Can you freeze pork pie for a short period.

If it says don't freeze, I wouldn't. I freeze almost everything, but never pork pie.

My partner buys small pork pies in bulk from a favourite butcher and freezes them. They're absolutely fine.

Wondering if the supermarket have been frozen before?

We've often purchased pork pie and frozen it. Sometimes it's been a pork pie from the "reduced" section, (i.e. is at it's "use by" date) but we've never had any problems with this. I think that the important thing is once thawed, to refrigerate it immediately (or even let it thaw overnight in the fridge) and to eat it within a day or two. I should mention that we only ever buy "good quality" pork pie, from a reputable supplier.

I have always frozen mine with no problems.

Me too, Cassie, in fact I have one currently in the freezer - could someone remind me to get it out please.

If it has been frozen somewhere in the chain before you get it then NO.

Different if you are certain it's not been

I would never freeze if I wasn't 100% certain.

I buy pork pies from a local butcher and leave them in the freezer for months.

I think pork pies are almost always sold fresh, not frozen - and not frozen by manufacturer and unfrozen by shop before sale either.

I'd be surprised if they'd previously been frozen, though an ingredient, such as the meat, might have been frozen before it was used. But if the pie has been cooked, cooled, and stored correctly after manufacture, there should be no danger of bacterial contamination (which is the main reason why advice is to not refreeze previously frozen foodstuffs)

I'd freeze it.

NotSpaghetti is correct- please do not freeze if it says specifically not to do so.

Charleygirl5

NotSpaghetti is correct- please do not freeze if it says specifically not to do so.

Why not?

Interested to know if your reasoning on this 'advice' is different from mine. Why shouldn't you refreeze previously frozen foodstuffs?

The advice not to freeze things that have been frozen previously is usually because they have been defrosted for sale - which warms them up to room temperature again. This allows bacteria and other toxins to multiply. When you take it out of your own freezer, it has to be defrosted a second time, with a second spell of encouragement for the baddies. If the first defrosting was done in a controlled way,if it hadn't stood around waiting to be bought, and if your own defrosting wasn't hurried and over-warm, it will probably be fine to eat, but you can't be 100% sure of that. The sellers are covering their backs because they don't want to be sued if you get ill.

The not-refreezing advice does not need to be followed for all foods. It's important for some things, like chicken and mince. When these are thawed at room temperature and may be at temperatures above 10 deg for some time, bacteria (not killed by freezing) may multiply and will still be there in greater numbers when next thawed. There's an increased risk if not cooked properly, especially as after freezing, the texture of the food may be broken down releasing more juices to feed the bugs!

However, things like bread and cakes can be safely re-frozen as they don't have many bacteria to start with and also don't provide a good growth environment for the bugs.

Pork pies should be fine to freeze, unless the package specifically says not to. Even in the unlikely chance they had been frozen before, it wouldn't cause a problem, as long as they've been kept cool before freezing. In my opinion, it would be best to freeze when delivered.

Crossed posted with Elegran - both of have said basically same thing!

I am in total agreement with Elegran and Farmor. I partly defrosted some crumpets last night to be able to take two out of the packet. The still almost completely frozen crumpets that i did not need were back in the freezer within 5 minutes of taking them out. I do the same with chicken, fish and any other items that stick together, possibly several times if the packet is large. Apart from a thin, very thin, layer of the surface, 99% of the food remains frozen.

I heard, somewhere, a comment from someone notable in the field, that most food poisoning takes place in catering and that the incidence of food poisoning in domestic households is very low indeed, mainly I think because most domestic cooks cook food very throughly at high temperatures. The problem with most catering cases is that the food has been warmed through and not cooked at a high enough temperatures.

when i worked in retail they used to come in more than a week before Christmas with 26th on them all. I bought a deli pork pie it is in the freezer now. Just make sure to defrost correctly

A lot of things are sold in packs (fresh or frozen) that are too big for one person to finish before they start to deteriorate. I divide them up into reasonable portions before freezing them, and either repack them in smaller containers or put bits of foil ot plastic between the pieces. That way, you can get out enough for immediate use without defrosting the rest. It can sometimes make for a lot of work when I get a big supermarket delivery, but it saves waste, and bigger packs save money. (Sorry if that is teaching anyone to suck eggs)

I'd want to know why it says don't freeze. As other posters have said, it's quite unlikely that pork pies have been frozen and defrosted before being for sale in a shop.

So I'd probably freeze them and not worry one jot.

I'd also get in touch with the shop and the pie manufacturers and ask questions.

I buy frozen pork pies from the wholesaler. If they came fresh, however, I would think twice about freezing them.

I was in my local butcher this morning buying other bits when the small pork pies caught my eye. They had several different flavours so thought I’d get one to try. I asked how long they’d keep for and the butcher told me they had only come in this morning and would keep for 10 days. Must admit I wouldn’t have thought they had a shelf life that long. So I’m just saying buying from a butcher they might keep in a fridge longer than you think.

Some types of food have their texture changed by freezing. Fresh fruit and veg, for example. I think most people know that fresh lettuce, tomatoes, apples etc don’t freeze well, but are not actually harmful. I can’t think of any food that is safe to eat when put in freezer (ie is not past use by date) would cause any illness when taken out.

Some types of sauces separate after freezing and thawing, so possibly some types of pies with a filling might not freeze well.

Thank you everyone. My daughter usually buys a lovely pie from a butcher’s section of a market garden and because of its size I have frozen part for about a week. It has been fine. However, this year has been a little difficult so I am buying from Sainsburys. They are Dickens and Morrison pies which are sold in other supermarkets. Surprised about the not to freeze and wonder why. Wonder if it’s to cover themselves in case people have them sitting around and as have some over decide to freeze.

My Dickinson and Morris is in the freezer. I eegularly freeze either those or Walkers which are made by the same company and the only ones I buy.

During the first lockdown I bought a Walkers pie direct - delivery was a fortune so I won't surprised to find it was delivered by Wells Fargo!!