Can You Freeze Rice Pudding? Here’s What You Must Do
Updated on March 2, 2023
Rice pudding is such a versatile dish as you can add plenty of things to it to make it fit your specific taste. To make, however, rice pudding can be more time-consuming than you’d want for something you eat often to be. So, maybe we can freeze the rice pudding.
Freezing rice pudding can be time-saving if you cook multiple portions so you have them when you feel like eating them.
Can You Freeze Rice Pudding?
We know we’re not the only ones with a taste for rice pudding, so would it be possible to freeze it off? That’s what one of our readers wrote to us. Here’s their message:
My son loves rice pudding, and often asks me to make it for him when the weather is cold. The thing is, it takes a long time to make, and I don’t always feel like making it when he asks.
I would love to be able to make a big batch, and then freeze it in individual serving size portions so that all I have to do is pop some out of the freezer when he wants it.
I’m worried that the pudding will taste funny after freezing and my son won’t eat it, making it a waste of time. Can you freeze rice pudding?
Actually, you’re in luck! Rice pudding freezes really well, with the exception of the raisins. Raisins have a tendency to dry out and get hard in the freezer, so it’s recommended that you cook up your rice pudding without the raisins, and then add them in during the reheating process later.
How to Freeze Rice Pudding?
Rice pudding works great in the freezer, but you have to take a few steps before we get there.
- To freeze rice pudding, first cook your pudding according to your favorite recipe, minus the raisins.
- Allow the pudding to cool completely.
- Once that’s done, give it a good stir to incorporate everything together.
- Rice pudding must be protected from freezer burn, so be sure to choose proper freezer bags or solid freezer-safe containers to freeze the pudding in.
- Scoop the desired amount of pudding into the freezer bag or container.
- Be sure to leave some extra headroom to allow for expansion during the freezing process.
- Seal the container and then label and date it.
How Long to Keep Rice Pudding in the Freezer?
Rice pudding should keep for about 3 months in the freezer before it starts to lose taste and texture. Stack the freezer bags or containers in the freezer to save space.
How to Keep the Rice Pudding for Longer?
If you want to make sure that your rice pudding is safe for a longer time in the freezer, you could use a vacuum sealer. These appliances work great to take out the air from the bags completely, creating a perfect seal.
While we’ve reviewed plenty of these vacuum sealers and you can check all of them out, you should definitely look into the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine more. This one tops our list as it works with both freezer bags and containers of different sizes.
How to Thaw Rice Pudding?
When you next feel the craving for rice pudding, it’s time to take it out of the freezer.
- To thaw rice pudding, remove the container from the freezer and allow to thaw in the fridge.
- Rice pudding can also be thawed in the microwave.
- It can also be reheated directly from frozen.
- Do not thaw rice pudding on the counter, as the milk content can begin to grow bacteria.
- When heating the rice pudding in a saucepan over low heat you may need to add a small amount of milk to the pudding, as the rice will have soaked up some liquid.
- Add the raisins at this time if you are including them in your pudding.
- Enjoy thawed rice pudding within 2 days of thawing.
- Never reheat previously frozen rice pudding.