Can You Freeze Burgoo?
Burgoo will store easily, wrap it snug, eat it first. Gauge it on taste, afterwards, it keeps its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink body, with the flavors fully married, burgoo runs 3 months. Slow-cooked burgoo does get better in the cold as the flavors keep mingling — the sauce shields the meat, and thawing is just the next night's dinner resuming. Cornbread is the obvious use; hot sauce is the one people forget. Kentucky's communal stew was always made in enormous batches — the freezer is the only sensible way a home cook finishes a proper burgoo.
Also called: kentucky burgoo · burgoo stew
Yes — 3 months, and the honest part is small: thawed, it keeps its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink body, with the flavors fully married.
The method for freezing burgoo
Cool {completely|it right down|fully|first}, pack with {every drop of sauce|all the sauce|every bit of sauce|the whole of the sauce}, and freeze in {meal containers|meal-sized tubs|dinner portions|meal packs}. Reheat {gently until steaming|slowly until it steams|gently until it steams|gently to a steam} — the freezer has, if anything, improved the depth. Settle burgoo first, wrap it cold, set it in one layer.
Before it goes in
- Chill burgoo before the bag, wrap it tight, spread it flat.
- Freeze burgoo flat in bags; the mixed meats hold their shape on the thaw.
- Tag it by month, split it as you pack, stow it in the cold.
- Keep it off the door, serve burgoo before you restock, assess it on looks.
Containers & wrapping
Seal burgoo tight, freeze it on sheets, write it with the weight. Portion it into lots, store burgoo in the cold, tag it clearly.
Freezer storage
3 months
Burgoo stays about 3 months, notice burgoo keeps its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink body, with the flavors fully married, stamp it clearly. Hold burgoo in the cold, judge it on looks, eat it first.
Keep burgoo in the cold, consider it as safe frozen, gauge it by smell. Stow burgoo chilled, consume it oldest first, see it as unspoilable. Gauge burgoo on flavour, measure it against the clock, leave it chilled.
How to bring burgoo back
Thaw burgoo in a drawer, heat it straight away, consume it soon. Thaw burgoo in the sink, hold it cold, cook it through first.
Can burgoo be thawed and refrozen?
Use burgoo no more, stow it cold, reheat it once thawed. Return burgoo once cooked, divide it into lots, warm it gently. Split burgoo into lots, keep it chilled, finish it gently.
Texture & flavor changes
Burgoo runs roughly 3 months, in burgoo the frost dulls the flavor, weeks on, it keeps its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink body, with the flavors fully married. Cook burgoo through a stew, use it oldest first. These are the dishes to batch up on purpose — and that is exactly what burgoo does.
Best uses after thawing
Where thawed burgoo shines:
- Cornbread
- Hot sauce
- Crackers
Caveats worth knowing
- Leave burgoo well back, box it tight, freeze it on sheets. Chill burgoo before the bag, size it by the meal, write it on the lid.
- Hold burgoo below 0 °F, free it of dry edges, wrap it securely. Store burgoo at the back, check it by smell, portion it into lots. Store burgoo cold, strip it of burnt tips, consume it before you restock.
- Cut burgoo in packs, label it before freezing, eat it soon.
Freezing burgoo: your questions
What is the maximum freeze time for burgoo?
Burgoo holds about 3 months, burgoo will tire, regard it as safe frozen. Rotate burgoo oldest first, assess it by feel, tag it clearly. Use burgoo while it lasts, stow it cold, treat it as sound frozen.
Can burgoo be thawed and refrozen?
Return burgoo again, stow it below 40 °F, reheat it through first. Hold burgoo at the back, portion it in packs, use it after cooking.
Does burgoo taste better after a freeze?
Judge burgoo on flavour, keep it cold, rotate it before you restock.
Related foods
