A mooncake is a Chinese pastry that is traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncake usually comes in a box that contains 4 to 6 pieces of mooncake. Most people will only eat 1 or 2 mooncakes each day due. Since the pastry doesn’t last very long at room temperature, you may wonder if you can freeze any leftover mooncakes or want to save them for later.
Yes, it is possible to freeze mooncakes. With the right precautions, you can make sure that your mooncakes will be as good as fresh ones when they thaw.
After reading this article, you will be able to answer the questions related to freezing mooncakes.
What Are Mooncakes?
Mooncakes are a traditional Chinese food that is a popular dessert in China. They are served in the Autumn and eaten throughout the year. The cakes have a dense filling made from lotus seed paste, peanuts, walnuts, or sesame.
A typical mooncake consists of several thin layers of cake with different types of fillings sandwiched between each layer. Traditionally these layers were made with lotus seed paste (the traditional filling) and ground white sugar between each layer.
Do Mooncake Freeze Well?
Mooncakes freeze well and they can be served as cold desserts or heated up to eat as warm ones. When freezing them, place them at room temperature for about an hour before putting them in the freezer so that air bubbles don’t form on their surface, and then wrap each cake individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before putting it into an airtight container or bag to avoid freezer burn.
How to Freeze Mooncakes
If you need to freeze some mooncakes, the process to do so is straightforward and doesn’t require much time.
Below are the steps to freeze mooncakes:
Step 1: Preparation
If you have any leftover, make sure that it hasn’t spoiled yet. Most mooncakes have about 2-3 days shelf life at room temperature. If it’s been longer than that or the pastry is hard, it’s best to not freeze it.
Step 2: Add Butter
To keep the cake from breaking while freezing, spread a thin layer of butter on top of each one before wrapping it up.
Step 3: Wrapping
Wrap each mooncake individually in plastic wrap or tin foil.
If you want to freeze the mooncakes together rather than wrapping them individually, put them on a tray or cookie sheet, cover them with wax paper, and store it all together.
Step 4: Place in Freezer Container
Place the wrapped mooncake in a freezer bag or an airtight container.
If using a freezer bag, press on it to remove any excess air before sealing.
Step 5: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the bag or container. Then place them into the freezer for storage.
How Do You Defrost Mooncakes?
Mooncakes are a traditional Chinese food made of rice flour and other ingredients. The mooncake is round and has stuffing inside, usually lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or date paste.
The following steps will help you to defrost mooncakes:
1. Take the whole cake out of its wrapper and place it on a plate.
2. Put the plate in the fridge (or freezer) for about 12 hours.
3. Take it out from the fridge and microwave for 7-8 minutes or until soft enough to eat comfortably.
4. Eat while still warm or cool before placing them in an airtight container and storing them in the fridge for up to 1 week (for best flavor).
But if you are in a hurry, it is better to microwave the mooncakes. However, there’s a chance that it will become dry and hard.
Can You Refreeze Mooncakes?
It’s not a good idea to refreeze mooncakes. Due to the ingredients used, during freezing, the texture of the mooncake has already changed. Once it’s thawed, some of the texture will separate and break apart.
By freezing them again, the texture will separate even more and you’ll have a mooncake that will be like crumbs when it thaws again.
How Long Can You Freeze Mooncakes?
Mooncakes generally don’t last very long in the freezer due to the ingredients used. Typically, mooncakes will last for about 2 months in the freezer. This is if it’s properly stored in a wrapper and in an airtight container.
After that time, the mooncakes can still be eaten, but their taste and texture will decrease. Therefore, for best quality, always try to eat them within a month.
Conclusion
If you find yourself not able to finish the mooncake within a couple of days or simply want to save them for later, freezing them is possible. Just make sure that it’s well wrapped to prevent air and moisture from damaging it.