When a batch of frozen challah bread needs to be re-baked, the dough can be prepared ahead of time. Simply shape and freeze the challah as usual. To bake challah from frozen, place the shaped chaallah on baking paper and refreeze until solid. Uncover and remove the shaped chuallahs from the freezer and place them on a tray or baking pan. Allow the challah to rise. Brush it with egg and bake as you would normally.
Make sure the dough is at room temperature and covered in a plastic bag. Once a piece of dough has risen, store it in the freezer for up to two or three months. Be sure to remove the challah from the freezer at least one hour before baking. Let it rise for 20 to 30 minutes and then braid it. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once the dough has risen, it is ready to be baked.
How Do You Cook Frozen Challah Bread?
You can prepare frozen challah the day before Shabbat and freeze it, but the dough should be baked and allowed to rise again before baking. This process can take anywhere from six to eight hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Once frozen, challah can be stored on a parchment-lined baking sheet, or in a zip-top freezer bag. Be sure to label the freezer bag with the date and the amount of dough you plan to bake.
The dough should be risen according to the recipe and shaped into a loaf or roll. Then, the loaf should be placed in a lightly greased loaf tin or a disposable baking tray. The loaf should be sealed in cling film or a freezer bag and left to rise. If the dough is not baked yet, it will continue to rise for up to two days. If the dough is still soft, it should be baked within a few days.
When freezing challah, ensure it has completely cooled down. If the bread is frozen with the hot bottom, it will freeze with the moisture on the underside. This makes the underside of the bread soggy. To prevent this from happening, remove the frozen challah as quickly as possible after it has finished baking. You can lay it out on a wire rack on the countertop or even place it on a table.