Here is an interesting fact about soup. The first archeological discovery about the consumption of soup dates back to 6000 BC. At that time, Hippopotomus soup was a big hit.
We’ve come a long way with the variety of soups available today. It’s an easy dish to prepare and there’s something for everyone.
But sometimes, and I am guilty of this myself, we tend to make a little too much. The question some will now be asking: can all soups be frozen and which ones shouldn’t be?
Here is a helpful table to quickly find out if you can freeze your soup and what to be aware of if you do it:
| What soups can be frozen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient | Does it freeze well | Advice before freezing |
| Potato soup without dairy products | Does not freeze well | Make the soup without dairy and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Potato soup with dairy products | Freezes better than potato soup with dairy products, but it is still not the best soup for freezing. | Make the soup without dairy and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Milk - soups containing milk | Do not freeze well. | Make the soup without milk and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Cream - soups containing cream | Do not freeze well. | Make the soup without cream and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Heavy cream - soups containing heavy cream | Do not freeze well. | Make the soup without heavy cream and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Half and half - soups containing cream half and half | Do not freeze well. | Make the soup without half and half and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Double creme - soups containing double creme | Do not freeze well. | Make the soup without double creme and only add it when the soup is thawed again. |
| Vegetables | Yes it freezes well | |
| Frozen vegetables | Yes it freezes well | |
| Pea and carrot soup | Yes it freezes well | |
| Cabbage | Yes it freezes well | |
| Celery | Yes it freezes well | |
| Evaporated milk | Yes it freezes well | Similar to other dairy based soups |
| Almond milk | Not advisable | Manufacturers state, almond milk should not be frozen |
| Coconut milk soup - soups containing coconut milk | Does not hold well in a freezer | Only add this product after the soup has been thawed |
| Pumpkin soup with coconut milk | Does not hold well in a freezer | Only add this product after the soup has been thawed |
| Lentil soup with coconut milk | Does not hold well in a freezer | Only add this product after the soup has been thawed |
| Butternut squash soup with coconut milk | Does not hold well in a freezer | Only add this product after the soup has been thawed |
| Cream cheese - soups containing cream cheese | Does not hold well in a freezer | |
| Crème fraîche - soups containing cream fraîche | Yes it freezes well | |
| Chowders | Do not freeze well | |
| Bisques | Do not freeze well | |
| Pasta | Yes it can be frozen | Will not retain its texture |
| Egg noodles | Yes it can be frozen | Will not retain its texture |
| Quinoa | Yes it can be frozen | Will not retain its texture |
| Rice | Yes it can be frozen | Will not retain its texture |
| Pearl barley | Yes it freezes well | |
| Soups made with frozen stock | Yes they freezes well | |
| Fresh meat - soups containing fresh meat | Yes they freezes well | |
| Fresh frozen meat - soups containing fresh frozen meat | Yes they freezes well | |
| Cooked frozen meat - soups containing cooked frozen meat | Not advisable |
ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING FOOD
Last update on 2024-08-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Can you freeze soup made with potatoes
The truth is that some will say yes, while others will say no. I think it depends on each individual. But here are some interesting pointers to keep in mind.
First, any soup that contains dairy products like milk or cream does not freeze well. Most experts agree on that. If you want to freeze a potato soup that contains dairy, you should omit the dairy and add it only after the frozen soup has thawed. Dairy products tend to separate during freezing, causing them to lose their creamy consistency.
Also, the potatoes in potato soup can dry out during the freezing process. This is because potatoes soak up moisture like a sponge. When the potatoes are thawed, they tend to be grainy.
All in all, potato soup does not freeze well and becomes mushy when thawed.
However, if you do not mind this, you can assume that freezing potato soup will have no other effects and is entirely safe to consume after thawing. The decision is up to you.
Can you freeze soup made with milk
The short answer is no.
Soups made with dairy products do not freeze well. As mentioned earlier, the dairy products separate and the soup becomes grainy.
Unless you have no other choice, you should not add the dairy products to the soup and only add them after the soup has thawed.
However, if you absolutely do not have a choice, and the milk has already been mixed into the soup then go ahead and freeze it.
A suggestion may be to heat the soup without thawing it first. Consistently stir the pot to ensure that the milk that has seperated is mixed in well with the soup. However, this will not solve the fact that the soup may still taste grainy.
Can you freeze soup made with cream
Cream soup is still milk soup. The fact is that soups like chowders and bisques do not freeze well. The soup runs the risk of changing its flavor and consistency when frozen.
The taste of the soup, reheated, may not be the same. Also, the base may become runny and the other ingredients may clump together. Similar to soups containing milk, the only way to freeze soups with cream is to make the soup without cream and only add it when the soup is thawed again.
This applies to all types of cream-based soups, including heavy cream, half and half, as well as double creme.
Can you freeze soup with frozen vegetables
Yes, it is possible to freeze vegetable soup and soup made from frozen vegetables. The important thing is that you freeze the soup properly so that the vegetables do not turn to mush when reheated.
