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Whether from the store or homemade from your own oven, freezing hamburger buns in large quantities means you are always prepared when the urge strikes to grill up burgers or prepare other feasts that call for rolls, like sloppy joes or pulled pork. Moisture loss in the freezer is the main enemy that leads to a stale buns, but defrosting bread rolls and then toasting buns in the oven properly rewards you with soft, fresh-tasting buns in just a few minutes.

Can I Freeze Hamburger Buns?

Proper defrosting is important, but even more important is freezing hamburger buns correctly. If you have homemade rolls or even rolls that you picked up warm from a bakery, the key to good freezing technique is ensuring the bread is completely cool. If the hamburger buns are still warm, that will lead to condensation and freezer burn.

Proper Packaging for Freezing Hamburger Buns

Thin bread bags alone aren't good enough for freezer storage. If you are freezing an entire bag of buns, place the whole bag in a large freezer storage bag and seal it closed. Wrapping each bun individually in foil or plastic wrap before putting it into a freezer bag further prevents them from drying out, and the buns won't stick together so you can remove and defrost only what you need. Finally, wrap the package tightly in a final layer of foil and stick it in the coldest part of the freezer. Be sure to note when it was frozen and for best results, use within three months.

How Do I Defrost Bread Rolls?

Bread doesn't spoil at room temperature, so you can defrost hamburger buns quickly by simply removing them from the freezer and setting them on the counter. Leave the buns wrapped in their freezer packaging so they don't dry out as they defrost. The thawing buns reabsorb any moisture in the bag so they aren't overly dry when you are ready to use them. Defrost times vary depending on room temperature and how many buns the package contains. A single bun may thaw within 15 to 20 minutes, while a full bag of buns may require an hour.

How to Toast Buns in the Oven

Heating further refreshes the flavor and texture of the hamburger buns so they taste almost as good as fresh buns. Toast buns in the oven at 350-degrees Fahrenheit for five to 10 minutes, or just long enough to warm them through. If you are cooking burgers on a grill or griddle, brush the inside of the buns lightly with butter or oil and set them on the grill. This warms the buns and toasts them slightly. Crisping the interior also prevents the buns from absorbing the condiments on the burger and becoming soggy. After heating, let the buns rest for 10 minutes so the heat can move moisture from the interior to the exterior of the bun.

Defrosting Bread Rolls For Same Day Use

Thawed and warmed hamburger buns are best used the same day, but the buns taste freshest if you use them within two hours of warming. They will dry out and become stale quickly at room temperature. Refrigerating is never a good idea, because the climate in the refrigerator tends to dry out buns even more quickly than room temperature storage or freezing. leading to stale and crumbly bread.