Can You Freeze Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches? Here’s How to Do It
Updated on March 2, 2023
Kids are picky eaters by definition, but if it’s one thing they like, that’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sure, they may not be the most filling, but they’re a sweet addition to their day.
When your kids love PB&Js that much, however, can you just make a bunch of them and freeze them off? That would save so much time!
Can You Freeze Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches?
Obviously, we’re not the only ones looking for ways to save some time and just make all those sandwiches in one go so the kids have something to eat at lunch. Here’s a message we received from one of our readers:
This is going to seem like a crazy question, but I need to know! My kids love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their lunches, but I get tired of making all those sandwiches every day.
Some mornings I’ve run out of bread and struggle to find something else for them to eat that they will like. I’ve thought about making enough sandwiches for the week ahead of time and just sticking them in the freezer, but my husband thinks that they will be gross and soggy.
I don’t want to waste my time or money if it’s not going to work. Can you freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
That’s not a crazy question at all! Who wouldn’t like to spend less time making school lunches?
You can absolutely freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without the bread going soggy. There is a small trick to follow though if you want to make sure the jelly doesn’t leak out and make the bread turn to mush.
How to Freeze Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches?
Are you ready to start this process? Let’s get it going, then!
- Begin making your sandwiches with the freshest bread possible.
- Spread the normal amount of peanut butter on one slice of bread, and then a very thin layer of peanut butter on the slice where you will spread the jelly.
- This creates a barrier between the bread and the jelly, stopping the jelly from seeping through.
- Then, spread the jelly on that slice of bread as usual.
- Place the slices together. Slide the sandwich into a sandwich-sized freezer bag, and seal the bag completely.
- Label and date the freezer bag.
- Repeat with the remaining desired number of sandwiches.
- Store the sandwiches laying flat in the freezer, stacked on top of each other.
- Do not stand the sandwiches up when freezing or thawing, as the jelly could leak out and make the bottom of the bread sticky and mushy.
- Don’t place anything heavy on top of the sandwiches in the freezer, to avoid flattening them completely.
- Sandwiches will last about a month in the freezer before starting to lose taste.
How to Keep Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Longer?
One of the ways you can make sure that your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will keep for longer in the freezer is by using a vacuum sealer. These appliances suck out all the air from the freezer bags or containers and creating a perfect seal. This means that there’s no oxigen going in so the sandwiches will not lose their taste and not go soggy.
We have a long list of great vacuum sealers you should look into. We are partial to the one that made it to the top of our list, namely the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine as it works with freezer bags and containers. You can seal small portions or bigger dishes just as well.
How to Thaw Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches?
When your kids are off to school next, you have to make sure the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are ready to go into their lunch boxes.
- To eat, remove the sandwich from the freezer the night before you plan to eat it.
- Place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, keeping in mind that it should be kept lying flat.
- Once thawed, enjoy your sandwich!
- For best results, consume as soon as possible.
- Never refreeze previously frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.