{"id":924864,"date":"2020-01-09T00:00:18","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T06:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=924864"},"modified":"2024-10-03T12:07:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T17:07:36","slug":"freezing-soup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/freezing-soup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Freeze Soup"},"content":{"rendered":"Soup is the ultimate make-ahead meal. Because most homemade soups<\/a> can be stored in the freezer for at least three months, it's a great dish to make on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy for weeks to come.\u00a0However, learning how to freeze soup isn't as simple as tossing your chicken noodle<\/a> in the icebox.\r\n\r\nHere are a few tricks to freezing soup that ensure it'll taste delicious after it's thawed.\r\nHow to Freeze Soup<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nStep 1: Pick a small portion size<\/h3>\r\nFreezing soup in one- or two-person portions helps the soup freeze faster. It's the perfect size for a make-ahead lunch<\/a> or dinner, too.\r\nStep 2: Choose the right container<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \tIf you don't like to wait for soup to thaw:<\/strong> Try the round, reusable kind like freezer-safe\u00a0Twist 'n Loc containers from Ziploc<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>When you're ready to eat, run cold water over the outside of the container to loosen. The soup will pop right out into a stockpot or Instant Pot for easy reheating. You can also try Souper Cubes<\/a>, which are like ice cube trays but for soup servings.<\/li>\r\n \tIf you want to maximize freezer space:<\/strong>\u00a0Ladle cooled soup into\u00a0freezer-safe quart- or gallon-sized plastic bags. Freeze flat and stack once the soup is fully frozen. (This is one of our favorite\u00a0freezer organization tips<\/a>!)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nStep 3: Cool the soup<\/h3>\r\nYou've been simmering that amazing\u00a0slow cooker soup<\/a> for hours; don't let your hard work go to waste! Let your soup cool to room temperature before transferring to a freezer container. Then, stick it in the fridge to bring the temp down (to somewhere below 40\u00b0F) before freezing. This is a universal tip to remember when freezing food<\/a>.\r\n\r\nIt may seem fussy, but if you toss hot soup into the freezer, it will develop large ice crystals and freeze unevenly. (Which means mushy soup when it thaws!) Cooling soup also protects the contents of your freezer. You don't want hot soup to thaw out all the other food.\r\nStep 4: Avoid freezer burn<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWhile\u00a0freezer-burned food\u00a0is safe to eat, it might not taste that great. Luckily, preventing freezer burn<\/a> is easy. The ice crystals responsible for the burn are caused by exposure to air, so the best prevention is to keep the air out.\r\n\r\nThis becomes tricky when freezing soup, as liquid expands when frozen. It's important not to overfill or underfill the container: When storing soup, leave about 1\/2 inch of headroom.\r\n\r\nIf you're particularly concerned about freezer burn, cover the surface of the liquid with plastic wrap, smooth the plastic so that it makes contact over the surface of the food, then put the lid on the container. Using freezer-safe airtight containers helps too.\r\nStep 5: Label the soup<\/h3>\r\nBefore placing soup in the freezer, label the outside of the container with the name of the recipe, date and reheating instructions. For example: white chili<\/a>; January 9; Reheat on stovetop and top with shredded cheese<\/em>. This will help you remember what the food is, how long it's good for and if there are any extra steps to finish up the recipe.\r\n\r\nPro tip:\u00a0<\/em>Our Test Kitchen use Post-it Extreme Notes<\/a> to label food containers. They stay sticky over long periods of time and are water-resistant.\r\nBest Soups to Freeze<\/h2>\r\nJust like some foods freeze better than others<\/a>, some soup recipes are better suited for preserving. Broth-based soups tend to freeze better than creamy soups. Most brothy soups filled with chopped vegetables and diced or shredded meat freeze well. Our Test Kitchen finds this slow-cooked chicken enchilada soup<\/a>\u00a0to be a freezer-favorite as well as this brothy\u00a0steak soup<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFreezer-Friendly Soups<\/div>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 57<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>White Chicken Chili<\/a>Folks will enjoy a change from traditional chili when they dip their spoons into this flavorful blend of tender chicken, white beans and just the right amount of zip. This is our favorite white chicken chili recipe. \u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Turkey Sweet Potato Chili<\/a>Swapping ground turkey for ground beef lightens up this chili. \u2014Rachel Lewis, Danville, VirginiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\nHunker down this winter with these hearty soup recipes.