Can You Freeze Vodka Sauce?

Vodka sauce is a delicious sauce with a unique flavor, and you can make it in large batches to eat later.

You can freeze vodka sauce so you don’t have to make it as frequently. In fact, vodka sauce freezes beautifully and lasts for up to six months in the freezer.

Pasta dish made with vodka sauce that you can freeze
Vodka sauce is commonly used in pasta dishes.

Why You Can Freeze Vodka Sauce But Not Vodka

You can freeze vodka sauce because its alcohol content isn’t enough to prevent freezing. Vodka won’t freeze at the temperature of a typical household freezer, which is about 0 F (-18 C), because it has a freezing point of -16 F (-27 C). However, vodka sauce is typically made with less than 10 per cent vodka, which is only about 40 per cent alcohol. So you’re looking at less than four per cent alcohol in vodka sauce, and much of that alcohol burns off during cooking.

How To Freeze Vodka Sauce

Making a double-batch of vodka sauce is recommended. This way, you can eat the dish a few more times without having to cook another batch. Follow these simple steps to freeze your vodka sauce:

  1. Cool the sauce. You cannot freeze this type of sauce until you let it get to room temperature. That being said, make sure you don’t leave it out for too long because it does contain ingredients that can spoil. Let it get to room temperature before you proceed.
  2. Pour the sauce into freezer bags. Always use large freezer bags to store your vodka sauce in. It’s easy if you place the bag standing up inside a large bowl, then fold the edges over the rim of the bowl so that it’s easier to pour the sauce directly into the bag. If you do this, you can then simply close the bag and get it ready for the freezer. Be sure to leave some space at the top of the bag.
  3. Label the freezer bag. Always label the bag with the type of sauce it is and the date you froze it (or the expiration date, whichever is easiest to remember). It is important not to forget this step because you’ll want to eat it within the appropriate time frame.
  4. Freeze the sauce. Lay the bags flat in the freezer. This makes it easier to thaw the extra sauce later.

How To Thaw Vodka Sauce

The first thing you have to keep in mind when freezing vodka sauce is that the texture will change a bit once it’s frozen. The thing is, you can get the texture back to normal if you learn how to thaw out the sauce properly. Here is how you do this:

  • Refrigerator. Take the bag of sauce out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Let it thaw out for a minimum of four hours (preferably overnight). The time it takes to thaw out an entire bag of vodka sauce this way will vary depending on your refrigerator.
  • Room temperature. You do not have to let it get to room temperature before you heat it up. In fact, once you thaw out your vodka sauce, either it needs to remain in the fridge until you’re ready to reheat it or you must reheat it immediately in a pot, pan, or microwave.
  • Microwave. Yes, you can thaw out your frozen vodka sauce in the microwave. Start by microwaving it for a total of five minutes, then check and stir it. If it’s still frozen, microwave it for five minutes at a time, stirring in between each time, until the vodka sauce is thawed out completely. Don’t microwave it for too long because it can burn.
Shrimp ravioli made with vodka sauce that you can freeze
Shrimp ravioli is a delicious dish that can be made with vodka sauce.

How To Reheat Vodka Sauce

Here are the two main ways to reheat your sauce:

  • Stovetop. Pour the sauce into a sauce pan and turn the stove on medium or medium-high heat. You might notice that the sauce has a different texture or that it has separated a little bit. This is normal. Take a whisk and whisk the sauce as you’re heating it up to get the texture back to normal.
  • Microwave. To reheat the sauce in your microwave, heat it up on medium heat in one-minute increments until it is heated up to the temperature you like.

How Long Can You Keep Frozen Vodka Sauce?

As a general rule, frozen vodka sauce lasts for three to six months in the freezer. It can last longer if you use a device that removes the air from the freezer bag.

How To Tell if Vodka Sauce Is Bad

Vodka sauce needs to be eaten within four to five days of storing it in your refrigerator. After that time, it should be discarded. It should also be discarded if you notice any bits of mold on it.

Can You Refreeze Vodka Sauce?

You can refreeze vodka sauce only if you first heat it up in a pan just like you would if you were going to eat it. Just follow the same rules you did when you originally froze the sauce, and it should taste fine.