Can You Freeze Croissants? (How to Guide)

Nothing compares to the smell of fresh baking goods. Hard to resist and even harder not to try as you take them out of the oven. Buttery, flaky, and most importantly very delicious, croissants are the perfect baking idea for breakfast or as a dessert. A simple and easy idea that you cannot say no to.

This is a type of pastry that you can make at home whenever you feel like it and serve with many toppings or buy from your nearest bakery. However, if you bought or made more than you need you probably wonder if you can store them in the freezer.

Whether it is the unbaked batch or the baked one, is it a good idea to place them in the freezer?

Regardless of baked or unbaked croissants, they can be placed in the freezer and kept for a while. Of course, there are some rules that you need to follow if you want to have flaky and tasty croissants after defrosting.

Below you have a guideline on how to do it properly and a few extra tips that can help. Read on to learn how to thaw them properly as well as how long they can stay in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Croissants And How?

You made a batch of croissants that you’ll probably use for later and you need to know if you can freeze them. The short answer is yes.

The long answer includes steps you will have to follow to freeze them properly and defrost when you feel like it. Just follow the steps below so later on you can have freshly baked croissants as you’ve just made them.

1. You need plastic wrap to place the croissants into. Make sure to wrap each croissant individually.
2. You have to place them in a wrap with a few layers and keep the air out.
3. Use something to tighten up and seal the croissants
4. Place all of the individual croissants and place them in an airtight freezer bag and leave space in between.
5. Make sure that there is no air in the container either and do not forget to leave space in between.

If you plan on freezing the already baked croissants then you need to know:

1. Make sure that the croissants are cooled down before you freeze them. Once you remove them from the pan, just leave them until they are all cool to place them in an airtight container. 
2. In this case, we’ll make sure that each croissant is packed on its own and sealed up tightly. 
3. Your next step is to place them all in one but make sure again to leave space in between.
4. Again make sure that there is no air and the container is fully closed and sealed.

Extra Tips

Besides what we already mentioned, read some extra tips and tricks that will help you out.

1. You can freeze croissants before and after baking
2. Use aluminum foil as well if you have no plastic wrap. That way you’ll prevent the croissants from drying. 
3. Consume them within 2 months of storing so the freshness will be almost the same. 
4. When you decide that it’s time for baking, defrost the croissants in the fridge and then coat them with egg before baking.
5. If you have no time to defrost, then place the croissant directly in the oven. If you are baking then use foil at the beginning.
6. Keep in mind that once you reheat and defrost there is no going back. If you do it twice then you’ll lose the flakiness that the crossings have and the taste may not be the same. 

How To Freeze Croissants Dough?

Now that you know that croissants can be placed in the freezer, you probably want to know how you can freeze the dough itself. You made more than you planned, so there is a way that you can store and then bake whenever you feel like eating croissants.

Freezing croissants dough step-by-step guide:

1. Create the dough and shape it as a croissant. You can place each piece on a baking sheet and separate them. 
2. Your next move is to use the tray to place it in the freezer. Leave the tray until the croissants are fully frozen.
3. Take the tray with the croissants out, and one by one you have to store the croissants in a freezing bag. 

Here you need to know that after they are stored and frozen when you do decide that it’s time for baking, you have to take them the night before.

The dough needs to be thawed first before baking. So, preheat the oven and before adding them inside, wipe them with egg wash to make them flakier. Once they are baked, you are good to serve. But never place them back in the freezer. 

How To Thaw Croissants? 

Now that we know how to properly store the croissants either baked or raw, your next step is to know how to defrost them when you decide that it’s time for some croissants. You have to make sure that they are not exposed to any dangerous bacteria.  

Make sure to remove them from the freezer and leave them overnight in the fridge. This is the safest temperature so they can be good for eating. Regardless of the time needed for them to be defrosted properly, that is the best way to do it. 

There is also another option like defrosting them from frozen. This way you’ll have to allow the croissants to defrost and reheat at the same time, while they are in the oven. 

How Long Can Croissants Stay In The Fridge?

To keep the croissants fresh even after they are frozen, you have to store them properly first. In that case, they can last up to a year in the freezer, but it’s recommended to defrost them within two months. That way you will enjoy the freshness more, just as they were freshly made.

On the other hand, if you store them in the fridge, they can last up to a week. So after baking croissants, make sure to store them if you plan on eating them later on. If you keep them at room temperature, then they should be good for only two days. 

The Shelf Life Of Croissants And How To Tell If They’ve Gone Bad

If croissants are left at room temperature they can last up to 2 days, not more than that.  The possibility that the corrosion will go bad after the second day is very high. 

Further, if you store them in the freezer and they are properly stored, they can last up to a year, and the texture won’t get ruined.

However, croissants have a way of telling you that they are spoiled and they are no good for further use. You will see signs of mold. That is an indicator that it’s time to throw them away. There will be a smell as well and they are not good for eating.

Related Questions

Do baked croissants freeze well?

Baked croissants freeze well. In fact, they can last up to 2 months in the freezer. Place them in a bag and freeze properly.

Can you freeze and reheat croissants?

You can freeze and reheat croissants. However, to achieve that you have to make sure to store them properly and rehat once thawed so you can have flaky croissants with a buttery taste.

How long do croissants last in the freezer?

If they are properly stored they can last up to a month and even beyond.

How do you thaw cooked frozen croissants?

Regardless if croissants are stored baked or uncooked, you can use the oven to it. If you need to defrost before baking, just place them in the fridge.