\u00a0<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Vietnamese Chicken Meatball Soup with Bok Choy<\/a>Throughout Vietnam there are many kinds of soups, \u201ccanh,\u201d served all year long. I particularly love enjoying this warm, flavorful bowl of Vietnamese chicken soup on laid-back weekends, but it's also great packed in a Thermos for lunch. It's the perfect bok choy soup, too! \u2014Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South CarolinaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Roasted Tomato Soup<\/a>Just before the first frost of the season, we gather up all of the tomatoes from my mom\u2019s garden to create this flavor-packed soup. Although it sounds like a lot of garlic, when it\u2019s roasted, the garlic becomes mellow and almost sweet. We serve this soup with toasted bread spread with pesto. \u2014Kaitlyn Lerdahl, Madison, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Minestrone Soup<\/a>This minestrone soup recipe is special to me because it\u2019s one of the few dinners my entire family loves. And I can feel good about serving it because it\u2019s full of nutrition and low in fat. \u2014Lauren Brennan, Hood River, OregonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian Beef Vegetable Soup<\/a>This hearty beef soup features a ton of fresh vegetables, making it the perfect dish to use up all that summer produce. It's also fantastic during cooler weather! Make sure you serve this flavorful soup with some breadsticks, rolls or flaky biscuits. \u2014Courtney Stultz, Weir, KansasGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chorizo and Chickpea Soup<\/a>Chorizo sausage adds its own spice to the broth of this soup, creating delicious flavor with no need for more seasonings. And while it's cooking, the whole house smells divine! \u2014Jaclyn McKewan, Lancaster, New YorkGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chili<\/a>My dad and father-in-law are the gurus in our chili-loving clan. But after my honeymoon to New Mexico, where I was inspired by the fresh and fragrant chile peppers at the Santa Fe farmers market, I felt it was time to introduce them to my spicy, meaty version with a touch of masa harina, dubbed the best chili recipe. \u2014Sarah Farmer, Taste Recipes Culinary DirectorGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Sausage and Lentil Soup<\/a>Spicy sausage and chicken broth flavor the milder lentils and beans in this sausage and lentil soup recipe. Tomatoes and spinach add color while goat cheese tops it off with a bit of tanginess.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup<\/a>When I have leftover ham in the fridge, I always like to make this soup. Just throw the ingredients in the slow-cooker, turn it on, and dinner is done. \u2014Pamela Chambers, West Columbia, South Carolina\r\nGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Noodle Soup<\/a>My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was homemade chicken noodle soup. Of all the chicken noodle soup recipes out there, this type of soup<\/a> is my favorite and is in heavy rotation from November to April. It has many incredibly devoted fans.\u2014Gina Nistico, Denver, ColoradoGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Slow-Cooked Chicken Enchilada Soup<\/a>This crockpot chicken enchilada soup is inspired by the Mexican dish and loaded with southwestern flavors from poblano peppers and enchilada sauce to juicy shredded chicken.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup<\/a>Much of the work for this soup can be done in advance, and it keeps all day in the slow cooker. The recipe can easily be doubled if you\u2019re feeding a crowd. Once you\u2019ve tried it, try mixing it up\u2014add sage or savory with the thyme, or replace the thyme with nutmeg. For a vegan version, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. \u2014Jennifer Machado, Alta, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Fajita Soup<\/a>This south-of-the-border chowder is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes, and it's a winner at family dinners and potlucks alike. We like ours topped with fresh avocado, shredded cheddar cheese and chili cheese corn chips. \u2014Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada\r\nGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chunky Chipotle Pork Chili<\/a>My leftover pulled pork chili recipe is a busy cook's dream. Make it ahead and reheat later\u2014it's even better the second day. \u2014Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, TexasGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Soup<\/a>I love that I can top this creamy soup with anything my heart desires, which means I can eat it several days in a row without ever having to have it the same way twice. You can substitute fresh onions and celery in this recipe if you prefer, but using the dried version makes it easy to throw together on a weekday morning. \u2014Colleen Delawder, Herndon, VirginiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian White Bean Soup<\/a>Have a refrigerator full of vegetables and a can of beans? That's all you need for a pot of hearty Italian white bean soup.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken and Andouille Gumbo<\/a>Chicken and andouille gumbo is a hearty one-pot-meal that's packed with bold flavor. It's the\u00a0perfect dish for dinner parties, holidays or even weeknight dinners.