One of the most popular dishes is potato soup. Quite often, it is cooked in such quantity that after the departure of the guests, there is still a little left. At such moments, the question arises, can you freeze potato soup? You can read more about freezing leftover potato soup in this article.
Can you freeze potato soup?
If the question arises, can you freeze potato soup, it is important to note that it must be prepared unusually. That is, you can freeze potato soup only if it was prepared specifically for the freezer. In the cooking process, you need to abandon the use of dairy products and spices.
It is recommended to add them just before serving the dish to the table. If you follow a special recipe, potato soup can be frozen, and taken out of the freezer only before the arrival of guests.
Also, it will be useful for you to find out which soups can be frozen and which cannot.
Is it safe?
You can often hear the question, is it safe to freeze potato soup? Freezing potato soup must be conscious. This is because cream and milk are added to classic versions of potato soup. In the process of freezing leftover potato soup, such components can peel off and look unaesthetic.
Blank for potato soup
That is why it is better to refrain from freezing potato soup a full-fledged dish. You should make a small blank that fits in the freezer, and add the missing ingredients before serving. This will save you time and not stand at the stove before the arrival of guests.
Can you freeze potato soup and how to do it?
If you decide to freeze potato soup, there are a few important guidelines to follow.
The first step is to prepare the soup
Only partially cooked potato soup is suitable for freezing. That is, you need to cook only potatoes and vegetables. They should not be brought to a full state of cooking. After all, you still have to reheat the thawed potato soup.
If you cook vegetables completely before freezing them, you will end up with a dish that is not at all what you were hoping for. After all, when warming up after defrosting, you will digest them, and they will lose their taste.
The second step is to refrain from using milk
Dairy products do not tend to freeze, however, they quickly defrost. If you freeze milk, it will look more like sand and become almost unusable.
That is why you should refrain from using milk and other dairy products in the process of preparing potato soup. Keep these products always in the refrigerator, so that if necessary, add them to the dish, and serve.
It is recommended to refrain from using herbs and spices. After all, it is best to add them when you reheat the dish after freezing. This way they retain their aroma and taste.
The third step is defending
The potato soup must be left on the switched-off stove to cool before freezing. After that, you can proceed to the preparatory stages for placing it in the freezer.
The fourth stage – preparing the potato soup
As soon as the potato soup has cooled, you can start packing it in special bags or containers. If you freeze the dish in bags, choose options with a zip lock so that the liquid does not spill.
Containers must also be sealed so that the product does not spoil and spill throughout the compartment.
The fifth stage – cooling in the refrigerator
Try to find an opportunity to put the packed containers and freezer bags in the refrigerator for a few hours. This helps you freeze better.
The sixth stage – placing containers in the freezer
When the potato soup and containers are chilled, you can put them in the freezer. Try to place everything neatly to avoid deformation of the containers.
All containers and freezer bags should be laid flat to save space. It is allowed to stack them on top of each other.
Label
Be sure to label all containers with the packing date. This allows you to better monitor the expiration date of the dish. On average, potato soup can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
If you pack the potato soup in the freezer bag, you need to carefully squeeze out 90% of the air from them.
You can simplify the process if you lay them out on the table. If using containers, leave a gap of 1 inch between the potato soup and the lid. After all, the frozen potato soup will expand.
Some freezing tips
Quite often you can hear the question, what’s the best way to freeze potato soup? Try to follow a few simple tips that make freezing soup quality.
Use hard glassware
It is best to use glassware for freezing potato soup. It should have a mark from the manufacturer that it can be used in the freezer.
Thanks to such containers, the leftover soup does not absorb extraneous flavors. Therefore, its taste and aromatic qualities will be preserved even after several months.
Covering with cling film
For added safety, it is recommended that you first cover the containers with cling film and place them in the freezer.
As soon as the liquid hardens, you can remove the film and cover it with lids. This allows the liquid to expand and not damage the container.
Availability of marking
Quite often, stickers that show the date of packaging and the expiration date make life easier. After all, you know exactly by what date the dish will need to be consumed.
Thanks to this, after defrosting, you will get a delicious and fragrant potato soup that will not differ from the one that was cooked recently.
How long does potato soup last in the freezer?
A fairly common question is, how long can you freeze homemade potato soup? Potato soup can be stored in the freezer for up to six months. You should not leave it there for a long time because the potatoes turn into porridge.
Because of this, the texture of the finished dish will deteriorate. Your guests don’t appreciate your culinary skills.
How long does potato soup last in the refrigerator?
Often, housewives prefer to store ready-made potato soup in the refrigerator rather than in the freezer. You can refrigerate potato soup for no more than 5 days. Storage should be in a tight and sealed container. If this is not possible, you can pour the delicious soup into a jug and cover it tightly with cling film.
How to defrost potato soup
If you decide to make potato soup out of the freezer, it must be thawed before use. It is best to use a water bath or refrigerator. He microwaves better to refrain.
Fridge
If you choose to defrost your potato soup in the refrigerator, remove the freezer bag or container from the freezer and place them in the chilled compartment. You have to wait at least 8 hours for the liquid to thaw.
After that, the refrigerate potato soup is allowed to be heated on the stove. In the process, you can add the missing components, namely dairy products, and spices to taste.
Water bath
Almost all housewives prefer to use this method. If you decide to use this method, you should remove the containers or freezer bags from the freezer and place them in a container filled with cold water.
Water changes should be carried out every half an hour. It is necessary to constantly maintain one temperature for completely frozen potato soup.
After, the potato soup must be poured into a saucepan, and heated over medium heat until fully cooked. Don’t forget to add the missing ingredients.
Double boiler
The essence of this method is the use of a double boiler. First, the container of previously frozen potato soup should be held a little under warm water.
