Frozen pastel de nata: 3 myths you should stop believing

Frozen pastéis de nata myths Nata Pura BY Foods

There’s a common belief that frozen pastries can’t compare to fresh ones. And when it comes to a delicate, iconic product like pastel de nata, this assumption can be even stronger.

But here’s the truth: a frozen pastel de nata can be exceptional – yes, a frozen pastel de nata.

Let’s separate myth from fact.

Myth #1: “Frozen means lower quality.”

Not necessarily. What matters is how the pastel de nata is frozen. At BY Foods, we use ultra-freezing technology that brings the product to extremely low temperatures in a very short time.

This process:

  • Preserves the texture and structure of the pastry;

  • Locks in the creaminess and flavour of the custard;

  • Avoids ice crystals that would affect the final product.

The result? A pastel de nata that, when baked correctly, is indistinguishable from a freshly made one.

Myth #2: “The custard tart won’t taste the same after freezing.”

Taste depends on two things: the quality of the original product and how it’s stored and handled. If the pastel de nata was made with high-quality ingredients and frozen immediately at the right temperature, the taste will be preserved.

Our custard is made with fresh milk, eggs, and natural ingredients – no preservatives or artificial flavours – and frozen at peak quality. What you bake is exactly what was made.

Myth #3: “Frozen pastéis de nata are just for mass production.”

Not at all. Frozen pastéis de nata offer an advantage to boutiques, restaurants, and hotel kitchens that want to serve high-quality pastry without needing an in-house pastry chef.

With a frozen product, you:

  • Minimise waste (you only bake what you need);

  • Ensure consistent results;

  • Save time and labour;

  • Offer an authentic Portuguese experience anywhere in the world.

The benefits of frozen done right

Freezing isn’t a compromise. It’s a logistical and culinary solution.

For international partners, it’s often the only way to ensure:

  • Stable product supply;

  • Quality consistency across locations;

  • Food safety and traceability;

  • Flexible stock management.

What to look for in a good frozen pastel de nata

If you’re buying frozen, make sure:

  • The product is deep-frozen, not just “frozen”;

  • There’s no thawing between production and delivery;

  • Instructions for baking (oven or air fryer) are clear and tested;

  • The company offers technical support or training to partners.

At BY Foods, through our brand Nata Pura, we’ve invested heavily in our freezing process because we know it’s not just about transport – it’s about experience.

The idea that frozen pastel de nata is “second-best” simply doesn’t hold up when the process is done right.
It’s not a shortcut but a controlled, efficient way to share the product globally without losing what makes it special.

Got questions about frozen pastel de nata?

Check our FAQs or send us a message – we’ll be happy to help clarify how we preserve quality, flavour, and tradition in every bite.

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As a business, I sometimes think we are best compared to a juggling act, balancing very different elements in the air, without loosing momentum and paying equal attention to every thing at once. As any juggler will tell you, though, eventually something will fall, no matter how good she is. In our case, our recurring mistake is to take the simple things for granted. Namely, that people will instinctively know how to prepare our products, as it seems second nature to us since we do it practically every day.

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World’s first microwaveable pastel de nata in 40 seconds

Nata Pura MicroWavable pastel de nata

Nata Pura MW, our Pastel de Nata focused brand, has cracked a revolutionary new tech that allows pastry regeneration from deep frozen to ready to eat in under 40 seconds, with zero loss of quality. This is an enormous jump from the 12 to 14 minutes of regeneration present in other similar products available in the market, and a huge convenience add on. As proprietor of this patented technology, BY Foods is the only company able to use this process.

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