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Butternut Squash and Barley Soup<\/a>I love to use my garden produce in this veggie-packed soup. Serve it with bread or oatmeal dinner rolls and you have a delicious, healthy dinner. \u2014Julie Sloan, Osceola, IndianaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup<\/a>Here's my go-to recipe for get-togethers with family and friends. Everyone asks for seconds, and they can't believe they are eating something so healthy and vegetarian! It's also a hearty dish for those with food allergies. \u2014Sharon Verea, Thomasville, GeorgiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Spicy Peanut Chicken Chili<\/a>While spending time in the Southwest, I discovered Mexican peanut chicken and thought it would be fun to make it into a chili. Chipotle peppers give it a nice spice that's extra warming on a cold day. \u2014Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, COGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Traditional Italian Wedding Soup<\/a>This recipe for Italian wedding soup results in a truly flavorful, satisfying dish.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Carrie\u2019s Cincinnati Chili<\/a>Every time we have a gathering or company, folks request this. My husband convinced me to enter it in a local chili contest, and I won third place! It's quick and easy. If I don't have fresh garlic, I use minced garlic from a jar. \u2014Carrie Birdsall, Dallas, GeorgiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Roasted Cauliflower & Red Pepper Soup<\/a>When cooler weather comes, soup is one of our favorite meals. I developed this recipe for my husband and me. I wanted it to be a healthier version of all the cream-based soups out there. After a bit of trial and error, this is the keeper. \u2014Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, WashingtonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup<\/a>This recipe was given to me by my son, Chris, and we have it several times during the winter months. \u2014Kathy Mazur, Sarasota, FloridaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian Vegetable Soup<\/a>This Italian vegetable soup combines ground sausage, zucchini and tomatoes for a delicious and comforting meal in just one pot. It's simple, hearty and ideal for busy weeknights.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chipotle Beef Chili<\/a>I love spicy food, so I think this chili really hits the spot. If you are sensitive to chile peppers, start out with one or two chipotles and go up from there. \u2014Steven Schend, Grand Rapids, MichiganGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Autumn Bisque<\/a>I like cozy comfort soups that taste creamy\u2014without the cream. This one\u2019s full of good stuff like rutabagas, leeks, fresh herbs and almond milk. \u2014Merry Graham, Newhall, California Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Mexican Cabbage Roll Soup<\/a>I love sharing our humble and hearty soup made with beef, cabbage and green chiles. A blast of cilantro gives it a sunshiny finish. \u2014Michelle Beal, Powell, TennesseeGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Tortellini Soup<\/a>This is my favorite soup recipe. It's quick to fix on a busy night and full of healthy, tasty ingredients. It originally called for spicy sausage links, but I've found that turkey sausage, or even ground turkey breast, is just as good. \u2014Tracy Fasnacht, Irwin, PennsylvaniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pressure-Cooker Black Bean Soup<\/a>Life can get really crazy with young children, but I never want to compromise when it comes to cooking. This recipe is healthy and so easy thanks to my one-pot cooker! \u2014Angela Lemoine, Howell, New JerseyGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Contest-Winning Pizza Soup<\/a>This contest-winning pizza soup is a hearty and fun take on the all-time comfort food that is pizza. Try all your favorite pizza toppings, albeit as soup ingredients instead.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Taco Chili<\/a>Ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning give extra special flavor to my hearty chili. Folks will come back for seconds. \u2014Julie Neuhalfen, Glenwood, Iowa\r\nGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Vegetable Soup<\/a>This chicken vegetable soup doesn't skimp on the vegetables. A whole chicken is simmered with a garden's worth of veggies for a soup that's as nourishing as it is delicious.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Turkey Sausage Soup with Fresh Vegetables<\/a>Our family is big on soup. This favorite is quick to make and very tasty, and it gives me plenty of time to have fun with my kids and grandkids while it slow-cooks. \u2014Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, NevadaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian-Style Lentil Soup<\/a>A nutritious, inexpensive source of protein, lentils are low-fat, lens-shaped seeds that are delicious in salads, sides and soups, like our Italian-style lentil soup that's cozy, comforting and packed with nutrients.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t