It is necessary that the potato soup moves away from the walls of the container and easily leaves the container. Place a piece of soup in the inner pot.
Fill the outer pot with water so that it is only half full. Start heating the water by setting the heat to medium. The water must be completely hot for the dish to thaw. Add dairy products and spices.
Microwave
You must place the frozen potato soup in a special container that you can use in the microwave. After that, proceed to warm it up by setting the time of the microwave oven – 3-5 minutes. You must first set the “Defrost” mode.
Wait until the previously frozen potato soup is completely defrosted. However, this method is used extremely rarely because it can change the texture of potato soup. It is more like porridge.
Plate
If you would rather not spend time reheating the frozen potato soup using one of the above methods, you can immediately put it on the stove.
This will significantly speed up the process. It is recommended to set a low or medium fire on the stove so that nothing burns and does not deteriorate.
You have a warm potato soup that can be served at the table in 5 minutes. Just remember to add dairy products and spices to taste. Serve the potato soup when the vegetables are soft.
How to make potato soup thick?
If you want a thick potato soup, you can take the whole potato out of it and beat it thoroughly in a blender until mashed. Then add the gruel to the soup, and mix thoroughly to get a uniform consistency. Chopped potatoes contain a lot of starch, which will act as a natural thickener.
You can also use ready-made cream soups from the chicken fillet. They are sold in jars and are great for thickening potato soups.
You can also add a little flour or cornstarch to the finished dish. However, this method is not in high demand.
On average, you need to dissolve 2-3 tablespoons of the dry mixture in clean water, then pour it into the potato soup. Mix everything to avoid the formation of lumps.
You should also stir the mass for a few more minutes. This allows the flour or starch mixture to dissolve into the potato soup and the consistency will be smooth.
Some housewives prefer to thicken potato soup with a little cream. However, the product must be high in fat.
You can add more vegetables to the potato soup, which is high in starch. It could be carrots or lentils. The product must be shipped to a puree state, adding a little broth. The consistency should be silky. After the puree, pour it into the main soup and mix thoroughly.
Best serving frozen potato soup
Serve the frozen potato soup in your usual ways. If you are cooking for relatives, it is enough to season the dish with spices and herbs and pour it on the usual plates.
If you are expecting guests, try to get the prettiest plates you have at home. You can add croutons to potato soup.
What to add to potato soup to improve its taste?
Potato soup is considered the easiest dish to prepare. After all, you can add any products that are in the refrigerator to it. However, you can add some carrots, herbs, garlic, and onions to improve the taste. Some housewives even add celery.
You can add fried garlic or caramelized onions. This makes the dish sweeter and earthier in taste. Many people like to add bacon or natural ham. If you are a vegetarian and do not eat meat, you can add some liquid smoke to achieve a similar effect.
To make potato soup more varied, you can add a little Worcestershire sauce or white wine. Many people like to season the first dish with hot pepper or dry mustard. The choice of components depends on your preferences.
What to serve with potato soup?
Potato soup is considered a rather heavy dish due to its high starch content. Therefore, it should be served with light meals. It can be a fresh vegetable salad, baked white meat, or fish.
You can also serve the potato soup with buns that will need to be dipped in soup. If you prefer crunchier croutons, make some garlic toast.
Do potatoes need to be peeled for soup?
Peeling potatoes is optional. You can add it along with the peel. However, you should clarify in advance whether this will satisfy the needs and wishes of all your guests.
If you add the potatoes along with the skin, they keep their shape. In this case, the potato soup will acquire the desired pleasant texture, which will please you. If you plan to cook cream potato soup, it is better to peel the potatoes first. This makes the smooth potato soup with an amazing taste and a pleasant, appetizing color.
Can cream thicken soup?
You can slightly thicken the potato soup with the help of cream. This is a fairly popular and simple method that does not require specific culinary knowledge.
Pour in a little cream, and leave the potato soup to boil on the stove. Stir the mass periodically, otherwise, the cream may stick to the bottom and burn. This significantly spoils the taste of the finished dish. After 5 minutes of stirring, the potato soup becomes thick and will resemble mashed potatoes.
The principle of adding cream so that it does not curdle
Almost all soups with high density are prepared so that all components are cooked in the broth. Only after they are cooked can cream be added. When only a few minutes remain until the potato soup is fully cooked, reduce the heat on the stove to medium.
Make sure the potato soup doesn’t boil. Measure the required amount of cream, and pour it gradually into the soup. Don’t forget to stir constantly. The cream must be completely dissolved in the broth, so the stream should be small. Make sure that the soup does not boil, even if all the cream is added completely. Otherwise, they will turn.
Why is cream soup watery?
The cream contains a high concentration of fat, so it is rather difficult to dissolve in water. If you mix everything thoroughly, all the components will mix. The longer the soup sits, the more the fat will separate from the water. And the water, in turn, will begin to rise to the top.
If you mix everything thoroughly or even beat the soup in a blender, the fats will thoroughly combine with water. Therefore, you will get a rather thick soup.
What soups do not freeze well?
Do not freeze soups that contain too many elements with high starch content. It could be pasta or rice. Sweet potato soup freeze quickly and evenly. However, you cannot refreeze potato soup as it will be sticky.
If you freeze soups that have milk or cream added, they will separate. Therefore, you can notice the graininess, which spoils the appetizing look.
Results
As you can see, in the question does potato soup freeze, you will get a positive answer. However, you need to properly cook it, as well as prepare it for freezing. Only in this way, you can freeze potato soup that will be immediately ready for use and will not lose its properties.
Additionally, read about the device for canning under pressure. These canned foods help to preserve the rich taste and aroma of your dishes.
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