How To Cook Frozen Pasties
Being able to buy frozen pasties is one of those modern conveniences that has made these delicious pastry snacks much more accessible!
From freezer to plate in no time at all, these family favorites make a quick and easy midweek dinner or speedy lunchtime snack.
But what is the best way to cook frozen pasties? Most frozen pasties are intended to be cooked from frozen in the oven and you can have freshly-baked pasties ready to eat in just 45 minutes using this method. You can also get great results from cooking frozen pasties in an air fryer to give the pastry a delicious crispy finish.
Want to learn more about the best way to cook frozen pasties? We have got all the answers and more for you!
We will take a look at the best methods for cooking frozen pasties and give you some tips on how to cook these tasty treats to perfection.
What Are Frozen Pasties?
A pasty, or pastie, is a traditional British food item that is now enjoyed all around the world.
They are made by placing a savory filling, normally meat and vegetables, on one half of a shortcrust pastry circle.
The other half is folded over the top to create a semi-circular pie, with the edges sealed by crimping them together.
The most famous pasty is undoubtedly the Cornish Pastie, from Cornwall in England.
These legendary pasties were the ultimate packed lunch for fieldhands and miners — definitely much more satisfying than the hunk of bread and meat that many laborers and farmhands were accustomed to!
Whilst homemade pasties are very satisfying to make, there are now some great quality frozen alternatives available. These come with a range of different fillings to suit all tastes, including beef, chicken, and vegetable.
Premade pasties are quick and easy to cook, giving you the satisfaction of a freshly baked pasty without the hassle of making one from scratch. They can be eaten as the main part of a dinner, with potatoes and vegetables on the side.
Frozen pasties can also be cooked up as a quick and easy snack in a matter of minutes.
Do You Need To Thaw Frozen Pasties Before Cooking Them?
It is not always necessary to thaw out frozen pasties before cooking them — most manufacturers actually recommend that they be cooked from frozen for the best results.
However, you may occasionally come across a brand of frozen pasty that should be thawed before cooking, so check the manufacturer’s instructions carefully!
If you were to accidentally thaw some frozen pasties, they should never be refrozen without cooking them first. This applies even to pasties that are intended to be cooked from frozen!
Luckily, as we will reveal below, cooking frozen pasties that have been thawed takes only a slight modification of the cooking method.
What Is The Best Way To Cook Frozen Pasties?
Most manufacturers of frozen pasties recommend that they are cooked in the oven, as this is the tried and tested method of cooking pasties used for many centuries.
Cooking frozen pasties in the oven will ensure that the filling is cooked through and piping hot, with crisp, light pastry that melts in the mouth.
The great thing about these pre-prepared pasties is that they are normally cooked from frozen, so all you need to do is take them from the freezer and pop them onto a baking tray in a preheated oven.
Then it is just a matter of enjoying the delicious aroma of freshly-baked pastry wafting through the kitchen, in anticipation of the gastronomic delight to come!
The reason that frozen pasties are normally cooked in the oven is that the shortcrust pastry is raw, although the filling is frequently pre-cooked. Some frozen pasties are even parbaked, meaning that they are half-baked.
Whether your pasties are raw, parbaked, or fully cooked, the single best way to cook anything made with pastry is in the oven!
The circulation of hot air around an oven is the ideal method for cooking pastry without turning it soggy or overly crisp. It will also allow heat to penetrate right into the pasty filling, ensuring it is piping-hot and delicious.
Step-By-Step Guide To Cooking Frozen Pasties In The Oven
Cooking frozen pasties in the oven is a quick and easy process, and you will have these delicious pastry-based snacks ready to eat in no time at all.
Here is our step-by-step guide to cooking frozen pasties in the oven, with some optional steps to make them even more delicious:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Unwrap the desired amount of pasties and place them on a non-stick baking sheet, or an ordinary baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave a gap of at least one inch between each pasty.
- Some frozen pasties are pre-glazed, but if not you can opt to glaze them yourself with an egg wash. Whisk one egg and a tablespoon of water together, and brush the glaze onto the frozen pasties.
- Cook your pasties in the center of the preheated oven until their internal temperature reaches 165°F. The cooking time will depend on several factors, but an average-sized frozen parbaked pasty should take around 45 minutes to heat through.
- Removed the cooked pasties from the oven and allow them to stand for 2-3 minutes, then serve. Take care, as the filling will be piping hot!
How Long Do Frozen Pasties Take To Cook In The Oven?
There are many factors that will affect how long frozen pasties take to cook in the oven.
The easiest way to check they are cooked is with a meat thermometer — they should be cooked until the filling reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, then you will need a bit more guidance to figure out the cooking time your frozen pasties need. In most cases, the packaging will tell you the optimum cooking time and temperature.
The industry average cooking time is 45 minutes at 350°F for frozen pasties. However, some factors can increase or decrease this cooking time.
Larger pasties will take longer to cook, as will those that are supplied with raw pastry and filling. Smaller pasties or those that are prebaked will cook much faster.
And if you thaw the pasties out before cooking them, the time spent in the oven can be reduced to just 15 minutes.
When frozen pasties are cooked to perfection, the pastry casing should be crisp and golden, and the filling should be bubbling and piping hot.
Can You Cook Frozen Pasties In An Air Fryer?
The manufacturers of some frozen pasties suggest that they can be cooked in an air fryer.
And because of the way air fryers work, you will get incredible results if you use this handy little appliance to cook your frozen pasties.
Frozen pasties that are cooked in an air fryer will normally be crispier on the outside compared to the oven-cooked version. They will also taste more like fried food, without any frying having taken place.
In terms of flavor, frozen pasties will taste exactly the same when cooked in an air fryer compared to when oven-baked. This method will give you a delightfully crispy pastry pocket, filled with whatever tasty filling you have chosen.
To cook frozen pasties in the air fryer, place the required number of pasties in a single-layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in two or more batches if you need a large number of pasties.
Luckily, this method is much faster than cooking them in the oven, and you can keep your first batch warm in a preheated oven while you cook the remainder.
Here are some simple guidelines to cook frozen pasties in an air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F, then place the basket with a single layer of pasties into the fryer for 6-8 minutes.
- Flip the pasties over, then return the basket to the fryer for another 6-8 minutes.
- Remove the basket from the fryer and allow the pasties to stand for 2 minutes before serving.
As with the oven-baking method, cooking times may vary according to the size of the pasty and whether they have been prebaked or not. Check that the pastry is crisp and golden and that the filling is bubbling hot!
Can Frozen Pasties Be Cooked In The Microwave?
A microwave is never a good option for any food items that involve pastry, but in a pinch, there are some situations where you could use it for frozen pasties.
If you have frozen pasties that are pre-cooked — we’re talking completely cooked here, not parbaked — then you could defrost and reheat them in the microwave.
But if your frozen pasties are made from raw or parbaked pastry, then step away from the microwave! Pastry cannot be cooked in the microwave, only reheated.
When it comes to reheating pasties in the microwave, the results are not always the best — the soft filling of the pasty will likely ooze into the pastry as it starts to warm through, making the crisp golden pastry turn soggy and unpleasant.
We’d suggest that you only use this method if you’re in a big hurry, and otherwise stick to the oven or air fryer instead!
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