Can You Freeze Cream Soups?

Can You Freeze Cream Soups?

A bowl of hot cream soup can be refreshing to have on a gloomy day. It peps up the spirits and re-energizes the body. However, suppose you have prepared more cream soup than you can consume at a time. How do you store them? Is it possible to refrigerate them? Or, like other soups, can you freeze cream soup?

Can You Freeze Cream Soups?

You can freeze cream soups, but it requires careful handling as they are at a higher risk of experiencing textural and flavor changes when frozen and defrosted. There are chances of the ingredients clumping together or the soup becoming runny. The taste can change drastically.

Why Are Cream Soups Challenging To Freeze?

Cream soups are emulsified when cooked. The process involves protein bonding to prevent the water and the fat molecules from separating. Freezing emulsified products disrupt this chemical bonding causing them to acquire a grainy texture and flavor.

Besides, cream soups with lower fat content are more at risk of splitting when defrosted. So, we recommend using other kinds of milk instead of skimmed milk when preparing cream soups. A better solution is to postpone adding the cream initially. You can do it even after the soup has defrosted. However, this luxury is not available when defrosting leftover cream soups.

How Do You Freeze Cream Soups?

If you are making cream soup from scratch, it is better to avoid adding cream initially. You can do that after defrosting and during the reheating process. Secondly, please ensure that the cream soup is cooled to room temperature.

  1. Once the soup has cooled down to achieve room temperature, you can start packing it in small plastic containers suitable for a single serving. You can also use sealable freezer bags.
  2. Please leave sufficient space at the top for the soup to expand during the freezing process.
  3. Note down the freezing date on the containers/freezer bags before sealing them airtight.
  4. Place them in the freezer.

If you plan to freeze leftover soup, pour it into the containers and ensure to leave some space. Close the containers and freeze.

How Do You Defrost Or Thaw Cream Soup?

The ideal defrosting mode is to refrigerate the frozen soup and allow it to thaw naturally. Then, transfer the frozen soup packets to the fridge and place them overnight. The change in the temperature allows the soup to defrost gradually. This procedure helps retain the optimal flavor.

How Do You Reheat Thawed Cream Soup?

Defrosted cream soup can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave. Using the stovetop method, you can pour the soup into a saucepan and let it simmer over a low flame. Keep stirring the soup frequently to prevent it from getting burnt.

Thawed soup can be runny. Therefore, adding half a tablespoon of cornstarch in water to the soup can thicken it considerably. You can proceed with adding the cream during the reheating process as it simmers.

Using the microwave option is also possible. First, pour the defrosted soup into a microwave-safe container and reheat for 20 seconds on high heat. Next, stir the soup well and microwave for another twenty seconds. The soup should be ready for immediate consumption.

How Long Can You Keep The Cream Soup Frozen In The Freezer?

If you freeze the cream soup correctly and maintain its temperature consistently below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, frozen cream soup can last for six months. However, we advise you to consume it within three to four months.

How Long Can You Refrigerate Cream Soup?

Cream soups can last for three days in the refrigerator. However, if you plan to add cream subsequently during the reheating process, they can last for up to a week.

Tips To Ensure A Perfect Freezing Job

It is best to remember the following aspects when freezing cream soup.

  1. It is advisable to add cream later on before serving.
  2. Using agar-agar or arrowroot is an alternative to adding cream initially.
  3. If the soup ingredients separate, it is better to blend them in the blender for 30 seconds. Alternatively, you can whisk them by hand to achieve the desired consistency.
  4. You can leave the herbs for later addition before serving the soup.
  5. If there is any pasta in the soup before freezing, it is better to remove them as pasta can become mushy. However, you can add freshly boiled pasta when reheating the soup.
  6. Similarly, it is better to avoid cooking green vegetables thoroughly before freezing. They can be added subsequently.

Can You Refreeze Cream Soup?

It is not recommended to refreeze cream soup as the ingredients could separate and damage the soup’s texture and flavor considerably.

Can You Freeze Soups With Milk?

Cream and milk are similar ingredients. So, the rules that apply to cream apply to milk. Therefore, the freezing process is the same as described above.

Do Cream Soups Turn Bad On Defrosting?

Cream soup can separate during the defrosting process, but they do not turn rancid. You can restore the consistency by whisking or blending the ingredients again.

How Do You Know The Cream Soup Has Gone Sour?

The sour soup smells differently from the fresh soup. So, the odor is a dead giveaway of the soup becoming rancid. Besides, if you find the cream curdling in the soup, it is time to discard it. Similarly, mold formation indicates that the soup will get bad soon.

Can Consuming Expired Soup Make You Sick?

Expired soup is not necessarily rancid. The taste of expired soup might not be the same as fresh soup, but it is palatable. There is no health risk if you consume expired soup. However, if it has turned sour, the only option is to discard them.

Can You Freeze Canned Cream Soup?

Canned soup does not require freezing until you open the can. It lasts comfortably for six months. However, you have to look at other storage options after opening the can. Freezing canned soup is a viable option.

Can You Freeze Condensed Cream Soups?

Condensed cream soups can be frozen in the freezer for two months.

Final Thoughts

A cup of hot creamy soup is always welcome to spice up gloomy mornings. However, if you have sufficient leftovers or have prepared more than you can consume, you can freeze cream soup using the procedure described here.

So, can you freeze cream soup? You certainly can freeze cream soup.

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