Freezer Ham and Cheese Lunchbox Sandwiches
In short: Buttered bread, ham, cheese and mustard wrapped and frozen flat. Pack one frozen and it thaws by lunchtime, keeping the lunchbox cool too. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Making a dozen sandwiches in one go and freezing them saves ten minutes every school morning. The key is a thin layer of butter spread right to the edges of every slice, which keeps moisture from the filling out of the bread, plus fillings that freeze well, like sliced ham, cheese and mustard. A frozen sandwich goes into the lunchbox in the morning and is thawed and cool by lunchtime.
Instructions
- Lay out 24 slices of bread on the counter in two rows. Spread the butter over every slice, right to the edges, so it forms a moisture barrier.
- Spread a thin layer of mustard over the 12 slices that will be the tops.
- On each of the other 12 slices, lay a slice of cheese and two slices of ham, folded or trimmed to fit within the crust.
- Close each sandwich with a mustard-spread slice, press down gently and cut in half if you like.
- Wrap each sandwich tightly in baking paper or cling film, or slide it into a freezer bag and press out the air.
- Freeze the sandwiches flat in a single layer for 2 hours, then stack them. Keep for up to 1 month.
- In the morning, put a frozen sandwich in the lunchbox with a cold pack. It thaws in about 3 to 4 hours and is ready to eat at lunchtime. Do not refreeze it.
Tips
- Leave out lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickles and mayonnaise, which turn watery or separate after freezing. Pack salad vegetables in a small separate container.
- Peanut butter and jam sandwiches also freeze well if your school allows nuts. Hard-boiled egg and cream-based fillings do not freeze well.
Questions and answers
How long can I freeze sandwiches?
Up to 1 month for the best quality. Wrap them tightly so they do not get freezer burn.
Is it safe to put a frozen sandwich in a lunchbox?
Yes, as long as the lunchbox has a cold pack. The sandwich thaws slowly and also helps keep the other food cool. Do not refreeze it once it has thawed.
Will the bread go soggy when it thaws?
Not if you butter the bread right to the edges and use dry fillings. Condensation in the wrapper is the other cause, so wrap tightly and use baking paper.
How long does it take to make Freezer Ham and Cheese Lunchbox Sandwiches?
About 30 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Freezer Ham and Cheese Lunchbox Sandwiches?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 18 g of protein, 33 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 870 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
