Freezing muffins is a great idea if you need quick breakfasts or snacks throughout the week and want to prep them in advance. This post explains how to freeze muffins, as well as provides thawing instructions and 15 easy muffin recipes.
Why Bother Freezing Muffins?
I love having muffins on hand to eat throughout the week, either as a grab-and-go breakfast or a midday snack.
In a perfect world, I’d have time to cook my family a hot breakfast every morning, but that’s just not possible some days. However, no matter how short we’re running on time, I always aim to get a well-balanced breakfast on the table.
My trick? I keep a stash of frozen muffins in the freezer!
On busy mornings, I quickly zap a few frozen muffins in the microwave to reheat them, pop some pre-chopped fruit on a plate, and voila! Breakfast is served.
Besides freezing muffins for breakfast meal prep, here are a few more reasons to freeze muffins:
- Did you make too many muffins over the weekend and worry they’ll spoil? Freeze them for later to limit your food waste.
- Did you buy a few extra packs of muffins at the store because they were on sale? Good thinking, you can freeze them now and reheat them weeks down the road.
- Do you have a big event coming up where you’re expected to bring food along? Make a few batches of muffins now to save yourself time later on.
How to Freeze Muffins
Can you freeze muffins? Absolutely! Freezing muffins is incredibly easy, and they reheat like a dream, too!
Here are the basics on how to freeze muffins:
- Bake the muffins according to recipe instructions.
- Remove the muffins from the muffin tin and place on a wire cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
- Place the cooled muffins in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Either will work, so long as the muffins are in a single layer.
- Freeze the muffins just until hard, about 30 minutes.
- Seal the semi-frozen muffins inside a freezer bag, or another freezer-safe container.
- Label and date the freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Package Frozen Muffins
You have three options when it comes to freezing muffins. You can seal them inside a freezer bag, an airtight Tupperware container, or they can be vacuum sealed.
Here’s an overview of the different storage options.
1. Freezing Muffins in Freezer Bags
This is the easiest method for freezing muffins simply because you likely have a stash of freezer bags on hand already. When freezing muffins in freezer bags, it’s important that you squeeze as much excess air out of the bags before sealing them. This will keep the frozen muffins fresher for longer.
The major drawback to storing frozen muffins in freezer bags is that the muffins will be more prone to developing freezer burn (compared to the other storage options mentioned in this post).
To ward off freezer burn, you may want to wrap the muffins in plastic wrap before sealing them inside the freezer bags. Or, you could double bag the muffins.
Tip: Buying good quality freezer bags, such as Ziploc brand or similar, is a good investment. Store brand freezer bags aren’t always the best quality, which can impact the shelf life of your frozen foods.
2. Freezing Muffins in Tupperware
The benefit of freezing muffins in Tupperware is that the container will hold its shape. There’s minimal risk of the frozen muffins getting squished in the freezer.
However, you can’t squeeze out the excess air in a Tupperware container, which may cause the muffins to develop freezer burn over time.
Plus, if you know you’ll be reheating the muffins one at a time, the Tupperware container will continue to take up the same amount of space in the freezer. When freezing muffins in a freezer bag, the space they take up in the freezer will shrink as you eat them.
Tip: I recommend freezing your muffins in Tupperware that’s freezer-safe (it will say so on the packaging).
3. Freezing Muffins in Vacuum Bags
In my opinion, this is the best way to freeze muffins. Vacuum sealing frozen muffins reduces the risk of freezer burn and prevents the muffins from drying out.
The drawback of vacuum sealing frozen muffins is that you have to buy a vacuum sealer and vacuum bags for this freezing method. However, if you freeze foods regularly, investing in a vacuum sealer might be a good investment.
For foods like muffins, you can reuse the vacuum bags time and again!
How Long Do Frozen Muffins Last?
If frozen properly, frozen muffins will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Removing as much excess air as possible and letting the muffins cool to room temperature before freezing them will extend their shelf life.
How to Thaw Frozen Muffins
Thawing frozen muffins can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. I love how quick and easy it is to reheat muffins!
- To thaw muffins in the microwave: Place the muffin(s) on a microwave-safe plate. Cook for 30 seconds. If not reheated fully, continue cooking for 10-second intervals.
- To thaw muffins in the oven: Place the muffin(s) in a baking dish. Bake at 350F for roughly 15 minutes, or until warmed through.
- To thaw muffins on the countertop: Place the muffin(s) on a plate and let come to room temperature. The exact time needed to do so will depend on the size of your muffins.
How to Store Muffins After Thawing Them
Once the frozen muffins have been thawed, you’ll want to store them at room temperature in an airtight container. If the muffins have a cream cheese swirl inside, they’ll need to be refrigerated.
Once thawed, the muffins will need to be consumed within 3 to 5 days.
Common Issues (+ Solutions!)
If your frozen muffins didn’t thaw out like you’d hoped, don’t panic! Here are the most common issues that arise when freezing muffins and how to fix them.
1. My Muffins Came Out Soggy
Freezing muffins while they’re still warm will make them soggy once thawed. When you freeze a warm muffin, all of that steam gets trapped inside the freezer container and forms condensation.
When you thaw the muffins all of that condensation gets sucked back into them and makes them soggy.
