Everyone loves chicken, right? Whether it is grilled chicken breasts, deep-fried chicken marinated in buttermilk, or warm and delicious chicken noodle soup made in a crockpot.
However, in this article, I will say a few words about chicken noodle soup and how to properly handle it. Chicken noodle soup is comfort food, a very delicious one that can warm you up on the coldest winter days.
The main ingredients of this delicious soup are thin chicken broth, pieces of cooked chicken, noodles, and veggies. It is the perfect combination of yummy and healthy, so it is not a surprise that this soup is so popular.
But what if you get carried away and make a little more soup than needed, or you do not follow your homemade chicken noodle soup recipe the right way? What to do with leftover chicken noodle soup? The question arises whether you can freeze chicken noodle soup.
I will just say that the answer is positive, but there is a catch. Not every method of freezing chicken noodle soup is the right one, so in this article, I am going to reveal to you the best way to freeze this soup and how to properly go through the freezing process.
Can You Freeze Chicken Noodle Soup?
Yes, you can freeze chicken noodle soup. Some people could confuse chicken noodle soup with cream of chicken soup, but that is a misconception. The latter contains dairy, while chicken noodle soup does not.
That is the main reason chicken noodle soup freezes well since it doesn’t contain any dairy products; dairy products are known for not freezing well.
Dairy products such as cheese, cream, and milk can curdle and form an unpleasant texture when frozen and defrosted. So, in light of this, a creamy soup won’t get any better either.
On the other hand, chicken noodle soup is more brothy, and it is full of hardy veggies and proteins along with some other healthy ingredients like olive oil, for example. So it is an excellent candidate for freezing. But, as I already said, there is a catch.
Below, I will explain what it is all about. So, stay tuned.
Can You Freeze Soup That Has Noodles In It?
Theoretically speaking, you can freely freeze soup that has noodles in it. But honestly, it is not a good idea at all. Why is that so? Well, when you freeze that noodle soup, the texture of the noodles tends to spoil as they soak up all the moisture.
That causes the disintegration of the noodles during the freezing process. Your noodles will become mushy and soggy in the freezer, and they won’t be that pleasant to eat after being thawed and reheated. And you don’t want that to happen.
So, what is the solution to this problem? Well, when you think a bit, you can easily find the most logical solution. You just need to separate the noodles from the broth soup before the freezing process, and the problem is solved.
It is even better just to freeze the soup, and after you defrost it, cook the noodles and add them to the soup. But that is up to you to decide.
I recommend doing the same when freezing chicken salad. In other words, you should freeze chicken meat and dressing separately for better quality after thawing.
How To Properly Freeze Chicken Noodle Soup
Here are the 5 steps that you need to follow in order to extend the shelf life and preserve the best quality of your chicken noodle soup when you freeze it.
STEP 1: First things first, you need to make your chicken noodle soup cool at room temperature. If you do not have much time, you can put it in the fridge instead to speed it up a bit.
STEP 2: After the cooling process, it is packaging time. If you plan to freeze noodles, it is best to place them in resealable freezer bags in small portions that you plan to defrost each time rather than the large batches.
You do the exact same thing with the soup, but just pour it into zip-lock freezer bags, freezer-safe containers, or airtight containers.
STEP 3: It is essential to seal the bags or the container properly. In order to do that, you need to leave some space in the container for the liquid to expand while freezing.
When it comes to freezer bags, you also need to leave some space to allow the liquid to expand. Before closing it completely, you need to suck out all the remaining excess air in order to prevent freezer burn.
You can do that by using a vacuum sealer. This can be a problem when the soup is in a bag. But you can solve it by sucking air the best that you can and then freezing the bag for a few hours.
Then, after the soup has finished expanding, you will suck out the remaining air and the soup will stay untouched.
STEP 4: Your next task is to label the bag or a container with the exact date of storage in order for you to know how long the soup has been in the freezer.
STEP 5: It is time to finally freeze your soup and your noodles. But before you do that, it is a good idea to place the freezer bags that contain soup on a baking sheet and freeze them until they become solid.
Only after that can you remove those bags from the sheet and finally store them in the freezer. This will prevent the bag from potentially rupturing and leaking fluid.
How To Thaw And Reheat Chicken Noodle Soup
Answering the question of how you can freeze chicken noodle soup properly is the important thing, but it is also very important to know how to defrost and reheat that same soup the right way.
1. Thawing In Water Bath And Reheating On The Stovetop
When using this method, you first have to thaw the soup. You can do that by placing the bag of soup under running water for a few minutes. You can also place that same bag in a water bath.
After it has thawed properly, you can transfer that soup into a pot and simmer it on the stovetop. When it comes to noodles, you can thaw them in a water bath as well and then heat them separately in a frying pan on a low heat level.
Once they are done, add them to the pot of broth to warm them together. After that, you can enjoy your chicken noodle soup freely.
2. Using A Microwave
You will use this method if you haven’t separated the soup from the noodles, which I wouldn’t recommend you to do under any circumstances. But still, some people do it, and it would be unfair not to explain to them how to defrost chicken noodle soup properly.
First, you have to remove the noodles and soup from the freezer. Then you will place the bag or the container under running water for a couple of minutes.
After it has thawed, you can pour the soup into a microwave-friendly bowl. Do not use the high heat settings but rather medium heat settings. Stir the soup every few minutes until it heats evenly.
Enjoy your freezer meal.
FAQs
How Long Can Chicken Noodle Soup Be Frozen?
Chicken noodle soup can be frozen for up to 6 months. Your chicken noodle soup is safe indefinitely in the freezer but you shouldn’t keep it frozen for too long due to quality loss, as stated by the USDA.
You just have to make sure to store it properly in the freezer following the steps in this article. You need to place it in freezer bags or a container and seal it properly. You also need to suck out all the excess air to protect it from freezer burn.
On the other hand, if you freeze soup along with noodles, then you shouldn’t keep it in the freezer for more than 3 months because the cooked noodles can only last in the fridge up to that time.
What Is The Best Way To Thaw Chicken Soup?
The best way to thaw chicken soups, in general, is by using the refrigerator. It is best to place the frozen container or bag in the fridge if you have the time, i.e. you don’t have to consume the soup immediately.
The average time of the thawing process is 1 day, but the chicken soup can stay in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Can You Freeze Chicken Soup In Jars?
Yes, you absolutely can freeze chicken soup in mason jars, as well as any other soups, jams, sauces, or stocks. You just have to pour the soup into the jar and leave some space at the top.
Before storing the jar in the freezer, it is essential to cool it in the fridge first. When it is cool enough, you can label the jar with the exact date and store it in the fridge for 3-5 months.
Can You Freeze Chicken Noodle Soup That Contains Egg Noodles?
Yes, you can freeze chicken noodle soup that contains egg noodles. The process of freezing is the same as for any kind of noodles. You first have to cool the soup completely and then put it in a bag or a container.
You must leave an inch of space and suck out all the excess air. You can then label it with the exact date and finally freeze it.
Freeze Your Chicken Noodle Soup The Right Way
As you can see, there is nothing wrong with freezing chicken noodle soup as long as you freeze it correctly. The best thing that you can do is to separate brothy soup from the noodles because it is not good to freeze them together since that will ruin the noodles’ texture.
That is the key thing to do and, after that, you just have to follow the steps written in this article, and you won’t have any problems with the freezing process. And, of course, you will have one delicious chicken noodle soup that has preserved all its important qualities.