[Explanation with photos! ] How to freeze and fry croquettes, 5 carefully selected recipes

Croquettes are a classic menu item that children and families like. Isn't this the first thing you think of when you get a lot of potatoes?

Also, if your child doesn't like vegetables, you can add vegetables that are chopped into small pieces.

Here we will introduce you to a good way to freeze and store these croquettes so that you can use them conveniently.

Advantages of freezing croquettes

Can be stored for a long time

Croquettes cannot be stored at room temperature and can only be stored for 1 to 2 days even in the refrigerator.

By freezing, you can preserve croquettes that cannot be stored for about a month.

You can use it as much as you need, when you need it.

If you make too many croquettes and have leftovers, you can defrost them and eat them whenever you need them.

It is very useful when you want to add one item to your lunch box or one more item to the table.

Can be used as a mass consumption menu

A "mass consumption menu" is needed when you receive a lot of potatoes or when you buy a lot of potatoes when they are cheap.

Menus that can use a lot of potatoes include potato salad and German potatoes. However, compared to other vegetables, there are not many potato menus.

That's when croquettes that can be frozen come in handy. Cook them before they sprout.

How to freeze croquettes

We will explain the freezing method in two ways: [Freezing after feeding] and [Freezing before feeding].

If you haven't fried your croquettes yet, we recommend freezing them before serving and then serving them when you eat them.

However, if you want to preserve the croquettes after frying them too much, or if you need frozen croquettes, please consider the situation and find a method that suits you.

How to feed and then freeze

1) Let the freshly fried croquettes cool completely, then wrap them one by one in plastic wrap.

2) Place each croquette on a metal tray so that they do not overlap and place in the freezer to freeze.

3) Once frozen, place the croquettes in a freezer bag and store while removing the air.
(Storage period is 2-4 weeks)

If step 2) is troublesome or you don't have time, you can skip it. In step 2), you can freeze the croquettes as quickly as possible by arranging them on a highly thermally conductive metal tray so that they do not stick flat. (Therefore, you can freeze the metal tray even faster by chilling it in the freezer beforehand.)

Since it can be frozen quickly, the destruction of the croquette cells can be minimized, making it difficult for the croquette to lose its deliciousness.

If you have time, it is best not to skip step 2).

Tips for eating deliciously

・Give it to me again.
This method gives the most delicious result. However, frying it again takes a lot of time, so I will show you an easy way to make it delicious.

1) Peel off the plastic wrap, place on kitchen paper and heat in the microwave to defrost.
2) Place crumpled aluminum foil in a toaster oven and bake until crispy. There is also a method of baking the surface without applying oil, such as in a pry pan.

How to freeze before feeding

Just like commercially available frozen croquettes, freeze them before serving (dipped in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs).
1) Wrap each croquette in plastic wrap before serving.

2) From then on, it is the same as [How to freeze after feeding].

You can work smoothly because there is no need to take the heat off before freezing.

Even if you don't like store-bought croquettes, you can use this method to stock up on frozen croquettes to make them easier to use in lunch boxes.

Tips to keep potatoes from becoming mushy when making frozen croquettes

There are some things you should be aware of in both methods: frying and then freezing, and freezing before frying.

It's about potato mash. If the potatoes are not well-mashed, the unmashed parts will become mushy when frozen and thawed.

If you plan to freeze croquettes, the key to making delicious frozen croquettes is to mash them thoroughly when making them.

How to cook frozen croquettes

Points to note when frying with oil

I will introduce two types of frying methods.

■How to fry in oil while frozen
■How to partially thaw in the microwave and fry in oil

How to fry in oil while frozen

The method of frying the frozen food in oil is recommended because there are fewer mistakes and fewer hassles.

If you are having trouble frying the frozen meat in oil, but are unable to fry it properly (it ends up bursting during frying), you can also try half-thawing it in the microwave and frying it in oil.

Please try to find a method that suits you.

How to partially thaw in the microwave and fry in oil

One of the causes of frozen croquettes bursting is the large difference in temperature between the inside and outside.

Half-thawing is useful to reduce this temperature difference. Too much thawing can also cause the surface to become too soft and cause it to burst.

Thaw until just the right amount, but not too soft.

Key points for frying

When frying frozen croquettes, be careful of the following three points: ``amount of oil,'' ``oil temperature,'' and ``do not touch it except when taking it out.''

　
・Amount of oil
If there is too little, the croquettes may burst when you turn them over, or the contents may overflow due to poor temperature control. You want the amount to be enough to fully soak the croquettes.

・Oil temperature
The temperature should be approximately 180℃ (~190℃). Anything below or above this will not fry it properly. Add 2 to 3 frozen croquettes to the pot at a time.

If you add more than this, the temperature of the oil in the pot will drop suddenly. This will result in sticky croquettes, so don't rush and cook slowly.

