Can You Freeze French Onion Soup?
French onion soup is amongst the most classical appetizers you can ever have. It has a rich, indulgent flavor and taste that everyone can enjoy. But, preparing French onion soup can consume a lot of time to extract the sweetness out of the onions. So, it is natural for anyone to prepare more French onion soup than they can consume at a time. If you have prepared a large batch of French onion soup, there can be questions about its storage.
How can you store French onion soup to maintain its freshness? Can you freeze French onion soup?
So, let us start answering these questions to help you extract the best of the French onion soup.
Can You Freeze French Onion Soup?
You can freeze French onion soup and preserve its freshness for later consumption.
How Do You Freeze French Onion Soup?
While preparing French onion soup takes time, freezing it does not. Here is the simplified procedure for freezing French onion soup.
Step 1 – Cool The French Onion Soup
If you wish to preserve freshly made French onion soup, the first step is to cool it to room temperature. It is not advisable to freeze hot soup because it can affect the freezer temperature and spoil other food freezing inside it. Secondly, hot French onion soup does not freeze well. Besides, hot French onion soup can melt the plastic containers you choose for freezing them.
The best way to cool the hot French onion soup is to place the container on the kitchen counter at room temperature. You can hasten the cooling process by setting the container in an ice water sink.
We recommend removing any cheese or croutons in the soup if you have added them. It is better to add cheese and other toppings before serving.
Step 2 – Portion Out The French Onion Soup
We suggest portioning the French onion soup into small containers that make it easy for consumption. It is convenient because you need not defrost large batches and watch it waste if not consumed on time. Instead, you can take out the required portions and defrost them for consumption while letting the rest of the batch remain frozen.
We advise leaving some space at the top to allow the soup to expand on freezing. You can also freeze French onion soup in resealable ziplock bags. Please ensure to remove excess air from the bags to avoid contamination. Seal the bags properly.
Using thick bags with proper sealing arrangements is better because the liquid can spill out and mess up the freezer.
Step 3 – Label The Containers
Grab a marking pen and write the freezing date on the freezer bags or containers. It helps you know how long it is lying inside the freezer. Besides, labeling the containers with the names of the contents enables you to identify them correctly. After freezing for a while, all soups and juices look similar.
Step 4 – Freeze The French Onion Soup
Place the containers or the freezer bags in a convenient spot inside the freezer and allow the contents to freeze. Please freeze the bags flat if there is sufficient space in the container. It allows for quicker and uniform freezing.
How To Freeze French Onion Soup In Muffin Trays?
- Cool the French onion soup to room temperature.
- Pour it into muffin trays and leave some space at the top.
- Place the muffin trays inside the freezer for a few hours allowing the liquid to solidify.
- Remove the tray and let it sit on the counter for around 10 to 20 minutes. It enables you to remove the soup portions comfortably.
- Remove the cubes and place them inside a freezer bag.
- Freeze them.
The advantage is that you can remove the consumable portions easily.
How Long Can You Keep The French Onion Soup Frozen Inside The Freezer?
The frozen French onion soup can remain fresh for three months inside the freezer. We suggest you place the freezer bags or containers at the deep end of the freezer to prevent thawing when you open the freezer door frequently.
How To Defrost French Onion Soup?
Depending on the situation’s urgency, you can defrost the French onion soup in different ways.
- If you have sufficient time and like to have the soup defrosted before consuming it, we recommend defrosting the French onion soup inside the fridge. You can remove the necessary portions from the freezer and transfer them to the fridge compartment. It allows the French onion soup to thaw gradually and naturally. Besides, it ensures uniform thawing, which is essential to maintaining its texture, flavor, and taste. However, it is a time-consuming process. You might have to start the process overnight to enable consumption the following morning.
- An alternative is to place the container in a tub containing warm water. It enables quicker defrosting without any noticeable change in its texture and taste. You can defrost the French onion soup this way and have it the same day.
- If time is a significant constraint, microwaving the soup is viable. For example, you can place the French onion soup in a heat-proof bowl and microwave it. However, we suggest using the microwave procedure as a last resort.
Can You Refreeze French Onion Soup?
Technically, there are no issues in refreezing French onion soup. But, we do not suggest it because it can severely impact its texture and flavor. Refreezing French onion soup can make it lose its taste and feel bland.
Can You Reheat The Defrosted French Onion Soup?
Any soup is best consumed when it is hot. The French onion soup is no different. So, reheating the defrosted French onion soup is possible.
Can You Freeze French Onion Dip?
You can freeze French onion dip and preserve its freshness.
Can You Freeze A French Onion Soup Recipe?
It is possible to freeze a French onion soup recipe in the manner described here.
Can You Freeze French Onion Soup Leftovers?
You can freeze French onion leftovers, but they do not remain fresh for long because of the cheese or crouton contents. So, we suggest consuming the frozen French onion soup leftovers within a month to prevent any degradation in their taste.
Final Thoughts
Onion is amongst the few vegetables you do not freeze because it does not require freezing to remain fresh. However, it is advisable to freeze onion recipes like French onion soup to maintain their taste for extended periods.
So, can you freeze French onion soup? Yes, you can.
