Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Vegetable Soup?
Yes, you can freeze vegetable soup, and it can last well in the freezer for 3 to 6 months. You can freeze them in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bags. The best kind of soup to freeze would be clear broths with no dairy content in them.
If you are looking to freeze and store vegetable soup then this is the ultimate guide to help you out.
The methods and tips mentioned below have worked like a charm for me and several other home cooks.
So, let’s dive right into it.
How to Freeze Vegetable Soup?
Whether it is leftover soup or some broth you want to make beforehand, this is the best way to freeze vegetable soup or broth.
Materials
- Vegetable Soup
- Cling Wrap (Optional)
Tools
- Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Container
Instructions
- Prep and Cool: Make the soup and let it cool down to room temperature before you pack them.
- Portion the Soup: Divide the soup into portions \ ou can easily consume in one go.
- Transfer to Container: Pour the portioned vegetable soup into a freezer-safe air-tight container. Make sure to leave an inch space at the top of the container to allow the soup to expand once it freezes.
- Freezer-Burn Protection: Place some cling wrap at the top, with the cling wrap dipping into the soup. This is an optional step but will help protect the soup from freezer burns.
- Seal, Label, and Freeze: Seal the container tightly and add a label to it. You are now all set to freeze the vegetable soup.
You could check out this easy tutorial on how to freeze and store vegetable soup by “Mama to the Hills” on YouTube to see how it's done -
Freezing Vegetable Soup in Ziploc Bags
Time Taken: 5 – 10
What you will need:
- Vegetable Soup
- Ziploc Bag
If you are looking to save some space in the freeze and want to freeze a big batch of vegetable broth then you could follow this method.
Prep and Cool
Prepare the vegetable soup and then let it cool down to room temperature.
Portion the Soup
Divide the vegetable soup into portions you can easily consume in one sitting or use in a recipe.
Pack and Seal
Pour the portioned vegetable soup into a Ziploc bag and seal them. Try to squeeze as much excess air out as possible before sealing.
Label and Freeze
Add a label on the Ziploc bag with the best-before date and content name, and you can freeze the soup till you need it next.
This YouTube video by “Cook for Your Life” is a great video on how to follow this method –
How Long Can You Freeze Vegetable Soup?
You can freeze vegetable soup for 3 to 6 months. If the soup has dairy content, it would be best to consume it soon and within a 3-month mark.
The clearer the broth, the longer it can last in the freezer. So, if you are freezing vegetable soup with veggies in it, it would be best to consume them as soon as you can.
Though they can freeze well, the vegetables may not hold their texture as well when it thaws.
How to Store Frozen Vegetable Soup?
You can store vegetable soup in an air-tight freezer-safe container or Ziploc bags. You could also use freezer-safe mason jars to store the frozen vegetable soup.
When using a plastic or glass container, it would be best to add a film of cling wrap at the top to protect the soup from getting freezer burns.
Also, leave an inch space at the top to make room for expansion of the soup when it freezes. If you fill the container to the brim, the container can crack and leak its contents.
If you are running out of freezer space, then the Ziploc bags are your best bet. You can lay them down flat on top of each other and store quite a lot of soup compactly.
How to Defrost Vegetable Soup?
You can defrost the vegetable soup by leaving the portion you need in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight and let it thaw gradually.
If you are in a hurry, you could leave the container in a bowl of cold water and let it thaw on the kitchen counter for a couple of hours. If the soup does not have any dairy, you could also microwave it or heat it in a pan.
Can You Refreeze Vegetable Soup?
Yes, you can refreeze vegetable soup, but it would be best not to repeatedly freeze and thaw it.
Especially if the soup has a lot of veggies in it, the texture of the vegetables can change once it thaws, and refreezing does not help save the overall texture and flavor of the soup.
If you would like to avoid refreezing vegetable soup, you can portion them beforehand into easily manageable single-servings.
Does Vegetable Soup Freeze Well?
Yes, vegetable soup freezes well, but its freezer life and how well its texture is preserved will depend on its contents.
The best vegetable soup to freeze would be the pureed or brothy kind with no dairy content and little to no vegetable chunks in it.
Though the soup can stay fresh in the freezer, the same cannot be said about the vegetables in it.
Especially when you reheat it the vegetables can often get overcooked. So, as a precaution, you could undercook the vegetables before freezing them.
FAQs
No, it would be best not to freeze vegetable soup with noodles in it. The noodle can soak up the liquid and can break down once it thaws.
So, instead, you can freeze the broth and the noodles separately and heat them together when you want to eat them.
Although you can freeze vegetable soup with milk or cream in it, there is no guarantee how well it will last in the freezer.
The dairy components can change in texture when they thaw and can affect the overall taste and texture of the soup. So, it would be best to try freezing a sample before you freeze a whole batch and better still if you can consume it fresh.
No, it would be best not to freeze vegetable soup with potatoes in them. The potatoes can get mushy and grainy once they thaw, and though safe to eat, it might not be appealing.
So, you can prepare the vegetable broth without potatoes and then add the potatoes after it has been reheated.
Bottom Line
I hope this article helped you freeze and store vegetable soups of all kinds.
If you have any doubts or would like to share some freezing hacks of your own, it would be lovely to hear from you.
Feel free to share this article with all your friends and family.