There is nothing better than a beautiful fresh sandwich, but sometimes there just isn’t the time. Bread actually freezes very well and there are lots of options for sandwich fillings that freeze well.
Can you freeze sandwiches?
Yes, you can! Sandwiches actually freeze really well as long as you use the right ingredients and prepare them properly. Certain fillings freeze better than others but you can freeze sandwiches without losing out of flavour. Freezing sandwiches for school lunch boxes is also ideal to keep them cool and fresh, and a great time saver if you do them all at the beginning of the week.
Tips for freezing sandwiches
Consider alternatives to bread such as tortillas or bagels.
- Make sure your bread is fresh. SUPER fresh! We freeze our bread every week, make sure you do it as soon as you buy it though. The state you freeze it in is how it will come out so don’t try to freeze bread that is starting to go stale. Defrost it either in the microwave for 10 seconds or in an airtight bag on the bench or in the fridge.
- Wrap your sandwiches well in an air tight bag or cling film. Any gaps can allow freezer burn and drying out of the bread.
- Make sure you lay your sandwiches flat so that they freeze evenly.
- Consider freezing fillings separately to the bread and putting your sandwich together at work.
- You can top frozen bread with fillings and then place it back in the freezer. I find this works particularly well for any fillings that are somewhat “wet” as they don’t soak into the bread.
- Something that places a layer of fat between the bread and the filling will help your sandwich to stay fresh. Butter both pieces of bread to avoid moisture from fillings causing soggy bread.
- Avoid placing condiments directly against the bread as this is likely to make your sandwich go soggy.
- Consider tortillas or pita breads rather than regular sliced bread. They tend to freeze well.
- Pack salad and fresh ingredients into a little zip lock bag separately to add to your sandwich.
25+ Sandwich fillings that freeze well
Toasting sandwiches that have been frozen is a great option.
- Pesto and chicken
- Ham and pickles…ham against the bread, pickles in the middle (here’s a guide on how to freeze ham)
- Corned beef and chutney (make sure to place chutney between two pieces of beef)
- Ham and cheese (grated cheese is best)
- Meatballs and parmesan (perfect for a toasted sandwich)
- Chicken and cream cheese
- Tuna, cream cheese and grated carrot (make sure you butter the bread to keep it from going soggy)
- Falafel and hummus (butter the bread)
- Cheese and Vegemite (don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it!)
- Honey and peanut butter
- Jam
- Peanut butter
- Vegemite and butter
- Sliced chicken or turkey with cranberry sauce
- Sliced lamb with mint jelly
- Sliced roast pumpkin and beef
- Roast pork with apple sauce
- Chicken, walnut and cream cheese
- Hummus, sun dried tomatoes and ham
- Bacon and avocado
- Turkey, cranberry and brie cheese
- Meatloaf and caramelised onion jam
- Peanut butter and banana (spread the peanut butter on both pieces of bread)
- Tuna, sweetcorn and cream cheese (butter the bread!!)
- Chicken schnitzel, pesto and cheese (perfect for toasting)
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Sandwich fillings that DON’T freeze well
- Egg tends to go rubbery. Not top of my list of tasty freezable sandwich ideas!
- Really wet fillings. If it has a lot of moisture it will tend to go soggy when defrosted. You can freeze moist fillings but wrap them separately to the bread and then construct your sandwich once defrosted.
- lettuce
- tomato
- cucumber
- fresh onion
- low fat cheeses don’t do as well as full fat
- cottage cheese does NOT freeze well… trust me 😉
You might also like to follow me on Pinterest for more lunch ideas (& lots more!)
Do you freeze sandwiches? What do you find works well?
Oh, I’m loving your blog! Having a wee peek, and LOVING every morsel! x
My Dad had cheese and vegemite sandwiches every single day for lunch, for about 40 years. He probably still does from time to time. I don’t like vegemite At. All. But thought you might like to know you’re not alone on this one.
Can you freeze mayonnaise? I have a chicken salad recipe that my kids love in sandwiches that has chicken, celery, spring onion, mustard and mayo. If the mayo freezes OK I’m going to start stockpiling. I start a full time job in July and will be leaving home just as the kids get up so I want lunches sorted and out of the way. I have discovered that unless I make lunches my 15yo son won’t make his own *insert eye roll!*
Hi Tracy,
Mayo tends to split when frozen but cream cheese is a good alternative.
I love this!! I’m getting thrifty because we are in a bit of s budget saving for a holiday and this will help with using up leftovers and having snacks in the freezer ready to go for my ginormous sons
You are the sandwich filling Queen! I definitely need these ideas not only for freezing, but for the everyday too. Thanks. #teamIBOT
This is a great list! We always have a loaf or two of super fresh bread in the freezer, it thaws so well! I’m pinning this for next year when I need to start making kindy lunches 🙂
Thank you for this! I haven’t ever tried freezing premade sandwiches, but it’s handy to know in case I ever need to.
Oh there are some yummy suggestions here. I think I will really need to get pre organised and prepared once my Little Vick starts school next year. Mornings before kinder here are chaotic enough without the hassle of having to prepare a sandwich every morning.
Great tips! I am fussy on fresh sandwiches but some of these felt do-able to me. Yay! I wonder if I can make a week of work lunches on the weekend and freeze them 🙂
Yep I do the kids lunches like that!
I had no idea that so many different fillings could be frozen. I like to freeze a weeks worth of sandwiches for Mr 5 so that school mornings are easier. I have been sticking to spreads though.
Hi, Great list! I freeze egg and mayo sandwiches and they freeze really well! ☺ Also, bacon and egg on English muffins freeze beautifully…..just pop in the microwave when ready to eat.
I’ve been crazing egg and mayo sandwiches lately, I should try freezing some!
Does the egg taste ok? I’ve read it goes rubbery? This is the kind of sandwich I want to freeze. Thanks.
I make curried egg or egg salad for rolls and sandwiches which freezes perfectly.
You can freeze scrambled egg in bread and wraps, just don’t make the scrambled egg soggy (liquid) and you can add bacon and hash browns as well, my husband loves these for work he take them out the night before, and by lunchtime, they are thawed out and freshen eatable. He loves them.
OK so it’s an old post but a great post! Please can you clarify – when you say “cream cheese” do you mean the cream cheese stuff in the jar (eg Kraft) or do you mean the stuff in the block (eg Philadelphia cream cheese)
HI Trish, I meant the spreadable Philadelphia style, I’m not sure how the Kraft style in a jar would go. If you try it, let me know!
can you freeze mustard and Barbecue sauce on a meat sandwich?
hi ,I want to start using tortilla wraps or pita bread for my kids lunch , do I take them out of the freezer the night before or in the morning before they pack lunch , they have been taking ham buns and we take them out of freezer the night before and move them to the fridge.
Can you freeze choc spread sandwiches