Chorizo is one of the less famous meats that many people haven’t tried or know about. However, if you are one of the few lucky people to have tried the chorizo, you will learn how amazing and delightful it tastes.
Chorizo originally comes from Portugal and Spain; it is a type of pork sausage that can bring out the fantastic taste of many different dishes.
Because chorizo brings a specific kind of depth and flavor to any dish, it is added to which can’t be achieved from any other type of meat.
Chorizo is different from other meats because of its taste and its short-term freshness, and since it is such delicate meat, we must learn ways to preserve it for longer.
Chorizo is so delicious that there are rarely some leftovers; however, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to store excess or leftover chorizo, you should know how to preserve it. But do you learn to maintain or freeze chorizo? No? Well, I will tell you how you can do it successfully.
This blog is for everyone who wants to freeze their chorizo for later use.
Can You Freeze Chorizo?
Chorizo is just like other meats; that is why it should be treated like other meat when it comes to freezing and storage of meat.
You can freeze chorizo like you can freeze every other meat. You can freeze it as a whole or in slices; you can freeze it raw or cooked or freeze it with its skin intact or cut.
But, there are a few things you should take care of and consider before you decide to freeze your chorizo and give them a good freezer life (which we will discuss in this blog)
5 Tips for Freezing Chorizo
Now that you have some chorizo in your hands that you need to freeze, there are a few tips you should know about and follow if you want perfect results when you defrost your chorizo. So, let’s get started on those tips.
Buy proportioned chorizo.
Most supermarkets have multiple options when it comes to chorizo. For example, they offer diced chorizo, full ring, cured, uncured, sliced, etc.
In addition, you can buy portioned chorizo, which is perfect for one dish. This way, even if you buy a lot of portioned packs, you can easily toss them in the freezer without any preparations.
Cook it in a dish
Instead of freezing your chorizo as it is or directly from the supermarket, you should freeze the dish you cook with chorizo.
Cooking ensures that all the harmful bacteria die, and you can quickly freeze that dish. We know that making a dish sounds tedious, but it is better to cook your meat than freeze it.
Try not to freeze-cured chorizo.
Cured meat doesn’t have an excellent record of freezing well; its taste gets altered, and even the scent changes.
If you freeze cured chorizo, you will notice a significant difference in its texture, taste, and smell, so avoid freezing cured chorizo and try to freeze it cooked or raw.
Don’t skip the wrapping.
The biggest challenge while freezing chorizo is to stop it from drying out. So, if you want to keep it fresh and moist even after months in the freezer, don’t forget to wrap it when you put it in the freezer.
Wrap it in 2-3 layers of foil or cling film and finally in a freezer bag or airtight container to stop it from drying beyond use.
Always remove the castings.
Most of the time (90%), chorizos come in their castings, protecting them from foreign scents or getting spoilt. Even though these castings are edible, you should still squeeze out the chorizo from that casting or cut it for cooking purposes.
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How Long Can You Freeze Chorizo?
When you properly freeze chorizo, i.e., sealed and packaged, then the meat can stay perfect in the freezer for 12 months.
The flavors will remain fresh, and the texture will be just like fresh chorizo. The meat will remain intact, and once you cook it, it will taste amazing.
Similarly, cured chorizos can also be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months, but the only difference between raw and cured chorizo is that raw chorizo stays the same.
Still, cured chorizo loses its taste a bit and gets a color change. But, the good idea is to utilize your chorizo (raw or cured) for 12 months to get the best of its taste.
How To Defrost Chorizo?
Now that you know you can freeze chorizo, it is time to learn how to defrost it. So, get ready to cook with your chorizo.
Ideally, you should take out your frozen chorizo a night before you want to cook it and then put it on a plate and then in the fridge to defrost slowly. But, if you forget to do so, then here is how you can defrost it quickly without altering its taste.
Steps to defrost chorizo
- Take out your chorizo and put it in a leakproof bag.
- Next, put them in a bowl of water and then let them sit in the water for half an hour. After that, change the water and then let it sit again in the water for 30 minutes.
- Finally, now that your chorizo is thawed completely, you can enjoy it however you like.
What Is The Good Temperature For Chorizo?
To keep cured chorizo outside the freezer, the ideal temperature is 20C. However, it is enough to keep them in their shape for a long time because they are a kind of processed meat.
But, if you have fresh chorizo, it should be frozen to keep them from going bad. The fridge can keep it cool enough to last longer than at room temperature.
However, if you keep your chorizos cured or not in the freezer at about -18C, then they can stay 12 months in their original shape.
How To Freeze Cured Chorizo?
Cured chorizo isn’t like fresh chorizo because of its taste, color, and freezing ability. If you want to keep the store-bought cured chorizo in a cool and dry place, it can last up to 3 months. However, it should be kept in the fridge if you open it.
