Freezing Sweet Breads

[Daniel]

Soaked in Milk, par boiled a huge amount.. Have close to 3 pounds left over.. I was wondering if I can freeze the rest or do I have to eat all this in the next day or so..

[Prawncrackers]

I bought a load of sweetbreads about 8 months ago and froze them raw in batches. Only just finished them off a few weeks ago, the last batch was fine.

I don't see why you couldn't freeze them cooked. The texture may not be as good but it should be okay.

[Peter the eater]

When you say "sweet breads" I think of breads that are sweet such as massa or the popular ones from the Caribbean. Since you are soaking them in milk I assume you mean the savory "sweetbreads".

I buy lamb pancreas and thymus every once in a while at a reduced price (because they need to be cooked or frozen within a day or so) and stick them in the freezer as is for up to a couple of months. I've had no problems, although they are a bit better when fresh. I have never tried the milk soak prior to freezing, sounds like a good idea if you have the time. Seems to me that removing the off-flavors ASAP is a good idea, particularly with the pancreas since it is the site of bitter bile production.

If they are fully cooked and you want to freeze them, I say go for it. They'll probably suffer a little bit texture-wise, just as prawncrackers has said.

[LRunkle]

Actually, bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Pancreas has nothing to do with bile.

[Peter the eater]

Actually, bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Pancreas has nothing to do with bile.

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Yes, you are absolutely right to point out bile is a product of the liver.

In most mammals (including sheep) the pancreatic duct (from the pancreas) and the bile duct (from the liver) come together at a common orifice that empties into the intestine. My butcher has shown me the yellow-green bile that can accompany an excised pancreas, not something I want to taste.

[Magictofu]

So Daniel, did you freeze them? Had a chance to try them defrosted?

[Luckylies]

I hope you froze them. they'd still be almost 100% perfect when you thawed them. i do it all the time, exactly as mentioned.