Beef Wellington

[Vagus]

Has anyone made this, assembled the whole thing, and then frozen it before cooking it?

[Buenchico]

I've not tried it. (Indeed, I can't recall ever having eaten Beef Wellington). However FreezeIt.co.uk states:
"You can freeze the prepared dish before it is cooked for up to three months but you might lose some of the flavour – especially in the pastry".

https://www.freezeit.co.uk/can-you-freeze-beef-wellington/

[Vagus]

Thanks Chris. I did see that but just wondered if anyone has actually made one, and how it turned out as I’m thinking of doing one for Christmas Day but would like to make it in advance and freeze it.

[bednobs]

Buy it in tesco :)

[AuntPG]

Vagus dont do it , it will be a total disaster. Some of the ingredients don't freeze well ie pate, and have the potential to 'split' when defrosted. Also, you will have to defrost it totally before cooking, which will create lots of 'juice' coming out of the meat, making the pastry soggy before it's even been cooked.

[Stableford]

Yes, yes, and no.

[aelmpvw]

i can only imagine that a beef wellington frozen then cooked would taste like an old boot . . .

[ducksie]

I haven't made beef wellington and put it in the freezer but I have seen John torode do it on 'This Morning' he didn't put the pastry on until the morning he wanted it, and used shop bought pastry
I just found the link and it might give you an idea of what to do if you really want to freeze it https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/john-torodes-freeze-ahead-beef-wellington

[AuntPG]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ a soggy old boot :o)

[Vagus]

Sounds like a resounding ‘no’ then.
Glad I asked as I’ve been very tempted but didn’t want to have a complete disaster on Christmas Day.
Thanks APG (will check out the Tesco one bednobs but rather fancied making it myself).

[Vagus]

I might do one anyway as I’ve never made one...but not for Christmas Day.
Thanks for all the answers, much appreciated x

[bednobs]

i know from you posts you love food and cooking, but there really are some things that are better shop bought.
I was only thinking that about bake off last night - its all very well making caramel tarts or twixes, but the effort really isnt worth the results IMO.
Beef wellington is expensive ingredients, plus a lot of faffing and very hard to get right

[bednobs]

M+S also do one but it's more expensive

[Vagus]

You’re probably right bednobs, I do fancy making one though.
Other half has a birthday in January and given I still have to be careful about contact with people I doubt we’ll go out for a meal so I may do our own ‘tasting menu’ with wine pairing and make it the main course.
Or I might be so sick of cooking and eating by then we’ll just get a Chinese takeaway :)

[bednobs]

sick of eating??? never!

[Redhelen72]

Beef Wellington is wonderful and should be made fresh - its not that difficult to make nor is it time consuming.
Give it a go and make it fresh

[bednobs]

maybe it was just hard to get right for me :)

[Barmaid]

I quite often do Gordon Ramsey's one. You can prep it a couple of days before you want it. I have even wrapped mine in the pastry the night before (you must make sure you've sealed and rested the meat properly to get away with that). Then just egg wash it and bake it on the day.

[Redhelen72]

Sorry Bednobs I did not mean to insinuate anything

[bednobs]

lol you are right though - i think you and vagus are probably much more accomplished cooks than me anyway (i err on the side of enjoying the eating more than the prepping and cooking)

[Redhelen72]

Lol I can't do the eating so enjoy the cooking
Match made in heaven!