some great ideas for different filling options you might want to try in your next quesadilla adventure.
- Bell peppers
- Jalapenos
- Pepperonis
- Steak
- Shredded chicken
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Beans
- Shrimp
- Avocado
- Corn
These are just a few ideas. You can search quesadillas and find any number of different recipes or you can get creative and choose your own ingredients.
That’s one of the best things about quesadillas, you really don’t need a recipe, you just need your own creativity!
There are so many ways to mix it up and if you plan to make a bunch and freeze them, you should have fun with it so you can pull out different varieties at different times.
Related Questions
We hope that you find this guide to freezing quesadillas to be a valuable and useful resource that makes the process smooth and simple. Freezing your quesadillas is pretty easy if you keep in mind the small tips and tricks to make it successful.
We invite you to review the following question and answer section for some additional information that could be helpful to you.
Does the Freezer Harm the Tortillas?
Tortillas actually freeze really well, whether you freeze them plain or in use, such as with a quesadilla or burrito.
You just want to package them well and seal them up in an airtight method to prevent them from drying out in the freezer.
What is the Best Cheese for Quesadillas?
You can use any cheese you like. You can even use a mixture of cheeses. You do want to choose a cheese that melts easily as the melted cheese makes a major difference in the quality of your quesadilla.
Some good options include Colby, cheddar, Asiago, Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, queso, and Gruyere. There are many other options as well.
How Do You Make Quesadillas Crispy?
You might have heard recommendations to butter your tortilla but one of the best ways to make a crisp quesadilla is to butter it only lightly. You can also just use butter or even cooking oil in the pan you’re cooking them in.
The key to a crisp quesadilla is to use a light amount of butter or oil and not overdo it so it doesn’t get greasy or soggy.
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