So, dinner’s over – but you still have over half a pan of freshly-baked, perfectly moist, and oh-so-soft cornbread.
Unfortunately, cornbread doesn’t have an unlimited lifespan, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t store it for later. If you leave it in the fridge for a couple of days, it’ll go stale – and that’s no good. You want your cornbread to stay every bit as delicious the next time you eat it.
So, can you freeze cornbread to make it last longer?
If you’re looking for answers to this – and other – cornbread-related questions, this is it.
Let’s dive in!
Cornbread Storage Tips: How Long Does Cornbread Last?
The deliciousness of freshly-baked cornbread is hard to beat. It’s soft and moist but with the perfect touch of crumbliness with each bite.
If you, by any chance, have some leftover cornbread or made some in advance – storing it for later consumption is certainly an option.
Freshly baked, traditional cornbread retains its deliciousness for up to two days at a room temperature of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. So, as far as short-term storage goes, kitchen counters or the pantry are okay.
What about storing your cornbread in the fridge to make it last longer?
- When refrigerated, cornbread can retain its freshness and deliciousness for up to a week. So, yes, if you want to prolong its shelf life, refrigeration is a much better solution than storing cornbread at room temperature.
- That’s especially the case if you went with a “fancier“ version of the recipe and made cornbread with cheese, veggies, and other perishable products. It would help if you refrigerated it as soon as it cools down.
The same goes for traditionally-made cornbread:
- If you have enough leftovers to last for the next couple of days, refrigeration is the way to go. Cornbread can last up to five to seven days when refrigerated!
- If you intend to eat the cornbread in the next few days, then freezing it doesn’t make much sense; refrigeration is your best bet. If you’re looking for a more long-term cornbread storage solution, though, then stick around!
Bonus Tip: Regardless of which storage method you choose, you should always wrap the leftover cornbread with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can seal it in an airtight food container or a resealable freezer bag.
How To Tell If Cornbread’s Spoiled
It’s not that difficult to spot cornbread that’s gone bad – and even before it does, it will give you a few warning signs, too:
Much like regular bread, before cornbread goes bad, it goes stale.
It’s still perfectly safe for consumption once it reaches this stage, but it probably won’t taste that good.
That said, here are a couple of signs that your cornbread went from stale to bad:
- Mold – If it started developing discolorations and mold, then it’s undoubtedly spoiled. At this point, cornbread is no longer safe for consumption.
- Smell – A sour smell is a pretty clear indicator that your cornbread has spoiled – even if the odor is relatively mild – and is no longer safe to eat.
- Moisture – If you notice that your cornbread’s being stickier or soggier than usual, there’s a pretty good chance that it went bad – especially if a sour smell accompanies the stickiness.
Can You Freeze Cornbread – And How?
Yes, you can freeze cornbread – and quite successfully so. Freezing cornbread is a much better way to store it and, more importantly, make it last longer than merely refrigerating it for a couple of days.
When you keep cornbread in the freezer, you can extend its “shelf life“ by up to two to three months. Refrigeration, on the other hand, only keeps the cornbread from going stale for a couple of days, tops.
Whether you have more leftover cornbread than you hoped or you like baking it in advance – having some in store for those lazy Sunday mornings is beyond convenient – freezing is the way to go.
However, you can’t just throw the leftovers into the freezer and hope for the best. While it’s true that cornbread handles freezing pretty well and retains its original quality for several months at a time, there are still some things to keep in mind.
Freezing cornbread is pretty easy, though; as long as you follow a few critical steps listed below, you have nothing to worry about:
1. Let It Cool Down
If you’re baking cornbread in advance and plan to freeze the whole thing, you need to allow it to cool down for a couple of hours.
Going straight from the oven to the freezer is never a good idea, regardless of what type of food you’re freezing. That could mess up the freezer’s internal temperature, defrost other foods, and even cause bacterial growth.
2. Split It Up Into Portions
Now, this step depends on the amount of leftover cornbread you have. If you have more than what you could realistically consume in a single meal, it’s highly recommended that you split it up into appropriately-sized portions.
Not only will this make it easier to find room in the freezer, but it will ensure that you only defrost as much cornbread as you need at any given time.
3. Wrap It Up
Once you have the cornbread cut into portions, it’s time to think about how you’re going to protect it from drying out and developing freezer burns.
You can either use freezer bags or aluminum foil or if you want to play it extra safe, then both. First, wrap each portion in foil, and then place them in resealable freezer bags.
Make sure that you squeeze out any air before you seal the bags, though. Otherwise, the cornbread may develop freezer burns or soak up odors from other foods in the freezer.
4. Put Into Airtight Containers (Optional)
Now, this last step is optional, but if you want the cornbread to retain its shape and form, it would be best to put the portions into freezer-safe containers for good measure.
That’s about it – you’re now ready to chuck your cornbread into the freezer!
How To Thaw & Reheat Cornbread
Considering that you’re here, reading a guide on freezing cornbread, it’s safe to assume that the out-of-the-oven freshness is out of the picture. Right now, you need to recapture that same flavor and moisture in your not-so-fresh cornbread that just came out of the freezer.
Yes, it’s frozen solid right now, but as long as you follow a few essential guidelines regarding thawing and reheating cornbread, you’ll be enjoying your cornbread in no time!
First Stop – Defrosting Your Cornbread:
- Take out a portion or two – depending on how much you plan on consuming that day – and allow it to defrost slowly in the fridge, preferably overnight. It’ll be thawed and ready for reheating by the time you get up.
- Alternatively, you can let it sit at room temperature for a couple of hours – whatever works for you.
- We recommend that you defrost it without removing the original plastic wrap, as it helps the cornbread regain some of the moisture that it might’ve lost while sitting in the freezer.
The next step is, of course, Reheating The Cornbread – and using the oven is your best bet when it comes to keeping it as moist and flavorful as it was when you first made it:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the plastic wrap and aluminum foil that protected the cornbread while it was in the freezer.
- Wrap the cornbread in a fresh layer of aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet. Alternatively, you can put it on a baking tray and cover the whole thing with aluminum foil. Either way, the point here is to prevent the top from burning.
- Let it sit in the oven for up to 10 to 15 minutes – no more than that.
- You can add a light layer of butter on top for an extra-rich flavor. This part’s optional, but oh-so-yummy!
Allow it cool before serving – and enjoy!
Conclusion
You came here wondering, can you freeze cornbread – but we hope that you learned a lot more about cornbread than that today!
You have three possible ways to store leftover cornbread, and depending on which one you go for, you can keep it fresh and yummy for as little as a few days to up to three months. Freezing is, of course, the go-to method for extending its shelf life – but it’s all about how long you want to store the cornbread.
Either way, now you know that you can have cornbread every time you feel like it, not just when it’s freshly baked. Enjoy!