Here’s What We Recommend:
- It’s best to take a minute to take out any egg noodles or additional grains before freezing your soup. Then, freeze in separate containers.
- You can store those ingredients apart from the soup if you prepared them in a different pot in the first place and added them to each bowl as it was served. Alternatively, preparing fresh noodles when you’re ready to reheat your soup is fairly simple.
It’s crucial to select the right freezer container when freezing chicken noodle soup. This should be a freezer-safe container of some kind. Here are some options.
- Use a freezer-safe, airtight container so the soup won’t burst when it cools down. Additionally, it will keep smells at bay and shield your soup from freezer burn.
- While some people use plastic containers, others use glass containers like mason jars. It is optional to go one step further and cover the top with a layer of plastic wrap before screwing the lid on.
You can also use quart-sized Ziploc freezer bags if you’re short on space. Compared to glass or plastic containers, you can stack them flat on top of one another and they will take up significantly less room.
Steps for Freezing, Thawing, and Reheating Chicken Soup
- Before freezing, let your chicken soup cool to room temperature. By doing this, you can stop condensation from building up on your storage container’s lid.
- Choose a container that is freezer-safe and airtight. Depending on your needs and preferences, mason jars, plastic containers, or resealable freezer bags are all excellent choices.
- Fill the container with soup by pouring or ladling it in, allowing an inch or so at the top for expansion when it freezes.
- Put your soup in a freezer-safe container, seal it tightly, and write the contents and the date on it.
- Stock your container in the freezer, and try to keep it as flat as possible. By doing this, it will freeze more evenly and won’t take up too much freezer space.
- Take your soup out of the freezer and put it in the fridge when you’re ready to thaw it. Let it defrost for a minimum of eight hours or overnight.
- After your soup has thawed, you can reheat it until it’s hot and bubbly on the stove (this is recommended) or in the microwave.
THINK ABOUT YOUR SOUP PORTIONS: You should decide how to divide up any leftover chicken noodle soup. A large container will work if you’re freezing a large batch of soup.
However, you’ll need containers that fit those sizes if you’d prefer to have small portions or a few portions big enough to feed a family of four to five. By doing this, you can reheat and defrost your soup much more easily and avoid wasting any.
PRO TIP: Don’t repeatedly thaw and reheat your homemade chicken noodle soup. Doing so can negatively impact the flavors and texture.
COOL YOUR SOUP: You’ll need to exercise patience before freezing your soup. Nothing hot should ever be placed directly into a refrigerator or freezer. When storing soup, it’s best to let it cool to room temperature.
Don’t wait too long, though. You shouldn’t leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours after it cools.
FREEZING NOODLES: Another important consideration is what’s in your soup. Most people add egg noodles to their chicken soup recipe. They absorb all those deep, savory flavors and give each bite more texture, making them incredibly delicious.
But any kind of noodle or grain does not freeze well for use in soups, including egg noodles. When these items defrost, they often absorb the liquid naturally and become mushy.
Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Chicken Noodle Soup
- Let the soup cool: Give the chicken noodle soup time to cool completely at room temperature after cooking it. Cooling is essential because it keeps the ingredients’ flavor and texture intact.
- Portion the soup: Divide the soup into individual servings. In this manner, waste is minimized and freshness is preserved since you can only thaw what you need.
- Select the Correct Containers: Use freezer bags or airtight containers. These help keep the soup fresher for longer by preventing freezer burn.
- Make Room: Allow approximately one inch of space at the top of any containers or bags you use to hold the soup. This prevents the bag from bursting or the container from cracking as the soup expands while freezing.
- Make sure to clearly label every bag or container with the freezing date. This aids in monitoring the soup’s freshness and guarantees that it is consumed within the ideal time frame, preferably three months.
- Organize in the Freezer: To avoid leaks, arrange the containers or bags in the freezer in a single layer, making sure they are upright. You can reorganize the soup as needed to maximize freezer space once it has solidified.
