I’ve never frozen soup but would like to. Any advice or tips?
This was a question asked during our weekly live chat, where we help you level up your skills in the kitchen. The reader who sent it is someone who loves my heart, as I believe there are few things more comforting than knowing there’s a ready meal waiting for you to pull out when you need it. Fortunately, soup is one of those things that freezes well across the board. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Store soup in shallow containers when freezing. This will make freezing and thawing more efficient. The individual parts are great. Also remember to leave head room to allow for expansion while freezing.
Think ahead when you want to thaw the soup. Place the container in the refrigerator the night before or the morning of the day you want to eat it so you can thaw it.
Use the microwave and stovetop to reheat soup in no time. This is a useful two-fold strategy. You can use the microwave to defrost the food from the container (try a lower heat level or use the defrost function) before transferring it to the bowl to finish heating completely. You can also run your container briefly under tap water warm enough to loosen it from the sides before heating it on the stove. The government recommends bringing the soup back to a boil to ensure safety.
Be prepared to make some adjustments. Some vegetables or other ingredients may break down or come out softer after thawing frozen soup, but I don’t consider that a deal-breaker. “Noodles in soup tend to get mushy when soup is frozen and then reheated,” said one colleague. “So, if this concerns you… cook the noodles separately each time you serve the rest of the soup. Ditto for cut potatoes; To a lesser extent.If the creamy soup separates after thawing, you can simply whisk it while heating or use a blender or blender to bring it back together.
Keep track of the meals you have stored. For best quality, use frozen soups and stews within two to three months. Label and date containers, and regularly look at what you have in the refrigerator. If you’re really organized, you can document inventory on a whiteboard on your refrigerator.