I am telling you this because it isn’t recommended to freeze cured chorizo because freezing it can damage its texture and taste. However, if you still want to freeze your cured chorizo, then here are the steps you must follow.
Seal it properly:
Ensure that your meat is wrapped in cling film and then in foil to stay fresh in a vacuum and sealed storage bag. Moisture and air can spoil the chorizo.
Bag it once more:
Once you seal it in foil and cling film, then it is time to seal it again in an airtight freezer bag. The more you pack it, the better shape it will stay in.
Label and freeze
Ensure that you label the bag and then put it in the freezer for up to 12 months
How To Freeze Fresh Chorizo?
The best way to keep chorizo fresh for a long time is to freeze it. It doesn’t matter if you are freezing it directly from the market or breaking the seal.
It also doesn’t matter what shape the meat is in because when it is raw, chorizo is like other meats that you can freeze quickly. So, to freeze it, here are a few steps you should follow to freeze your chorizo.
Seal and bag them
Put your chorizo in a vacuum-sealed bag or a normal freezer bag and then in an airtight container. Try to protect it from as much air as possible so that it stays fresh even after 12 months in the freezer. Air and moisture can spoil your raw chorizo.
Label and freeze
Once your chorizo is all sealed and packed for freezing, then you should label it with the freezing date and expiry date so that you know to use it before 12 months. Then finally, put it in the freezer straight to avoid forming lumps.
Can You Freeze Cooked Chorizo Sausage?
You can basically freeze chorizo in any shape and form. Be it cured, raw, cooked, or uncooked.
The trick is in how you freeze it because if you don’t freeze it properly after wrapping it in several layers of foil and cling film, no matter what you freeze, it will get spoiled.
So freeze it in an airtight container to retain its aroma, taste, and texture. Apart from this, it would be best to let the sausage cool completely before freezing; otherwise, it will form ice crystals.
Can You Freeze Homemade Chorizo?
You can quickly freeze homemade chorizos because they are also like regular chorizo except for the additives. There are many chorizo-making kits available that can help you produce a lot of chorizos.
So, you can freeze all the extra chorizos if you won’t use them after 7 days of making them. Remember to freeze them in an airtight container to keep them fresh and tasting similar to fresh ones.
Can You Freeze Mexican Chorizo?
Mexican chorizos are slightly different from Spanish and English because they aren’t cured or processed. They have to be cooked before you can eat them.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t freeze them; instead, you can freeze them just like you would freeze any other meat or sausage. You can freeze Mexican sausage before and after cooking.
Final Verdict:
Now, whenever you bring a batch of fresh chorizos or cured ones, you will know how to keep them safe and fresh for longer.
But, you should remember that you must always check for how long you are freezing it and how you are doing so.
Always freeze your chorizo in an airtight bag to retain its texture, moisture aroma, and, most importantly, taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does cooked chorizo last in the fridge?
The fridge life of cooked chorizo is not much because once it is cooked, it will become dry and hard; it also loses its flavor, and that is why it isn’t recommended to keep cooked chorizo for longer than 2 weeks in the fridge (but, you should use it before 2 weeks).
Even then, when you take it out of the refrigerator, cook it perfectly to kill any bacteria growth and then consume it.
Can you put Mexican chorizo in the freezer?
Yes, you can. As we discussed above, chorizo can be frozen, no matter its condition, so that Mexican chorizo can be frozen. It will also freeze better than cured chorizo because it isn’t cured and has no additives.
If you freeze Mexican chorizo in an airtight container or bag, then it can last for 12 months in the freezer in perfect shape and condition.
How long does fresh chorizo last in the fridge?
The fridge life for fresh chorizo isn’t great because, in the fridge, they last only for a week (if opened) and 3-4 weeks (if sealed).
But, if you want to keep them fresh and stop them from becoming useless, then the best thing to do is freeze them. In the freezer, they will last long term.
Can you cook chorizo and then freeze it?
Yes, you can cook your chorizo and then freeze them. But, before you do so, you should completely cool your cooked chorizo, wrap it in foil and cling film, and then in a freezer bag to keep it fresh for later use.
Then once you decide to defrost it, you will need to heat it thoroughly to get it back in its shape and revive its taste.
Can you freeze cooked chorizo stew?
Yes, if you cook chorizo stew in a large batch, you can portion and freeze it. It will stay excellent in the freezer and can last up to 2-3 months without losing its taste, aroma, or texture.
Once you are ready to defrost it, you should heat it until it is bubbling to bring it back to its natural shape.
Can you freeze chorizo pasta?
Yes, you can freeze chorizo pasta. If you have leftover pasta, you can put it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for 3-5 days.
However, if you want to freeze a batch, completely cool it and put it in an airtight container for later use. Frozen chorizo pasta can be frozen for up to 3 months.
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