Cabbage soup is a delicious, hearty way to get more vegetables into your diet and will keep you nice and warm on a cold winterās day. Cabbage soup is a great meal to make in bulk if you are on a bit of a health kick. But, if you’ve made it in bulk, how can you store it?
Can You Freeze Cabbage Soup?
Yes, you can freeze cabbage soup for up to 6 months. It is one of those meals that will taste exactly the same fresh as it will when it has been frozen and then thawed. Cabbage even softens when frozen, so your soup may even be more tender than it was originally.Ā
Do Does Cabbage Soup freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Cabbage Soup? No
How to Freeze Cabbage Soup
Cabbage soup is one of the meals that taste almost exactly the same after being frozen and thawed and is perfect to freeze to enjoy at a later stage or to save some of those delicious leftovers.
Freezing the soup is extremely simple and there isnāt much prep involved, so follow the steps below for the easiest way to freeze cabbage soup:
- Prepare the Cabbage Soup: Make your cabbage soup according to your favourite recipe.Ā
- Allow to Cool: You must allow the cabbage soup to cool completely before you put it into the freezer. Placing hot soup in the freezer will thaw already-frozen food in the freezer, as it will raise the temperature around it.
- Portion Out: It is best to portion out your soup into various ziplock bags or freezer-safe containers.Ā
- Fill the Bags: Ladle your soup into ziplock bags or freezer bags, making sure to leave enough space at the top for the soup to expand as it freezes.Ā
- Label: Write on the bag what is inside and the date of freezing for future reference.
- Lay Flat in the Freezer: Lay the bags flat in the freezer to save space and keep them frozen until needed.
3 Tips for Freezing Cabbage Soup
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cabbage soup to have the best results:
Cook Al Dente
If you are cooking the cabbage soup for the purpose of freezing, it is best to leave the cabbage and the other vegetables slightly al dente. They will soften when frozen and thawed.Ā
Use Containers Too
Whilst ziplock bags are best in order to save space as they can be laid flat, you can also use freezer-safe containers. This is particularly good if you are planning on using it as part of a packed lunch.Ā Ā
Label It Clearly
Once frozen, cabbage soup will look like many other soup varieties you may have frozen. This is why it’s vital that you write a clear label outlining the contents of the soup.
How Long Can You Freeze Cabbage Soup?
When stored correctly, cabbage soup will last in the freezer for up to 6 months. Once it has been thawed, it will last for a further 4 days in the fridge, so you do not have to use it all up on the day of thawing.Ā
How Do You Defrost Cabbage Soup?
Knowing how to properly thaw and reheat cabbage soup is almost as important as knowing how to freeze it. If done incorrectly, you could ruin both the taste and texture of the cabbage soup during the thawing and reheating process.
For the best results, you should place the frozen portion of cabbage soup in the fridge overnight to thaw. This allows it to defrost gently at a temperature that does not support rapid bacterial growth.
You then have two options on how to reheat the cabbage soup. You can microwave it, though do not microwave it on full power straight away. Give the soup a stir, then heat on ~70% power for about a minute, stir again and then heat for a further 30s-1 minute on full power. This will ensure the soup reheats evenly.
Alternatively, you can reheat the soup on the stovetop. Pour the soup into a small saucepan and gently heat, stirring occasionally. Once the soup is steaming and is warm all through, you can serve it up.
Can You Refreeze Cabbage Soup?
It is not advised to refreeze cabbage soup as the soup could start to become grainy and the structure of the vegetable within the soup could deteriorate into mush.
Freezing the soup in individual portions will prevent you from needing to refreeze anything, and if you donāt manage to get through one portion, you can still keep it in the fridge for a further few days.
Does Cabbage Soup Freeze Well?
Not only is cabbage soup really healthy, but it is a really cheap meal to make at home, which you can make a large batch of.
It is perfect for planning meals ahead and freezing smaller portions to keep in the freezer, and cabbage soup tastes just as wonderful after being frozen and thawed as it does fresh.
Make sure you freeze it well and thaw it thoroughly and you wonāt be able to tell the difference!
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing cabbage soup or soup in general, then these may help:
Cabbage soup will only keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If you won’t consume it within this period then it’s a good idea to freeze it instead.
Yes, you can freeze most forms of cabbage soup. If it’s premade then it is always worth checking the back of the packaging to see if it is suitable for home-freezing or not.
