Can You Freeze Béchamel Sauce? Yes, If You Follow These Rules

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How to keep cheese sauce from separating

There are so many recipes that feature the extremely delicious béchamel sauce, but when it comes to making it, you know it takes a lot of time. So, could you be making a bigger batch and freezing the béchamel sauce to use later?

Of course, whether you call it béchamel sauce or you just go with “white sauce” it’s of little consequence – sometimes words fail us and we go for the simple version. Either way, whatever you call it, we’re interested to see whether béchamel sauce can be frozen and how well it keeps.

Can You Freeze Béchamel Sauce?

Of course, we’re not the only ones who are wondering about the exact same thing. In fact, here’s the message about freezing béchamel sauce from one of our readers:

I really enjoy cooking for my family, but sometimes I can’t be bothered to put together sauces and such at the end of a long day at work. I already preserve some sauces, like tomato, and freeze others, but I still feel like I could do more to cut my prep time.

I enjoy meats and pastas with a béchamel sauce, but it takes so long to make that I usually leave those dishes for the weekend when I have more time. My wife suggested that I freeze some béchamel sauce the way that I freeze others. I have to admit, it would certainly make my life easier!

I’m a bit reluctant to try it though because I know that sauces made from milk and cheese don’t always freeze well. I don’t want to go through all that work for nothing. So, before I make all that effort, I have to ask: Can you freeze béchamel sauce?

Your wife’s suggestion was spot on! There’s no need to make a béchamel sauce from scratch each and every time. You can certainly make a batch in advance and then freeze it for later.

Still, you’re not wrong about the sauce separating in the freezer. The fat and water will pull apart during the freezing process, making the sauce look kind of grainy and not at all thick. Don’t despair! I’ll show you exactly how to get your béchamel back to its thick, glossy finish in no time.

Can You Freeze Homemade Sauces – Béchamel?

Homemade sauces, whether we’re talking about béchamel or other types, can freeze just as well as store-bought. You have the added benefit of knowing exactly what’s in that container, too, which is always great.

How to Freeze Béchamel Sauce?

If you’re going to freeze your béchamel sauce, then you’re going to need to follow a few steps:

To freeze, start with a freshly made béchamel sauce.
Allow it to cool completely before freezing it, to help avoid freezer burn.
Since sauces made with milk and cheese easily take on the flavours of other things in the freezer, I suggest freezing it a double layer of protection.
Spoon the desired amount of sauce into a freezer bag, allowing a little bit of headroom for expansion. Seal the bag tightly.
Then, slip that freezer bag into another one, and seal the second bag tightly.
Label and date the freezer bag, and lay it flat in the freezer. This is also a great way to protect against leaks.

How to Keep Béchamel Sauce for Longer?

If you’re going to make sure your béchamel sauce keeps for longer, you’re going to have to use a food saver. These appliances will suck out the air in the bag and provide a perfect seal for whatever you’re putting in the freezer, including sauces.

Our favorite is the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine, which is an awesome choice as it seals both freezer bags and containers. It also works on multiple sizes, so you can freeze single-serves or bigger batches.

How to Keep Cheese Sauce from Separating?

One thing you need to be aware of is that your béchamel sauce will separate during freezing. This happens as fat and water pull apart during the freezing process. This isn’t the end of the world, however, as you can fix the problem while heating up the sauce in the pan and stirring it.

How to Thaw the Béchamel Bag?

Before you use the béchamel sauce you’re going to have to thaw it out and go through a few extra steps.

Here’s what you need to do with the leftover white sauce you froze:

To use frozen béchamel sauce, remove from the freezer the night before and allow it to thaw in the fridge.
Your sauce isn’t going to look great at this point. Pour it into a saucepan and gently reheat over low heat.
Using a whisk, whisk the sauce as it heats, returning it to its original consistency.
Taste, and adjust any flavors as needed.
Serve and enjoy!

Final Thoughts

Now that we have everything clear, you can go ahead and freeze your leftover white sauce so you can enjoy it with a different dish later on. We hope we’ve answered all the questions you had about whether you can freeze béchamel sauce and how to do this in the best way possible.