Frittatas are a delicious and versatile egg dish that can be made ahead of time and frozen for quick and easy meals later on. Freezing frittatas is a great way to save time and have nutritious home-cooked food ready to go. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to properly freeze frittatas.
What is a Frittata?
A frittata is an Italian egg dish similar to an open-faced omelette or crustless quiche. It starts on the stovetop and finishes baking in the oven. Frittatas are made with beaten eggs and additional mix-ins like vegetables, cheese, and meat. They have a tender, fluffy texture when cooked properly. Unlike omelettes which are folded, frittatas have an unfolded shape. This allows you to easily cut frittatas into wedges to serve.
Frittatas make an excellent breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner option. They are highly customizable based on whatever ingredients you have on hand. Some popular add-ins are potatoes, onions, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, ham, bacon, sausage, peppers, broccoli, and different cheeses like cheddar, swiss, feta, or goat cheese.
Benefits of Freezing Frittatas
There are several advantages to freezing frittatas:
- Saves prep time – Make a big batch when you have time and freeze individual portions to pull out later for quick meals.
- Avoid food waste – Leftover veggies and other ingredients can be used up in a frittata before they go bad.
- Have nutritious homemade food on hand – Frozen frittatas provide a fast option for breakfast, lunch or dinner instead of takeout or fast food.
- More variety – Prepare different combinations and flavors to pull out whenever you want.
- Easy entertaining – Pull frozen frittatas from the freezer to serve guests.
Tips for Freezing Frittatas
Follow these tips for best results when freezing frittatas:
- Use the right pan size – Choose an appropriately sized baking dish or pan so the frittata is about 2 inches thick before freezing. Too thick and it won’t freeze well. Too thin and it may dry out.
- Allow to cool completely – The frittata needs to cool to room temperature before freezing so it doesn’t get icy crystals or damage the texture.
- Cut into portions – Cut the cooled frittata into individual sized portions or wedges before freezing.
- Use freezer bags – Place each frittata portion into a labeled freezer bag. Squeeze out excess air and seal.
- Freeze flat – Lay the bags flat in a single layer in the freezer until fully frozen.
- Avoid freezer burn – Use frittatas within 2-3 months for best quality and taste.
How to Freeze a Frittata
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for freezing frittatas successfully:
- Prepare your frittata recipe as desired and bake until set in the oven. Allow to cool completely.
- Once cooled, run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the frittata. Gently slide it out onto a cutting board.
- Cut the frittata into 6-8 wedges or portions.
- Place each wedge into a quart sized freezer bag. Press out excess air and seal the bags.
- Lay the bags flat in a single layer in your freezer. Freeze for at least 12 hours until solidly frozen.
- Once frozen, you can stack the bags or place upright in your freezer. Label the bags with the contents and date.
It’s that easy! Now you’ll have home-cooked frittatas ready to defrost and reheat anytime.
How to Defrost Frozen Frittatas
Defrost your frozen frittatas in the refrigerator overnight. This slow defrosting prevents damage to the texture. Once thawed, you can reheat them in the oven or microwave.
To reheat in the oven, place frittata portions on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until heated through. Use the convection bake setting if you have it for faster reheating.
For microwave reheating, place each portion on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel to prevent splattering. Microwave in 30 second intervals until heated through, checking and rotating occasionally.
Leftover thawed frittatas should be consumed within 3-4 days. Reheat fully until steaming hot before serving. Frittatas taste best when freshly reheated.
Freezer Frittata Recipes
Almost any frittata recipe freezes well. Try out these delicious freezer-friendly frittata recipes:
Broccoli Cheddar Frittata
This cheesy veggie frittata is perfect for breakfast. Serve with salsa, hot sauce or sour cream.
- 8 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 2 cups diced cooked broccoli
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Whisk eggs with milk, salt and pepper. Fold in broccoli and cheddar. Pour into a greased 8×8 baking dish. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until set.
Sausage Potato Frittata
Hearty roasted potatoes and spicy sausage make this a satisfying meal frittata.
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, browned and crumbled
- 2 lbs red potatoes, diced and roasted
- 1 onion, diced
- 8 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack
Combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until set.
Spinach Feta Frittata
This Greek-inspired frittata has sautéed spinach and bold feta cheese.
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 cups fresh spinach
- 8 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and spinach, cooking until wilted. Transfer to a greased pie dish. Whisk eggs with milk, salt and pepper. Pour over spinach mixture. Top with feta. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes.
Vegetable Frittata Recipe
This veggie packed frittata is a great way to use up whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Ingredients:
- 8 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk or cream
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 cup diced zucchini
- 1 cup diced bell pepper
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup diced tomato
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook 3-4 minutes until starting to soften. Add zucchini, bell pepper, corn and tomato. Cook 5 minutes more until tender.
- Add veggie mixture to the bowl with the eggs. Stir to combine. Pour into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until eggs are set.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 2 minutes more until cheese is melted.
- Let cool 5 minutes, then slice and serve garnished with green onions.
| Vegetable | Notes |
|---|---|
| Onion | Yellow, white or red onion all work well |
| Zucchini | Small, diced zucchini is tender after quick cooking |
| Bell Pepper | Any color pepper can be used |
| Corn | Frozen or fresh corn adds sweetness |
| Tomato | Cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half also work |
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store frozen frittatas well wrapped in freezer bags up to 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat, bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave in 30 second intervals until heated through. Reheat fully until steaming hot. Serve immediately or refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days.
Adjust seasonings like salt, pepper or hot sauce after reheating if needed. Garnish with extras like sour cream, salsa or fresh herbs before serving.
More Delicious Frittata Inspiration
Frittatas are endlessly adaptable using whatever ingredients you have on hand. Get creative with these delicious frittata combinations:
- Ham, Swiss cheese and asparagus
- Chicken sausage, kale and cheddar
- Chorizo, potatoes and Monterey Jack
- Caramelized onions, bacon and goat cheese
- Broccoli, tomato and parmesan
- Mushroom, bell pepper and fontina cheese
- Salmon, dill and cream cheese
- Crab, arugula and gruyere cheese
Have fun mixing and matching your favorite vegetables, proteins and cheeses. A basic frittata recipe is very forgiving so you can customize it with ingredients you have on hand.
Conclusion
Freezing frittatas is an easy way to save time while having home-cooked food ready in your freezer. Allow frittatas to cool completely before cutting into portions and freezing in bags. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven or microwave. Include your choice of mix-ins like veggies, cheese, and meat in the egg base. Frittatas make excellent make-ahead meals for any time of day. Follow these tips for freezing and reheating frittatas successfully.