A follow-up to yesterday's post. I recently received a request for advice on how to freeze unbaked rolls to make them fresh later for a holiday meal. First off, I've not had much success with this idea, although there are websites with a variety of tips and techniques for it. However, it takes a relatively long time for the frozen rolls to freeze completely, thaw and rise, and often the yeast gets compromised in the process. Commercial ventures use a freezing process not possible in the average kitchen. What I recommend instead is that you go ahead and bake the rolls, let them cool completely, and then wrap them for freezing and re-heating. I've written about this before but I think a little reminder is in order just before the holiday baking season gets underway.
The rolls have to be stone-cold before you wrap them because otherwise the moisture from the cooling rolls will collect on the inside surface of the wrapper and then settle on the crust of the breads, making them soggy. Some food writers say to simply place the rolls in a freezer safe bag (a better seal that ordinary plastic wrap or a recycled bread bag). However, you could also wrap the rolls in aluminum foil and THEN place them in a plastic bag or wrap. Then on the morning of your meal, take them out of the bag and let the foil packet thaw slowly in the fridge. Reheat the foil-wrapped rolls at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (after the turkey or roast is out of the oven and resting on the counter before carving). Then remove from the foil and serve---you can brush the warm rolls with melted butter if you want to soften the crusts a bit. This same method (foil, then plastic, thaw in the fridge, reheat) works for whole loaves, too, although they take longer to thaw and reheat.
The rolls have to be stone-cold before you wrap them because otherwise the moisture from the cooling rolls will collect on the inside surface of the wrapper and then settle on the crust of the breads, making them soggy. Some food writers say to simply place the rolls in a freezer safe bag (a better seal that ordinary plastic wrap or a recycled bread bag). However, you could also wrap the rolls in aluminum foil and THEN place them in a plastic bag or wrap. Then on the morning of your meal, take them out of the bag and let the foil packet thaw slowly in the fridge. Reheat the foil-wrapped rolls at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (after the turkey or roast is out of the oven and resting on the counter before carving). Then remove from the foil and serve---you can brush the warm rolls with melted butter if you want to soften the crusts a bit. This same method (foil, then plastic, thaw in the fridge, reheat) works for whole loaves, too, although they take longer to thaw and reheat.
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