Pepperoni is a must-have pizza topping for some, but it’s also a delicious ingredient to tuck into stromboli, add to an antipasto pasta, platter, or salad, include in a snack tray, or include in any number of pepperoni pizza-themed dishes.
Since it’s a cured meat, pepperoni in puff packs or wrapped pepperoni sticks have a fairly long shelf life at room temperature. But, once opened, you’re on the clock. Can you freeze pepperoni? Yes, you can!
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you budget recipes and money-saving tips every week!
Jump to:
Sliced Pepperoni is a must on my grocery staples checklist. My kids love it on Mini Pizzas and in our famous Fish-Shaped Calzone. Whenever I see a sale, I load up because I know we’ll use it regularly for Friday night pizza.
While pepperoni lasts awhile in the fridge and sometimes at room temperature, depending on its expiration date and packaging, freezing pepperoni slices is a great way to stash it away for another time without taking up space in the fridge or risking its going to waste.
Why Do This
You can avoid food waste. Food waste is a huge waste of time and money, yet it’s so easy to avoid.
You can have pepperoni when you need it. When you freeze pepperoni slices or other deli meat, you’ll have it at the ready. It thaws super quickly!
You can save money on bulk pricing. You can buy a large stick of pepperoni or a Costco-size package knowing it will get used and your deal secured.
Ingredients
All you need is pepperoni! Some say it’s best to buy pepperoni as a stick. Depending on where you live, slices may be the most readily available.
Whichever you buy, choose packages or sticks that are within their best buy dates.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Chop or slice the pepperoni (if not purchased that way) as you will use it after thawing. It will make it much more convenient to use.
- Portion it out in labeled, ziptop freezer bags. If you purchase it in small serving puff packs, you can just freeze the bags as is. If freezing a chunk of sausage, wrap well with plastic wrap and place inside a ziptop bag.
- Place bags in the freezer.
Open freeze if you don’t use much.
If you think that you will only use a few slices or cubes of pepperoni in your recipe, then you’ll want to freeze them in a way which doesn’t clump them all together. This is called open freezing.
After you’ve chopped or sliced the pepperoni, place it on lined trays in the freezer. This will help them to freeze individually so they won’t stick together in the bag. Once frozen, transfer them to labeled ziptop bags and stash them in the freezer immediately.
Thawing and Serving Instructions
Pull the bag from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the fridge or on the countertop if you’ll be using it right away.
FAQs
You can freeze whole pepperoni sticks or sausages, just remember that once it’s thawed, its clock is ticking. If you don’t think you’ll use that entire thing, consider cutting it into smaller portions that will be more convenient to use up.
If freezing a chunk of sausage, wrap well with plastic wrap and place inside a ziptop bag.
What happens if you thaw some pepperoni and then don’t use all the bag right away? Provided that it’s still looks fresh, smells fresh, tastes good, and has been refrigerated appropriately, you can refreeze meat as well as pepperoni. You do risk some loss of texture or freezer burn, but the food won’t be bad.
Frozen pepperoni should be good for quite some time. I’ve stored it in the deep freezer for up to 6 months and it’s been perfect.
Recommended Recipes
Tell us what you think!
We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.
How to Freeze Pepperoni
Equipment
- cutting board
- parchment paper
- heavy duty sheet pan
- single-serve airtight containers
- ziptop freezer bags
- plastic wrap
Instructions
- Chop or slice the pepperoni according to your preferences, if not purchased that way.8 oz pepperoni
- Package in recipe-size portions in ziptop freezer bags or freezer-friendly containers. If freezing a chunk of sausage, wrap well with plastic wrap and place inside a ziptop bag.
- Alternatively, to freeze pepperoni slices or cubes loose, place them on a lined sheet pan and freeze until firm. Once solid, transfer the frozen pieces to packaging and return to the freezer.
- To use: add to recipe from frozen or thaw briefly on counter or in the fridge.
Lana
I have been freezing the entire store pack for at least 30 years. No need to take the time to repackage it since it is so greasy it does no stick together.
Jessica Fisher
That’s great you found something that works. I find that the brand I buy does stick, so I like breaking up a bigger pack. Plus I don’t have to store it in the fridge once opened.