Can You Freeze Fish Pie? How to Freeze Fish Pie?

Name: Can You Freeze Fish Pie? How to Freeze Fish Pie?
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: Please check the end of the post for recipe ingredients.; If you don't find any, let me know in comments.

Ayub KhanandRehmat DietitianMarch 16, 2023Last Updated: April 12, 2023

6 minutes read

Table of Contents

In this article, you will know the answer to the query “Can You Freeze Fish Pie? How to Freeze Fish Pie?“.

Fish pie (also called fisherman’s pizza) is a traditional British dish that usually contains smoked fish and prawns, potatoes or cream sauce, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs.

It’s a delicious, hearty, and filling meal that can be served to individuals or entire families.

Can fish pie be frozen? Yes, it can be frozen.

You can freeze fish pie before or after it has been prepared, but each situation will require a different procedure.

The steps involved in freezing, defrosting, and heating fish pie.

Answers to a few common questions about making and eating fish pie will be provided.

What exactly is Fish Pie?

In the previous paragraphs, we briefly discussed fish pie.

Nonetheless, let’s take a closer look at this British favorite.

Despite its popularity in the United Kingdom, many believe it originated in Scotland.

Pies are not true pies when they contain fish. The dish is actually a casserole.

Instead of dough, potatoes and pastry are used to cover the filling and fish.

The meal always includes fish. Smoked whitefish like cod and haddock are usually included in smoked fish pie.

Prawns are sometimes included as well. Besides potatoes and onions, it can also contain butter, milk, flour, and other ingredients.

Peas, cheese, and corn can also be included in this category. Hard-boiled eggs can also be found in this category.

If you plan on freezing fish pie, you should not use these.

Why Consider Freezing Fish Pie?

When you need to save money, freezing fish pie is a great option.

When unexpected company drops by or if bad weather causes delays on the way home from work, you can get creative with leftovers and meals that can be quickly prepared.

There are a number of reasons why you might consider freezing fish pie. Here’s how you can do it.

Does Freezing Affect Fish Pie’s Quality?

Once you have prepared fish pie, you may be tempted to freeze it immediately.

The dish’s taste and texture can be affected by freezing it right away.

Frozen fish pie may lose quality if it is not stored properly.

Fish pie should be kept in a freezer below 0 degrees Fahrenheit or in a deep freezer that operates at -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is also advisable to wrap fish pie tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.

Fish pie can suffer from freezer burn, ruining its texture and filling.

This can form ice crystals on the surface of food, making it taste bad.

Burnt food from the freezer cannot be consumed. When freezing fish pie, use a baking dish so that the food freezes quickly and maintains its shape.

How Long Can Fish Pie Be Frozen for?

You can expect your frozen fish pie to remain good for at most nine months.

You may notice that your frozen fish pie does not taste quite as good after this period of time.

Fish pie will lose its flavor and texture over time due to the deterioration of the ingredients.

How to Freeze Fish Pie?

You can freeze fish pie in two different ways.

Your family can choose whichever way suits them best.

Method 1: Freezing Fish Pie After Preparation

In order to eat fish pie as quickly as possible, this is the best (and easiest) method to freeze it.

In addition, it requires less preparation before freezing.

This, however, requires some planning in advance.

Due to this, your dish will need to be prepared in smaller portions.

Method 1 works as follows:

Put the fish pie in a baking dish and freeze it.
Place it into a freezer bag or tightly wrap it in aluminum foil once it has frozen solid.
Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag.
Freeze the fish pie in a deep freezer if possible.

For this dish, some home freezers may not be able to keep it cold enough to prevent nutrient loss.

It is possible to consume frozen fish pie while it is still fresh and delicious using Method 1.

Additionally, it gives you greater flexibility when it comes to deciding how much you can prepare at one time.

Method 2: Freezing Uncooked Fish Pie

You can store uncooked fish pie for a longer period of time by freezing it.

If you are planning to eat the fried fish pie, later on, this is a great method.

In addition, you can use this method if you plan to serve food to guests.

Method 2 requires more preparation work, which may not be appealing to everyone.

The best (and most convenient) method for serving the food later is to reheat it.

The steps for Method 2 are as follows:

Filling and dough for fish pie should be prepared but not assembled.
Let it cool completely to room temperature before freezing.
The filling should be placed in a container with no holes or cracks or a baking dish with high sides.
Once frozen, remove the container from the freezer.
It is also possible to freeze food in portions.

For a faster freezing process, place each one in a freezer bag or container.

If you plan to use frozen uncooked fish pie for leftovers, you can prepare, cook, and freeze the pie right away.

How to Thaw Frozen Fish Pie?

When thawing frozen fish pie in a refrigerator, it is generally safe.

Before cooking and serving the dish, it is best to put it in the refrigerator about 24 hours ahead of time.

It will allow the filling to cook properly and allow flavors and other textures of the food to blend together.

You can, however, thaw the dish in cold water only if you don’t have much time.

For the fish pie and its filling to not become soggy, more finesse is required.

Uncooked frozen fish pie needs to be cooked before serving, so it takes longer to thaw than one already cooked.

The process of thawing uncooked fish pie usually takes 24 hours or more.

Remember to completely thaw the dish before freezing it again if you intend to refreeze it.

How to Reheat Fish Pie?

There are different methods for reheating frozen fish pie.

Whether a frozen dish was previously cooked or uncooked depends on how you froze it.

You can reheat fish pie by following these simple steps:

Using a baking dish with high sides, transfer the thawed frozen fish pie to the dish.

Ensure that the filling is well-covered.

Put the dish in a preheated oven and heat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

It will simultaneously thaw and warm the filling.

You should allow about 30 minutes for this method of reheating.

You can also cover the fish pie with foil (or baking sheets) if you intend to serve it later than an hour after cooking.

This will allow the dish to warm up more quickly.

By using the baking method, you can reheat an uncooked frozen fish pie.

If you froze it in smaller portions, place it in an oven-safe dish with high sides or cover it tightly with a lid.

A preheated 350F oven should be used to bake the pie for a minimum of 45 minutes.

When ready, the fish pie should be warmed throughout.

The process of reheating will ensure that the filling is fully cooked.

How to Tell if Fish Pie is Bad?

If the fish pie is bad, it will smell bad.

It also has an unpleasant odor that can be detected at even the coldest storage temperatures.

Even so, it is better to be safe than sorry when handling food, especially frozen foods.

In case you notice changes in the color, texture, or consistency of the fish pie, do not consume it.

When in doubt, it’s best to throw out the food to prevent illnesses.

It is also a sure sign that the food is bad when it is bloated.

If you open the frozen fish pie package or container, you may also detect a foul odor.

An uncooked frozen fish pie can get freezer burn, but this only happens if it is improperly wrapped.

In the form of cloudy spots, freezer burns appear off-white in color.

Conclusion

Therefore, fish pie is a versatile dish that can easily be prepared and frozen.

Additionally, there are many variations in recipes based on the type of fish, vegetables, or spices used.

To ensure that the filling cooks thoroughly without overcooking the pastry topping, it is best to completely thaw frozen uncooked fish pies before cooking.

For better results and to avoid soggy fish pies, simply reheat them before serving.