One of the finest French sauces, bearnaise sauce is widely used for many dishes, mainly steaks, vegetables, and seafood. However, creating a homemade bearnaise sauce can sometimes get too overwhelming, leaving you with many leftovers afterward.
If you’re planning to throw it right away, thinking it can no longer be used in the future, you couldn’t be more wrong. Here, we’ll list everything you can do with your leftover sauce, from storing it to reheating it.
So, can you freeze a bearnaise sauce, and how do you keep it to preserve its freshness?
Preserving Bearnaise Sauce
Here’s some good news: you can freeze your leftover sauce!
Although bearnaise sauces are ideally best consumed when freshly made, this doesn’t mean they can’t be stored for future use. If you’re only using it at home, you can store your leftover bearnaise sauce for up to one month in your freezer and take it out whenever you need to. (Read Does Canola Oil Freeze)
Freezing Bearnaise Sauce
The first step when freezing a leftover bearnaise sauce is to ensure that it’s completely fresh when you decide to freeze it. You wouldn’t want your sauce already close to spoilage when you keep it in the freezer.
For best freezing tips, you can also follow this simple step-by-step process to keep your leftover sauce in tiptop condition:
- Make sure it’s at room temperature. If the sauce is freshly made, allow it to cool first and reach room temperature before you store it.
- Transfer it to your container of choice. Once the sauce has cooled down, you can transfer it into an airtight container or a freezer bag, depending on where you want to store it. Ideally, it’s best to keep it in small freezer bags so you can thaw by portion instead of thawing all the leftover sauce.
If you keep it in a freezer bag, leave a little room where the sauce can expand when it freezes. Don’t forget to double-check if it’s sealed correctly to avoid spillages! - Store properly in the freezer. Whether it’s stored in a container or a bag, it’s vital to keep it properly to keep it in its best shape and avoid being contaminated and minimize condensation.
Keeping Your Bearnaise Sauce
Despite having eggs as one of its main ingredients, the good thing about Bearnaise sauce is that it can still be stored and kept fresh. How long can you keep Bearnaise sauce? It’s safe to be stored until one month or more, depending on how well it’s kept.
Best Ways to Keeping Bearnaise Sauce
The key to keeping your leftover bearnaise sauce as if it’s still new is to store it in the best way possible. Apart from picking a good container or storage, you should also take note of the following tips:
- A tight seal is your best friend. Keeping it in a nice container is only the first step. Make sure it has a tight seal to keep your sauce safe from contamination and avoid spilling it on your freezer.
- Line them in your freezer. If you used freezer bags for storage, they are the best option to line in the freezer and save your other goods from freezer burn. Since it’s a liquid, it’s rarely susceptible to being burnt!
- Label your containers. If you separate your leftover sauce into portions, label them with a date. This will help you remember when you stored the sauce and not make you guess how old they have been kept in the freezer.
Reheating Frozen Bearnaise Sauce
If you’re wondering how you reheat frozen Bearnaise sauce, you can proceed by simply taking it out of the freezer and thawing it out. However, keep in mind these simple steps:
- Do not toss it in the microwave! Don’t speed up the thawing process by putting it in a microwave. This will only create separation and ruin the sauce.
- Thaw at room temperature. Place your frozen leftover sauce in the fridge and let it turn into liquid. This is the best way to keep the consistency of your sauce right before you froze it.
- Heat in a saucepan. To get its best taste, heat your leftover sauce in a small saucepan and put a splash of tarragon vinegar to add a kick to its flavor. Just remember, not heating the sauce enough will leave you with a thin sauce but heating it too can turn it into scrambled eggs!
- Whisk, whisk, and whisk! By whisking the sauce while heating it, you’d get your desired consistency like it’s freshly made. As soon as it has returned to a runny consistency, it’s time to remove it from the heat and serve! (Learn How To Make Hamburger Helper Without Milk)
Other Uses of Leftover Sauce
Like any other sauce, bearnaise sauce is versatile and can be used in various dishes apart from steaks. But if you’re looking for other ways where you can use your leftover sauce, you can try to drizzle it on top of the following dishes:
- Eggs Benedict
- Fried Egg Sandwich
- Omelets
- Pan Salmon
- Any Grilled Fish
- Roasted Chicken
- Broiled Lamb Chops
- Vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or brussels sprouts
- As a dip for fries
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have further questions about storing, freezing, and reheating your leftover bearnaise sauce, these pieces of information might help:
How long does bearnaise sauce last in the fridge?
Up to two to three days.
Does the bearnaise sauce freeze well?
Yes.
Can you freeze Knorr bearnaise sauce?
Yes, the ready-made sauce can be frozen.
Can you refreeze a thawed bearnaise sauce?
Yes, but proceed with caution.
What’s the ideal temperature to serve a bearnaise sauce?
Around 60°C or 140°F.
My leftover bearnaise sauce has thinned. How can I thicken it?
Mix 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 1/2 tbsp leftover sauce in a bowl. Pour it into a pan over low heat and wait until the sauce thickens. If it’s still runny, add 1/2 tsp of sauce until you reach your desired consistency.
How do you know if a bearnaise sauce has already gone bad?
Time to discard your leftover sauce if the smell is already off and the taste is tangy from its original flavor.
Key Takeaway
While bearnaise sauce can be tricky to make, freezing it for future use isn’t as daunting as the process of creating it. As long as you keep in mind the proper ways of storing, freezing, and reheating it, the best bet is that you’ll have a delicious bearnaise sauce that you can quickly whip up when you feel like having a steak night or if you need a simple dip for your dishes. (Learn How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last In Refrigerator)
So, the next time you feel intimidated by this sauce, remember how versatile it is! It can easily be the show’s star by adding it to your meals. No need for a five-star dinner when you can have your perfectly made bearnaise sauce to level up your dishes!
