Q. This is going to seem like a crazy question, but I need to know! My kids love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their lunches, but I get tired of making all those sandwiches every day. Some mornings I’ve run out of bread and struggle to find something else for them to eat that they will like. I’ve thought about making enough sandwiches for the week ahead of time and just sticking them in the freezer, but my husband thinks that they will be gross and soggy. I don’t want to waste my time or money if it’s not going to work. Can you freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
A. That’s not a crazy question at all! Who wouldn’t like to spend less time making school lunches? You can absolutely freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without the bread going soggy. There is a small trick to follow though if you want to make sure the jelly doesn’t leak out and make the bread turn to mush.
How to freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Begin making your sandwiches with the freshest bread possible. Spread the normal amount of peanut butter on one slice of bread, and then a very thin layer of peanut butter on the slice where you will spread the jelly. This creates a barrier between the bread and the jelly, stopping the jelly from seeping through. Then, spread the jelly on that slice of bread as usual. Place the slices together. Slide the sandwich into a sandwich sized freezer bag, and seal the bag completely. Label and date the freezer bag. Repeat with the remaining desired number of sandwiches.
Store the sandwiches lying flat in the freezer, stacked on top of each other. Do not stand the sandwiches up when freezing or thawing, as the jelly could leak out and make the bottom of the bread sticky and mushy. Don’t place anything heavy on top of the sandwiches in the freezer, to avoid flattening them completely. Sandwiches will last about a month in the freezer before starting to lose taste.
To eat, remove the sandwich from the freezer the night before you plan to eat it. Place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, keeping in mind that it should be kept lying flat. Once thawed, enjoy your sandwich! For best results, consume as soon as possible. Never refreeze previously frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.