Pay attention to how long the soup has stood before freezing. Any soup that has stood for more than two hours should be thrown away. Bacteria tend to grow at temperatures between 40°F (4°C) and 140 °F (60°C).
Pea soup freezes well and can be stored for several months. Other soups that contain vegetable peas also freeze well, but there is a risk that the peas will become mushy when thawed and reheated. It is best to prepare the soup without peas and, if possible, add them only when reheating the soup.
Can you freeze soup with evaporated milk
Yes, this soup will keep well in the freezer for three to six months.
There’s just one small problem. Similar to other dairy products, the milk separates easily after thawing. But unlike other dairy products, the milk does not mix well no matter how much you stir it.
Can you freeze soup made with almond milk
It is not advisable to freeze soups prepared with almond milk.
Most manufacturers of almond milk state on the package that the almond milk should not be frozen. There are two reasons for this.
- The product is sold with a shelf life of a few months. This is the best way to store almond milk.
- Secondly, this type of milk undergoes biochemical changes during freezing. These changes affect the consistency, taste, texture and color of almond milk.
However, most store-bought almond milk products contain emulsifiers. These help the milk regain its former texture before it was frozen. So even if the milk separates, it will recombine just fine when stirred. The taste will not be the same.
Soups that contain almond or coconut milk, such as Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, keep best if the milk is whipped before freezing and added after thawing.
Can you freeze soup made with coconut milk
Some soups like pumkin soup with coconut milk, lentil soup, and butternut squash soup with coconut milk will not hold well in a freezer.
Similar to almond milk, it is best to freeze these types of soup before adding the coconut milk. Only add this product after the soup has been thawed.
Can you freeze soup made with cream cheese
This is another type of soup that will not freeze well. But there are ways to freeze it.
The best advice would be to consume the cheese soup within a few days of preperation. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days maximum.
Cream cheese, like all the other dairy products on this list, will not hold up and will change texture after freezing.
Soup made with Crème fraîche can actually be frozen. Keep in mind that the texture and color will change and the dairy product will seperate. The key is to freeze the soup as soon as possible to maintain the freshness of the Crème fraîche.
An idea is to prepare the soup without the dairy product. Store the dairy seperately in the freezer in smaller potions. Then add it to the soup once the soup has thawed.
Can you freeze soup made with cabbage
Yes.
The great thing about cabbage soup is that it will retain it’s flavor, even after freezing. In fact, the freezing process may even help to make the cabbage more tender, making the soup more delicious after thawing.
Ideally, wait for the soup to cool off before storing it in the freezer.
Can you freeze soup made with celery
Yes, you can freeze soup with celery. The celery loses its crunchiness when you freeze it, and that can not be undone. But it does not matter with soup, because the celery does not have to be crunchy.
Make sure you date the soup before freezing it. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to six months.
Can you freeze soup made with dumplings
Yes, you can freeze soup with dumplings.
However, there is a method to freezing soup with dumplings. Before you freeze the soup, remove the dumplings and place them in a gallon size freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag.
Put the liquid in another freezer-safe bag and label the bag with the date. Store both bags in the freezer.
Can you freeze soup made with pasta or egg noodle
Yes this soup can be frozen.
However, any soup made with prepared pasta, quinoua, or rice will not retain its texture after cooking, cooling, freezing, and reheating. The best method to safely freeze soup made with pasta or egg noodles, is to remove the noodles and only freeze the liquid.
Once the liquid has been thawed, prepare a fresh batch of noodles and add it to the soup.
Can you freeze soup made with pearl barley
Yes, it’s one of the best soups for freezing.
One of the best things about pearl barley soup, is how well it freezes.
This type of soup freezes better than pasta or potatoes. Most importantly, it will not loose it’s quality, taste, or texture.
Keep in mind other ingredients that go into the soup as well. For example, in the case of mushroom barley. while there is little issue with freezing barley, the same cannot be said about freezing mushrooms. Other ingredients in the soup may become soggy.
But, barley soup with no other ingredients will freeze well overall.
Can you freeze soup made with frozen stock
Many chefs in restuarants around the world make and freeze their own stock. This same stock is used in soups and then frozen again along with the soup.
This is perfectly fine and the stock shouldn’t change color, texture, or taste.
Can you freeze soup made with frozen meat
If you put raw, frozen meat in a soup and freeze the soup later, it should not be a problem.
It’s a different story if the frozen meat has already been prepared before freezing. This would mean that it goes into the freezer, cooked, a second time.
I would advise against that. Freezing meat destroys the cells and changes the texture and flavour of the meat. If you thaw it and freeze it a second time, even more cells will be destroyed. Also, there are very specific steps to follow when freezing previously frozen meat. If these steps are not strictly followed, there is a risk of bacteria developing on the food.
Therefore, avoid freezing soup with meat that has been previously cooked and frozen.
Conclusion
Some soups freeze better than others. Any soup that contains dairy products or vegetables needs to be stored with extra care, as these soups tend not to freeze well. Most soups can be frozen, but it depends on the taste and preference of the individual freezing the soup
Related posts about freezing soup
Can you freeze soup after it’s been refrigerated
What to freeze soup in – 19 best containers