2. My Muffins Came Out Dry
If your muffins were dry after being thawed, they were likely stored improperly in the freezer. Excess air in the storage container will draw the moisture out of the muffins and dry them out.
Another reason your muffins could have dried out is because you waited too long to freeze them.
5-day-old muffins that have been kept at room temperature will be drier than freshly baked muffins that have been cooled to room temperature. Once the muffins dry out, they’re stuck as is.
3. My Muffins Developed Freezer Burn
Freezer burn is caused by moisture loss. Again, you need to squeeze out as much excess air as possible from the freezer container you’re using.
Double bagging the muffins can also help reduce freezer burn and keep muffins fresh.
4. My Muffins Grew Mold
If you thawed the muffins using the microwave or the oven, you need to let them return to room temperature before sealing them in an airtight container at room temperature.
If you try to store the muffins while they’re still warm, the steam will form condensation inside the storage container and cause mold to grow. If you spot mold on your muffins, throw them out!
Easy Muffin Recipes to Try
Below are just some of my favorite easy muffin recipes. No matter the season, I love packing my muffins with seasonal produce! It’s a great way to sneak in extra fruits and veggies, plus I just love experimenting with seasonal flavors.
For even more muffin recipes, be sure to check out my Muffin Recipe Archive.
Dark Chocolate Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
With dark chocolate and dark chocolate cocoa powder, these muffins are rich without being overly sweet.They are delicious on their own, but they pair quite well with a cherry jam too.
Zucchini Cherry Muffins with Streusel Topping
Even with the streusel topping, these could be considered healthy muffins. The cherry really brightens up the zucchini.
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
These Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins offer a fun fall take on the traditionalHoney Cornbread Muffin.Infused with real pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and fall spices, thesePumpkin Cornbread Muffins are the perfect contrast to a bowl of savory chili.
Maple Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
These muffins taste just like fall. I love the hint of maple syrup with the pumpkin. They also have a slightly healthier topping that's still delicious.
Buttermilk Olive Oil Muffins with Lemon and Honey
These muffins offer lots of flavor, but they don't have any visible variance (like blueberries) so my picky eater is more likely to give them a go!
Orange Spice Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel
One of our new favorite treats for breakfast or an afternoon snack are theseOrange Spice Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel.I love baking with fall spices. They’re so warm and cozy, especially on a cold and windy day like today, and make the house smell so nice.
Zucchini Apple Spice Muffins
These Zucchini Apple Spice Muffins are perfect for the transition space between summer and fall. You can use up the loads of summer zucchini that are laying around in your garden, the grocery store, or at the farmer’s marker, while savoring the fall spice flavors and a hint of apple.
Cranberry Gingerbread Muffins
These muffins arereally easy to whip up on a weekend morning or for a lazy holiday breakfast. The sweetness of the gingerbread pairs really well with the tartness of the cranberries.
Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins for Two
A healthy and quick whole wheat muffin recipe for two. No leftovers and hardly any clean up!
Cherry Chocolate Almond Muffins
Cherry and chocolate are a perfect combination! The crunch of nuts really makes these interesting and I know your kids will love eating them for breakfast!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Muffins
Pumpkin and chocolate make a great paring! Try them together in these easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Muffins. You'll want to make extra to stash in the freezer!
Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins
Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins are the perfect hearty, fall muffin to enjoy on a cold morning.
Triple Chocolate Banana Bread Muffins
Adding chocolate chips to banana bread isn’t a new thing, but I thought I’d try toying with the batter and making that chocolate as well. These TRIPLE chocolate banana bread muffins came out perfectly.
Whole Grain Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins
One of the very best ways to enjoy this strawberries this spring is in the form of these Whole Grain Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins. When baked into a muffin, the strawberries become jammy, and gooey, and perfectly delicious!
Lemon Yogurt Muffins with Blueberries
I love making muffins because they bake quickly and are the perfect breakfast food. They even work when you are on the go, just grab one!
More Freezing Tutorials:
This guide explains How to Freeze Raspberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen raspberries and using them in recipes.
Next time you make a batch pancakes or waffles, make some extra and follow this quick and easy tutorial forHow to Freeze Pancakes and Waffles. I’ve also given instructions on how to reheat them!
No matter what season it is, you need to knowHow to Freeze Cookie Dough. Spoiler: it’s super easy to do!
Who doesn’t love a good kitchen tip?Looking for more kitchen tutorials? Check out the entireKitchen Tips and Tricksarchive for lots of great ideas!
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How to Freeze Muffins
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Freeze Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Freezing muffins is a great idea if you need quick breakfasts or snacks throughout the week and want to prep them in advance. This post will explain how to freeze muffins, as well as provide thawing instructions and 15 easy muffin recipes.
Ingredients
- 12 Muffins
Instructions
- Bake the muffins according to recipe instructions.
- Remove the muffins from the muffin tin and place on a wire cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
- Place the cooled muffins in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Either will work, so long as the muffins are in a single layer.
- Freeze the muffins just until hard, about 30 minutes.
- Seal the semi-frozen muffins inside a freezer bag, or another freezer-safe container.
- Label and date the freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
Please see the post above for instructions on how to thaw frozen muffins.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 424Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 380mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 5g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
