Karen Blakeslee reminds lunch makers to keep tips for freezing sandwiches in mind
With school back in session, many parents are packing school lunches every day. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee said a great way to save time is to freeze sandwiches ahead of time.
The benefits of freezing sandwiches are numerous, she said, as they can help save time and money throughout the week. Some leftover meals can be turned into sandwiches to reduce food waste.
When considering freezing sandwiches, Blakeslee recommends using a hearty bread or day-old bread to withstand freezing temperatures.
“Keep nutrition in mind and choose whole wheat or whole grain bread,” she said. “Also, pack toppings such as tomato, lettuce and pickles separately without freezing.”
Blakeslee shared common sandwich fillings that freeze well, including:
- Peanut and other nut butters.
- Canned tuna and salmon.
- Cooked roast beef chicken and turkey.
- Natural or processed hard and semi-hard cheeses, such as Swiss or cheddar.
Some fillings don’t freeze as well. “Freezing toughens hard-cooked eggs, and jelly or jam can soak into the bread and make it soggy,” Blakeslee said.
Another factor Blakeslee said to consider is the dressing or spread. “Salad dressings, such as Miracle Whip, work better as a binder than mayonnaise because mayonnaise tends to separate on thawing.”
Blakeslee recommends experimenting with different spreads before making a freezer full of sandwiches.
When preparing these sandwiches, it’s important to keep in mind food safety practices.
“Wash your hands before preparing the sandwiches. Put frozen sandwiches in the refrigerator the day before to thaw in their sandwich bag,” Blakeslee said. “When packing in a lunch box, use an insulated lunch bag with a small frozen gel pack. If a refrigerator is available, that is a good choice to keep foods cold.”
More food safety tips are available online from the Rapid Response Center for Food Science. Blakeslee also publishes a monthly newsletter, called You Asked It!, with timely tips for safe food in and out of the home.
More information is also available at local extension offices in Kansas.
PHOTO: Ham and turkey sandwich with chips. (Adobe Stock │ #150082453 – lindahughes)
