There are many questions to whether or not you can freeze coleslaw or not. The truth is you can as long as it is vinegar based and not mayonnaise based. Mayonnaise based coleslaw spoils rapidly, which why when you make up a batch you should only make up enough to feed the amount of people eating it. Trying to save mayonnaise-based coleslaw more than two days in the refrigerator to retain freshness is difficult enough.
However, vinegar based coleslaw remain freshest the longest and are safely frozen because the vinegar, sugars and spices typically used to make this type of coleslaw dish actually help preserve the shredded blends of veggies used to make a coleslaw dish such as the cabbage, carrots and broccoli.
Properly Freezing Vinegar Based Coleslaw
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It is always important to freeze vinegar-based coleslaw after it has been freshly made. You should never fresh coleslaw that is a couple days old because the chances of bacteria growing in it increase the risk of receiving food poisoning after eating it. To freeze a fresh batch of vinegar coleslaw simply scoop it into a freezer safe container, seal it shut well to prevent frostbite from occurring and place a label with the date you made the coleslaw onto the container. After, place the container in the freezer where it should stay fresh for up to 1-month. Trying to keep coleslaw longer than a month with drastically change the flavor and texture of it. Freezing coleslaw as it is makes it watery than usual because the veggies extract their juices the longer they are coated with a vinegar dressing.
Properly Defrosting Vinegar Coleslaw
The proper way to defrost vinegar coleslaws is by placing taking the container of it from the freezer and placing it directly into the refrigerator where it will take about 12-hours to defrost. Never place coleslaw dishes on the counter or in a bowl of water to defrost because this could increase bacteria growth in the coleslaw. Coleslaw must be kept at a constant cool temperature in order to remain fresh. Once the coleslaw is defrosted, it should be eaten up within 3-days. After that, any coleslaw remaining should be tossed out since you do not want to risk food poisoning.
End Notes to Keep in Mind
Overall, the best way to eat coleslaw is fresh the day it is made. Trying to store coleslaw any longer then a day while retain some crunch and flavor is almost impossible, which is especially true when it comes to coleslaw dishes made with mayonnaise dressing. With vinegar based coleslaws freezing is really only recommended when you want to make the batch up ahead of time for a cookout or dinner party to have on hand as an extra side dish later on when enough time isn’t available to you to make up a batch. Otherwise, freezing coleslaw is not recommended. Coleslaw always taste best fresh and stores the best in the refrigerator for the shortest amount of time possible.
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