If you are yet to try crepes, then you have been missing out. Crepes are very delicious, they are thin and have a structure like that of pancakes that will melt in the month. If you love crepes, coming here wouldn’t have been better at this time. Crepes are a versatile meal that you can do a whole lot of things with. You could eat them after rolling with butter or add toppings such as fruits. They can be enjoyed in several ways.
It is easy to prepare crepes in large portions and you will need to find the method you will use to store them. This is why we want to find out if you can freeze crepes. The process of freezing crepes is a very simple one and you can make crepes in large portions and place them inside parchment paper or freezer bags and then into the freezer.
What we will check out in this article is to find out the instructions associated with freezing your crepes. You will also find out some basic knowledge about crepe which includes how they can be made. You should continue reading if you want to find out all you need to know concerning how you should freeze your crepes.
A Complete Guide to Freezing Crepes
It is a bit easy to make crepes. They are airy and light and used commonly for breakfast or dessert menu options. Many things can be done with crepes, crepes are just like pancakes, however, there are some definite differences between them.
What is a Crepe?
In case you don’t have any familiarity with crepes, you are in the right place. Crepes originated from France and essentially, it is a thinly created pancake. They can be done to either be savory or sweet. Crepes can be rolled to hold the toppings or served flat with the toppings.
Crepes are served most commonly by filling and wrapping them like burritos. Don’t forget you can make crepes in two different ways (savory or sweet), the fillings will vary based on the type you want to make. Crepes are mostly known for sweet and it is more common than the savory. Check below for some wonderful ideas you can use crepes for:
- Fill with bananas, almond slices, and then use chocolate to drizzle it.
- Top with syrup and powdered sugar.
- Roll with a variety of creams and fruits.
- Top with a variety of creams and fruits.
- Fold and then top it with Nutella, cinnamon, and bananas.
- Fill with eggs and meat.
- Top with yogurts and oats.
- Fold and then fill it with sautéed mushrooms.
You will notice that you can eat crepes in several ways, irrespective of if you are eating them with vegetables or sweets, you have a lot of options available. The list highlighted above is only a few of the popular ideas you will find out there for crepes, however, there are other ideas you can use.
Pancakes vs. Crepes
Pancakes and crepes are usually considered to be used interchangeably. They are quite very similar, but they are unique in their characteristics. Both are served typically in different ways. You will always serve pancakes flat, you can top them with a variety of toppings such as syrup, creams, butter, and fruits. They are usually thick and fluffy than crepe that has a paper-thin consistency.
Contained in pancake batter is a rising agent that makes it fluffier. The rising agent is absent in crepes and this is why they’re considered thin when compared. The main difference in thickness and texture between pancakes and crepes is caused by this rising agent. Also, crepes are served typically rolled or folded with toppings, and meat, eggs, or vegetables can be used to serve them. Pancakes on the other hand are served with more sweet toppings. You can add fillings or toppings to crepes and there could be a larger amount of item variety than can be added to a pancake.
How Crepes Are Made
You can make crepes either savory or sweet, we have discussed this previously. However, we want to show you the general way you can use to make your crepes for you to know the kinds of ingredients present in crepes when you are trying to freeze crepes. The guideline we will show you below is general for making sweet crepes. All you should have at the back of your mind is that our freezing instructions can be used for both savory and sweet crepes.
- Ingredients needed include butter, salt, water, milk, eggs, and all-purpose flour.
- Begin by whisking the eggs and flours together inside a bowl.
- Proceed to gradually add water and milk and ensure you stir them in as they combine.
- You should then add butter and salt and then beat them together until they are smooth.
- Get a skillet and heat oil inside it over medium-high heat. Do this accurately.
- ¼ cup batter per crepe should be used. Pour it inside your pan and then tilt it around so that it will spread in a circle. (A ladle can be used for this.)
- Allow it to cook for up to two minutes on either side until your crepe begins to turn golden brown.
It is a simple process and it is a bit like that of pancakes. You could also use a griddle to cook the crepes. Before preparing crepes for freezing, ensure you allow them to become cooled completely because a lot of moisture can be retained within them or they could stick together if you don’t allow them to cool.
Storing Crepes in the Freezer
It is a simple process to freeze crepes. Use parchment paper, freezer paper, or wax paper to separate the crepes. This will stop them from getting stuck together which may result in being difficult to separate when you want to remove them from the freezer. One important factor you must know is that you should freeze crepes before you fill, top, or wrap them with any ingredients.
Even though you can still freeze them after you have used the ingredients to fill, top, or wrap them, the process will work better when you simply freeze cooked crepes. Using your crepes after freezing becomes much easier. All you need to do is to plan in advance and only fill, top, or wrap them as you want to use them. Freezing and using your crepes is best this way. Check below for the instructions you should use to store your crepes inside your freezer:
- The crepes should be allowed to become cool at room temperature before you freeze them. Freeze them within two hours after you have cooked them.
- You should use wax paper, paper towels, or another of that type to separate the crepes, stacking them as you proceed.
- Proceed to move your separated stacked crepes into an air-tight container or freezer bag of heavy-duty. Ensure the storage device is appropriately sealed.
- Seal the package and label and date it.
- Leave it inside the fridge for about five days.
- You can store it inside your freezer for about 12 months.
You will notice that the process of storing crepes inside your freezer is a very simple one. The process of using them after frozen is also equally simple. You can reheat it inside the oven, microwave, or stovetop if you want to reheat a lot of them at a time. Crepes can be microwaved for 15 seconds only and they are ready to be used.
The crepes should either be allowed to thaw overnight inside the fridge or you could even reheat them directly from frozen. Either of the methods will work perfectly and they will both produce excellent results.
Related Questions
Can Crepes Go Bad?
Crepe is unlikely to become spoilt but it may lose the texture and flavor over time because of extensive time of storage. Crepes could be stored for a long time without worrying, just throw them away if their odor appears off.
Are Crepes Considered Healthy?
Flour is used to primarily make crepes and that makes them high in content of carbohydrates. However, you cannot consider crepe unhealthy, most especially if you use healthy ingredients to fill it. You should only be careful not to consume too many at a time.
Do Pancakes and Crepes Taste the Same?
A lot of people usually associate pancakes and crepes together, however, they are different. They might have similar composition and base flavor, but crepes have a light and sweet result without any “rising agent” instead of the fluffy and thick texture associated with pancakes.
How Long Can I Freeze My Filled Crepes?
Freezing filled crepes should be done for about 4 to 6 months, but it depends on the type of ingredients used. The thing is some fillings usually freeze better than some others. Ensure you use plastic wrap to individually wrap them to make sure they are kept separate because the freezer is likely to make them fragile.
