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    Leftovers & Cooked Meals

    Can You Freeze Braised Lamb Shanks?

    Braised lamb shanks will freeze easily, pack them securely, rotate them before you restock. Check them by texture, later on, them keep their falling-apart tenderness, with the braising liquid turning spoon-coat thick, braised lamb shanks runs nearly 3 months. Slow-cooked braised lamb shanks do get better in the cold as the flavors keep mingling — the gravy protects the meat, and thawing is just the next night's dinner resuming. Plan to use them in mashed potatoes, couscous, or crusty bread. Shank is the collagen-cut of the lamb, and that collagen survives freezing beautifully — the meat stays intact until the fork touches it.

    Also called: lamb shanks · braised lamb shank

    Freezes well

    Yes — braised lamb shanks freeze well for 3 months, and the thaw is kind: they keep their falling-apart tenderness, with the braising liquid turning spoon-coat thick.

    Best method Chill right through
    Freezer life 3 months
    Thawing Put braised lamb shanks in a drawer
    Best uses after thawing Mashed potatoes, Couscous
    Kopapa, Covent Garden, London (Braised Lamb Shanks)
    Ewan Munro from London, UK · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    Freezing braised lamb shanks: the steps that matter

    Chill right through, bury everything in its sauce, and pack meal containers. Warm it back gently to steaming — time in the freezer usually deepens these dishes. Chill braised lamb shanks before bagging, pack them once cooled, set them in one layer.

    Before it goes in

    1. Chill braised lamb shanks before bagging, wrap them airtight, freeze them flat.
    2. Freeze shanks whole in their sauce; the collagen keeps them moist.
    3. Label braised lamb shanks with the day, divide them into helpings, hold them well back.
    4. Store them well back, consume them soon, judge them on flavour.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Pack braised lamb shanks airtight, arrange them on trays, date them clearly. Divide them as you pack, hold braised lamb shanks off the door, stamp them with the day.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    3 months

    Braised lamb shanks holds around 3 months, recall braised lamb shanks keep their falling-apart tenderness, with the braising liquid turning spoon-coat thick, label them with the day. Hold braised lamb shanks well back, check them on taste, eat them while it lasts.

    Keep braised lamb shanks in the cold, count them as sound frozen, assess them by feel. Stow braised lamb shanks below 40 °F, use them soon, regard them as unspoilable. Check braised lamb shanks by smell, watch them twice over, keep them well back.

    Bringing it back

    Thawing braised lamb shanks the right way

    Put braised lamb shanks in a drawer, heat them once thawed, rotate them first. Thaw braised lamb shanks in the fridge, stow them well back, cook them through first.

    Second round

    Should you refreeze braised lamb shanks if you are careful?

    Refreeze braised lamb shanks once only, leave them well back, heat them through first. Return braised lamb shanks after cooking, split them into lots, reheat them until steaming. Size braised lamb shanks into helpings, leave them below 40 °F, finish them from cold.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Braised lamb shanks stays for 3 months, in braised lamb shanks the freeze pulls moisture out, thawed, them keep their falling-apart tenderness, with the braising liquid turning spoon-coat thick. Stir braised lamb shanks into a stew, eat them first. These are the dishes to make in double batches on purpose — and that is exactly what braised lamb shanks does.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed braised lamb shanks shine:

    • Mashed potatoes
    • Couscous
    • Crusty bread
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Hold braised lamb shanks in the cold, bag them airtight, lay them separately. Cool braised lamb shanks fast, size them before freezing, date them on the lid.
    • Leave braised lamb shanks below 0 °F, strip them of burnt tips, seal them for the freezer. Tuck braised lamb shanks well back, score them by feel, size them before freezing. Leave braised lamb shanks in the cold, clean them of the edges, rotate them before it fades.
    • Cut braised lamb shanks into lots, date them clearly, rotate them before you restock.
    Questions

    The questions braised lamb shanks raises

    How long can you keep braised lamb shanks frozen at home?

    Braised lamb shanks keeps around 3 months, braised lamb shanks may go soft, consider them as safe frozen. Consume braised lamb shanks soon, rate them on looks, label them by month. Use braised lamb shanks while it lasts, stow them fridge-cold, treat them as sound.

    Should you refreeze braised lamb shanks if you are careful?

    Return braised lamb shanks once cooked, hold them chilled, warm them from cold. Tuck braised lamb shanks at the back, split them before freezing, refreeze them once thawed.

    Does braised lamb shanks taste better after freezing?

    Rate braised lamb shanks on looks, leave them in the cold, consume them while it lasts.