Can you freeze rice pudding?
Maybe your famous rice pudding you made for the office party wasn’t the hit you hoped it would be, or maybe you got a little carried away during your midnight rice pudding craving, or perhaps your grandma refused to let you go home without an extra Tupperware container filled with the rice pudding she made you for dessert.
I’ve had those moments where I have an abundance of food that I have no idea what to do with. I hate wasting food, but there’s no way I can eat all of it before it spoils. Thank goodness we have freezers. Freezing food can save it from spoiling, but sometimes it’s ruined the texture of my food and nearly rendered it inedible.
So can you freeze rice pudding? The answer is yes!
How long can you freeze rice pudding?
Rice pudding can be left in the freezer for about three months without losing its taste and texture. Just take it out a day before serving and let it defrost in the fridge overnight.
How to freeze rice pudding?
You went through a lot of effort to make that rice pudding, and you don’t want it to go to waste. So here are some tips and tricks to freezing your rice pudding.
- Freeze small portions
One of the most annoying things about defrosting is how long it takes. I’ve put things in the fridge to defrost overnight only to find the inside still frozen the next day. A way to prevent this is by freezing small portions. A small ice cube melts much faster than a large ice sculpture, and the same goes for defrosting food. Put your rice pudding in multiple small containers instead of one large one. If you prefer to use plastic bags, I find that sandwich bags work best. Just make sure that you squeeze the excess air out of the bag before you seal it.
It’s also important to note that the longer rice pudding is at room temperature, the faster it will spoil, so don’t defrost more than you plan to serve. This is all the more reason to freeze small portions.
- Defrosting
If the inside is still frozen the next day, simply place the container in a bowl of warm water until it’s thawed. Just make sure the container or bag is sealed so you don’t let any water in. If you’re in a hurry, you can also use the microwave. Just put the frozen rice pudding in a microwave-safe bowl beforehand. Microwaving your rice pudding may cause it to dry out, so just keep that in mind. If it does dry out, just add milk and stir until you reach the desired consistency. These methods also work if you forgot to take the rice pudding out of the freezer the night before, it’ll just take a bit longer to defrost.
Sometimes, I forget to take things out of the freezer to defrost them. Oops. If this happens to you, don’t sweat it. Simply put the frozen rice pudding in a saucepan and simmer it over low heat, stirring occasionally.
If you’re not serving it immediately after defrosting, make sure to put the rice pudding back in the fridge.
- Serve it frozen
Yes, you read that right. When served frozen, rice pudding makes for a refreshing summer treat. If you want it to be creamier, you can add whipped cream before freezing it. I’ve even seen some recipes that included eggs, which claim to give the rice pudding a more custardy texture.
Frozen rice pudding can also act as a healthier substitute for ice cream. But if you don’t care about the calories, you can add all the toppings you want. Rice pudding has a very neutral flavor, meaning you can add almost anything to it. Fruit, nuts, jam, spices, maple syrup, honey, even chocolate. You could make a whole sundae bar! Serving your rice pudding frozen allows you to enjoy this tasty treat without worrying about the pain of defrosting.
To wrap up
In conclusion, yes, it is possible to freeze rice pudding. So the next time you get that midnight craving, make as much as your heart desires. Let your grandma spoil you by giving you her leftover rice pudding. Your rice pudding can handle the freezer no problem.