Yes, you can absolutely freeze a shepherd’s pie. Freezing is a great way to make shepherd’s pies in advance for quick, easy weeknight dinners or to meal prep for your week. The components of a shepherd’s pie – the mashed potato topping, meat filling and vegetables – all freeze well without compromising on taste or texture. There are a few tips to follow when freezing shepherd’s pie to get the best results. With the right freezing and reheating techniques, you can enjoy delicious homemade shepherd’s pie even when you don’t have time to cook.
Benefits of Freezing Shepherd’s Pie
There are several advantages to freezing shepherd’s pies:
- Make-ahead meals – Freezing allows you to prepare shepherd’s pies in advance when you have more time for cooking. You can then pull them out of the freezer for quick dinners.
- Meal prepping – Making a batch of shepherd’s pies to freeze is a great way to meal prep. You can portion them out into individual servings to reheat throughout the week.
- Leftover use – Got leftovers after cooking a shepherd’s pie? Freezing the rest ensures none goes to waste.
- Buying in bulk – You can save money by purchasing ingredients like ground meat in larger quantities when on sale. Freeze extra pies for later.
- Convenience – Reheating a frozen shepherd’s pie is faster and easier than making one from scratch. It also gives you a homecooked meal without all the hands-on cooking time.
Freezing is an easy way to always have a hearty, comforting shepherd’s pie ready to bake with minimal effort. You get to enjoy homemade flavor without spending hours in the kitchen each night.
How Long Does Shepherd’s Pie Last in the Freezer?
A shepherd’s pie will last 3-6 months in the freezer. The shelf life depends on a few factors:
- Ingredient quality – Fresher ingredients that haven’t been previously frozen will last longer. Older ingredients shorten shelf life.
- Freezer temperature – Colder freezer temperatures (-10°F to 0°F) extend shelf life compared to warmer temperatures.
- Freezer burn – Minimizing exposure to air prevents freezer burn, which can make the pie dry out over time.
- Packaging – Airtight, moisture-proof packaging protects against freezer burn and other damage.
For best quality, use freshly prepared fillings and eat frozen shepherd’s pies within 3 months. With proper storage methods, they can last up to 6 months before drying out or becoming over-frozen.
How to Freeze Shepherd’s Pie
Follow these simple steps for freezing shepherd’s pie:
- Cook the filling and allow it to cool fully. The filling should be completely cold before assembling the pie.
- Prepare the mashed potato topping. Let it cool slightly but not completely so it still spreads smoothly over the filling.
- Grease a baking dish and spread the meat filling evenly in the bottom.
- Top with the mashed potatoes, spreading smoothly and sealing the edges.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil. This prevents freezer burn.
- Label the pie with contents and freeze date. Freeze for at least 24 hours before eating to allow it to solidify.
Once frozen, you can wrap the pie tightly in another layer of foil for long term storage. Or you can leave it in just the plastic and foil to make it easier to remove portions later.
Freezing Cooked vs. Raw
You can freeze shepherd’s pie either before or after baking with good results. Here is a comparison:
| Cooked | Raw |
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If planning to eat the pie within 1-2 months, cooking before freezing often gives better texture. Allowing raw pies to thaw and bake is better for longer freezer storage.
Portion Sizes
You can freeze shepherd’s pie in:
- Whole pie – Freeze entire 8-inch or 9-inch pies for larger families. Reheat entire pie as needed.
- Half pie – Cut into halves lengthwise and wrap each half separately.
- Individual portions – Divide into single or double serving sizes in freezer-safe containers.
Portioning into smaller serving sizes makes it easy to thaw just what you need. Individual portions are also easy to reheat quickly.
Thawing Shepherd’s Pie from Frozen
To thaw a frozen shepherd’s pie, there are several methods:
Refrigerator Thawing
For a slow, safe thaw, thawing in the refrigerator is best. Transfer the frozen pie from the freezer to the fridge 24-48 hours before you want to eat it. Cooked pies will thaw in the shorter timeframe, while raw pies need closer to 48 hours. Once thawed, the pie is ready to serve or final bake.
Cold Water Thawing
For a faster thaw time, you can submerge the frozen pie in a bowl or pan of cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. A medium pie will thaw this way in 1-2 hours. Use this method when you forget to move the pie to the refrigerator ahead of time.
Microwave Thawing
Microwaving is the quickest way to thaw a shepherd’s pie. Remove any foil and put the frozen pie on a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at 50% power, checking and flipping the pie every few minutes. Thawing takes around 15-20 minutes for individual portions or up to an hour for a whole pie. This can result in uneven thawing so the outside edges thaw before the middle.
