Can I Freeze An Unfilled Lemon Pavlova Meringue?

Our answer

Nigella's Lemon Pavlova (from SIMPLY NIGELLA) has a meringue shell that is topped with lemon curd, whipped cream and flaked (sliced) almonds. The meringue base itself is flavoured with lemon zest.

We prefer not to freeze the pavlova meringue as it is quite large and fragile, which makes it vulnerable to damage in the freezer. Also meringues can become slightly sticky when defrosted, especially in damp or humid conditions. If you have egg whites to use up then you can freeze the whites in a grease-free airtight container and thaw them overnight in the fridge before using. Frozen egg whites also whisk to better volume than fresh egg whites. The meringue can be made a day ahead and then stored in the turned-off oven or in an airtight container until needed. If you absolutely have no choice but to freeze the meringue then wrap it very carefully in a double layer of food wrap and put it on a baking sheet in the freezer. When it has frozen solid, wrap the meringue in a double layer of foil and freeze for up to 1 month. If you can, leave meringue on the baking sheet and make sure that there is nothing that will disturb or knock into the meringue or put it in an airtight container in the freezer. To defrost the meringue, unwrap it and put it on the serving plate and leave at room temperature for 3-4 hours.