・Do not poke it except when taking it out.
Do not touch the croquettes for the first minute. The key to avoiding mistakes is to avoid touching it with chopsticks as much as possible until it turns golden brown and floats to the surface and is finished frying.

Please be careful as frozen croquettes can easily fall apart.

Cook without frying in a toaster

You can cook uncooked foods in the toaster, as well as fried and frozen foods.

Cooking in a toaster gives a healthy and light finish. Also,
It also reduces the hassle of cleaning up afterwards, which is a great benefit for those who cook.

You can also use a microwave oven with a steam function, which is becoming increasingly common these days. Please check the manual etc.

>> [Lunch boxes are easy! ] Techniques and recipes for effectively using frozen side dishes

5 easy and economical croquette recipes

Pumpkin croquettes with minced meat

☑材料（大きいサイズ6個分）
かぼちゃ1/4個(皮、種付きで450g)
玉ねぎ1/4個
合い挽き肉100g
（調味料）
ケチャップ大さじ1
醤油小さじ2
砂糖小さじ1
小麦粉適量
溶き卵1個分
パン粉 適量
サラダ油適量

<How to make>
1) Finely chop the onions. Cut the pumpkin into 1cm pieces, heat in the microwave, and once cooked, mash.
2) Stir-fry the minced meat in a frying pan, and when it is cooked, add the onions from step 1 and stir-fry.
3) When 2) is cooked, add seasonings and bring to a boil.
4) Add 3 to the pumpkin from 1), mix, and form into croquettes.
5) Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
6) Give it and it’s done.

Remake! Easy meat and potato croquette

A staple of the remake menu! I recommend it because it's really easy.

☑材料
肉じゃが残り分
じゃがいも適量
小麦粉・卵・パン粉適量

<How to make>
1) Chop the leftover Nikujaga ingredients. If you feel like you don't have enough potatoes, you can mash them and add more.
2) If there is a lot of moisture in 1) and it is difficult to shape, boil it in a pot or heat it in the microwave to evaporate the moisture.
3) Shape and coat with flour, egg, and flour in that order.
4) Give it and it’s done.

Nostalgic sweet potato croquette

It's not just pumpkins. How about some sweet sesame-scented croquettes?

☑材料（６～８個分）
さつまいも皮付き３００ｇ程度（中１本）
塩ひとつまみ
バター１０ｇ
小麦粉適宜
水溶き卵適宜
ごま（白でも黒でも）適宜
パン粉 ごまと同量（ごま50ccならパン粉も50cc）

<How to make>
1) Heat and mash the sweet potato. You can use your favorite method such as the microwave, rice cooker, or pot.
2) Add butter and salt to reduce the lumpiness of the sweet potatoes. If it still doesn't come together, add hot water.
3) Shape and dip into flour, egg, sesame and bread crumb mixture.
4) Give it and it’s done.

Taro croquette

Taro croquettes heat up quickly, don't require any binding, and are easy to make and delicious.

☑材料（小丸12～13個分）
里芋６～７個(５５０ｇ)位
玉ねぎ大１個位
豚小間肉（ひき肉ok）１００ｇ位
塩麹大さじ１杯
塩コショウ少々
水溶き天ぷら粉適宜
パン粉 適宜
揚げ油 適宜

<How to make>
1) Finely chop the onions and fry.
2) Peel the taro and heat it in the microwave.
3) Rub the minced pork with salt and koji and mince it using a knife or food processor. Stir-fry with 1.
4) Mash the taro from 2) and combine with 3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5) Once cooled down, shape it and add tempura flour dissolved in water to increase the viscosity and bread crumbs.
6) Give it and it’s done.

Easy remake of curry! Curry croquette

With the water in the curry, you don't need eggs or flour! You can easily make curry croquettes using leftover curry.

☑材料（2～3人分）
カレーお玉3～4杯
☆小麦粉or薄力粉お玉1杯くらい
☆塩コショウ少々
パン粉 適量
とろけるチーズ適量(無くてもOK)

<How to make>
1) Add curry (easier to use if chilled in the refrigerator) and ☆ to a bowl and mix.
2) Take desired amount of cheese, mix and shape.
3) Add bread crumbs
4) Give it and it’s done.

Conclusion

What do you think?

Croquettes are a standard menu item, but with a few tips, you can store them deliciously for a long time (freeze them).

When you feel lonely at the dining table, when you want to add something to your lunch box, or when you don't want to rely on store-bought frozen food, these delicious and quick-to-prepare croquettes are sure to come in handy!
You may no longer have to worry about consuming large quantities of potatoes.

The croquette menu introduces menu items that are easier to make than regular croquettes and seem to be more economical.

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

>> Click here for other ways to freeze vegetables