Are you tired of eating regular sausages? Try little smokies instead! Smokies are mini sausages known by several names; a few of them are cocktail sausages, miniature hot dog wieners, or cocktail wieners.
Usually made from beef or pork, the tiny meat sausages are so easy to cook and delicious that everyone loves them!
Buying them in quantity is always a great idea because smokies are utilized in many ways. Little smokies are also light on your pocket, so I always buy them in bulk.
How can you preserve little smokies for future use? Or can you freeze little smokies? Little smokies are the perfect finger-licking appetizer at parties.
In addition to being great party snacks, these are also great protein-rich breakfast options, suitable for midnight snacking too. Here are all the do’s and don’ts about freezing little smokies.
Can You Freeze Little Smokies?
Frozen smokies are freezable. You can absolutely freeze little smokies if you plan to preserve them for a more extended period of time.
It is also unnecessary to cook these mini sausages before freezing as they can go inside the freezer raw. It has no impact on the taste and texture of smokies; once thawed and cooked or reheated, they taste fine.
The frozen smokies can then be thawed and used to make a lot of recipes. When it comes to cooking, these mini sausages are so versatile that you can be as creative as you like.
Eat them on their own, grill them up, or use them as toppings or fillings. They taste delicious in every form! I always have little smokies frozen in my kitchen, so I can make quick dinner fixes whenever needed!
How To Freeze Little Smokies?
How can you ensure that it does not compromise the quality and taste of smokies upon freezing? To freeze smokies the proper way, there are some things that you should always keep in mind.
First and foremost, know that you should keep extra moisture and air away from them. The more moisture, the more amount of crystals would form on the smokies, which later diminish their flavors when cooked.
The best way to freeze little smokies is to freeze them in their own packaging, as unopened smokies last longer in the freezer. Have an unopened pack of mini sausages and don’t know how they can be frozen?
Wrap 5-6 sausages together in aluminum foil and then add to a Ziploc bag or an airtight box. The foil will protect the smokies from freezer burns and keep them fresh for a longer time.
How Long Can Smokies Be Frozen?
Little smokies are made up of processed meat that usually includes pork, beef, and mechanically separated chicken.
When stored at a low temperature, processed meat stays good in the freezer for an indefinite period of time. So can you freeze little smokies indefinitely too? The answer is no.
You can freeze little smokies for up to two months. However, smokies would still be edible if you consume them after that period but will lose a lot of their taste and quality.
It is also not a good idea to eat smokies that were frozen for a really long period. So try consuming your little smokies inside the freezer within a month.
How Do You Defrost Little Smokies?
Cooking frozen mini-sausages without defrosting them is terrible because you will have a cooked exterior and a cold interior.
Defrosting smokies beforehand can help you avoid that unpleasant experience. Here is how to defrost mini sausages quickly and easily.
The best and most convenient method to defrost little smokies is effortless! Transfer your smokies to your fridge instead of the freezer overnight, and they will get thawed without spoiling. Another way to defrost smokies is by submerging them in lukewarm water.
Please don’t add the mini-sausages directly to the water; make sure that they are correctly packed in Ziploc bags or their original plastic packaging. Submerge those packets in the water, so the little smokies defrost quickly.
How To Reheat Little Smokies?
Sausage can be prepared in a variety of ways. I am sharing three basic ways here that you can use to reheat smokies.
The first one is the most basic; you can boil smokies to reheat them. Add some water in a saucepan at the stovetop and wait for it to boil.
Once the water starts boiling, place the desired amount of smokies in the saucepan, cover, and cook for around 2-3 minutes.
Don’t you prefer boiling little smokies? Use the oven instead. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a preheated oven at 180° Celsius and the sausages will be well-heated.
If the above two methods sound time-consuming, you can rely on your microwave to heat your smokies quickly.
Place a few mini-sausages in a microwave-safe dish and place it inside your microwave at high for 40-50 seconds. Covering the plate with a paper towel is excellent as it will absorb all the fatty grease.
Related content:
- Can you freeze cabbage
- How to freeze macarons
- Can you freeze mustard
- Can you freeze rice and red beans
Final Verdict:
Freezing little smokies is a great way to save them for later. They freeze pretty well! If you stick by the advice, you’ll be able to freeze the mini sausages efficiently. You can easily feed a crowd with little smokies without breaking the bank.
Avoid refreezing raw little smokies once they are thawed, although you can refreeze cooked smokies. You just have to keep extra moisture away and ensure that the Ziploc bags are appropriately sealed.
Others may even need help to differentiate between frozen and non-frozen sausages when you store them correctly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Freeze BBQ Little Smokies?
Yes! BBQ Little smokies can be frozen and then thawed whenever needed. Store them well in foil and plastic containers; they can stay good in the freezer for around 60 days.
Make sure that you utilize the frozen bbq little smokies within those 60 days; otherwise, their quality will deteriorate, and they won’t taste pleasant.
Can You Cook Little Smokies From Frozen?
Yes, it is not mandatory to thaw little smokies before cooking. I can directly add the smokies in many recipes while frozen.
For example, add your little smokies frozen in recipes where instant pots and slow cookers are used. They will thaw and cook during the process.
How Long Do Unopened Smokies Last In The Fridge?
Unopened smokies can last 7 days in the fridge, but it is not advisable. The temperature in the fridge is not as low as the freezer’s temperature bacterias spread quickly in the fridge and contaminate the smokies easily in the refrigerator, so you should not place smokies in the fridge even if they are unopened.
