Posted on 5 Comments

Freeze Time, in More Ways Than One

ISO a great way to freeze lefse.

Whenever winters get rough — and this is a rough one in Minnesota — I figure lefse lovers have an advantage in surviving freezing temps and record snowfalls: We have lefse. As my friend and editor Kathleen Weflen says, lefse warms us twice. Once when we make it and again when we eat it.

As much as I’ve made lefse and written about it, there is one area of lefse making that I need help with: freezing it. Frankly, there hasn’t been much need in our house. The lefse’s gone pretty quickly after we make it. Still, I want to freeze it so that I can offer it to guests who pop in or to be able to take it to a dinner or party without making a fuss and a mess.

This jumbo freezer bag from Target is large enough so folding the rounds is not necessary before putting them in the freezer.

So I am experimenting with freezing lefse. The issue I have with freezing lefse is it’s not quite as tender when it thaws and the rounds can crack. I have found freezer bags from Target that are large enough so folding is not necessary. This eliminates cracking along the fold lines. I also make sure the lefse has plenty of time to cool and dry — but not dry out — before putting parchment paper between the rounds in the freezer bag so the lefse doesn’t stick together.

In my book Keep On Rolling! Life on the Lefse Trail and Learning to Get a Round, Jean Olson of Deerwood, Minnesota, has this tip on freezing lefse: “Before freezing, wrap six cooled-and-folded rounds in Saran Wrap. Wait 24 hours, and then put the lefse in a Ziploc bag for freezing.”

Is this what you do to freeze lefse? How satisfied are you with your lefse-freezing method?

PLEASE send your tips on freezing lefse! Just email me at glegwold@lutefisk.com. Thanks!

Oh, spring comes in less than three weeks!

5 thoughts on “Freeze Time, in More Ways Than One

  1. Thanks, Naahma. Indeed it can be frozen. How long, I cannot say because I like to make mine fresh. But I have had some in the freezer for at least two months, and I pulled it out this morning. It softened nicely and tasted very good, especially with a 5-10 second zap in the microwave before serving the round. Please, give it a try. Make some now and see how it tastes in July. Then let me know how it works. I am getting replies to my request for info on freezing, so I will pass that info on in future newsletters.

    1. I wonder if it might work to freeze uncooked lefse. Maybe roll out smaller circles and put parchment or waxed paper between them. If it works, you could serve fresh off the grill lefse anytime. You can buy frozen dough for pie crusts and cookies…why not lefse?

  2. I fold the lefse in half and then again in half and have a triangle. I stack three of these. Then, wrap in Press n seal. Then freeze. These packages are easy then to just take out of freezer as needed. These are so easy for mailing out to my relatives.

  3. I have kept lefse frozen for 1 year and it was still edible.

    1. Connie, impressive! How do you freeze yours, and when you say “edible,” is that good or just passable?

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