Room Temperature Thawing
You can leave a frozen shepherd’s pie out at room temperature to thaw. Smaller portions will thaw in 1-2 hours. Whole pies can take upwards of 4 hours to thaw. Only use this method if cooking the pie immediately after it thaws as leaving it out too long risks bacterial growth.
How to Reheat Frozen Shepherd’s Pie
Once thawed, there are several good options for reheating your shepherd’s pie back up to temperature.
Oven
Baking in the oven is the best way to evenly reheat a whole frozen shepherd’s pie or half pie. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake thawed pie for 30-45 minutes until hot in the center.
Microwave
For quick reheating, the microwave works well for individual portions. Microwave single serving shepherd’s pies on High for 2-3 minutes, checking frequently. Spin the dish or stir the filling to distribute heat evenly. Cook until piping hot throughout.
Stovetop
You can also reheat single portion shepherd’s pies in a skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of water or broth to the pan and cover to steam and prevent drying out. Cook 5-10 minutes until heated through, stirring gently.
Tips for the Best Frozen Shepherd’s Pie
Follow these tips when making shepherd’s pies for the freezer:
- Underbake the mashed potato topping slightly before freezing so it doesn’t get overdone when reheated.
- Let fillings and mashed potatoes cool fully before assembly to prevent a soggy crust.
- Use freezer-safe pans or foil containers to bake and freeze pies in.
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Label each pie with contents and freeze date.
- Freeze pies in smaller portions for easy reheating.
- Thaw overnight in fridge for best texture.
- Reheat fully until hot in center before serving.
What Freezes Better – Beef or Lamb Shepherd’s Pie?
Both beef and lamb make excellent fillings for shepherd’s pie to freeze. Here is how they compare:
| Beef | Lamb |
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Both meats freeze well and reheat with excellent results. Lamb provides more fat and flavor, but higher cost. For an economical freezer pie, choose 80% lean ground beef. Add some beef broth or gravy to the filling to help keep it moist after freezing.
Vegetable Add-Ins
In addition to the meat filling, shepherd’s pie is a great way to sneak extra vegetables into your family’s diet. Try adding any of these frozen veggies to the filling:
- Carrots – Classic choice to include with beef or lamb
- Peas – Bright green peas pair nicely with lean beef
- Corn – For a Southwestern twist, add corn to beef or turkey filling
- Green beans – Diced green beans add texture and color
- Broccoli – Chopped broccoli florets add health benefits
For best results, thaw and drain any frozen vegetables before adding to the filling to remove excess moisture. Too much liquid in the filling can make the mashed potato topping watery.
Can You Freeze Shepherd’s Pie with Mashed Potatoes?
Traditional shepherd’s pie is topped with fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes. But can you freeze mashed potato topped shepherd’s pie?
Yes, shepherd’s pie freezes well with a mashed potato crust. The key is to slightly undercook the potatoes before topping and freezing the pie. This prevents the potatoes from becoming too mushy when reheated.
To help the mashed potatoes hold their texture after freezing:
- Use starchy potatoes like Russets. They get fluffier when reheated.
- Mash the potatoes with butter and just enough hot milk to spread smoothly.
- Let potatoes cool for 5-10 minutes before topping pie to prevent a gummy texture.
- Spread potatoes gently over filling without compressing down.
- Freeze pie before potatoes are fully set.
With these tips, you can enjoy fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes just like when fresh after reheating your frozen shepherd’s pie.
Can You Freeze Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Topping?
For a delicious twist, try using mashed sweet potatoes as the topping for shepherd’s pie. The naturally sweet flavor pairs wonderfully with savory meat fillings.
Sweet potatoes also freeze very well on shepherd’s pies. Follow the same freezing methods as regular mashed potatoes.
To keep the sweet potato topping from becoming too moist, be sure to:
- Drain cooked sweet potatoes well before mashing.
- Spread on filling in an even layer without compressing down.
- Allow to cool slightly before topping pie and freezing.
- Reheat gently to prevent sugars from weeping out.
With proper freezing and reheating, you’ll get a sweet potato topping that’s just as creamy and delicious after freezing.
Conclusion
Freezing is a great way to save time and have shepherd’s pie ready anytime. Both cooked and uncooked pies freeze well for 3-6 months with proper storage. Allow pies to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently in the oven or microwave until piping hot. Follow these freezing tips for tender meats, fluffy potatoes and delicious results. With an arsenal of frozen shepherd’s pies, you can enjoy comforting, homemade flavor without spending hours in the kitchen.