Cauliflower rice has become a favourite alternative to grains. The biggest problem with cauliflower rice is that it can be a bit fiddly to make, and people often prefer to make it in bulk and then store it. So, what’s the best way to store it?
Can You Freeze Cauliflower Rice?
Yes, you can freeze cauliflower rice for up to 2 months. You can easily make enough to last for weeks and store it in the freezer. Some even prefer their cauliflower rice after it has been frozen as it can be fluffier.
Do Does Cauliflower Rice freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Cauliflower Rice? No
How To Freeze Cauliflower Rice
Freezing cauliflower rice couldnāt be any easier. Luckily the trickiest part is making it in the first place. Here is how you freeze this delicious veggie.
- Prepare Cauliflower Rice: Prepare your cauliflower rice in your chosen method. Donāt cook it though as cauliflower rice is best frozen raw.
- Portion Out: Grab yourself some freezer bags and divide your cauliflower rice into portions. Spoon the cauliflower rice into the bags. One portion into each bag.
- Seal: Squeeze out any excess air and flatten the rice. This makes it easier for you to store in the freezer and it will take up less space.
- Label: Label the bag with the contents of the bag and the date so you know when to use the cauliflower rice by.
- Freeze: Pop the bags in the freezer. It is as easy as this!
How to Freeze Cauliflower Rice Pizza Crust
Cauliflower rice pizza is an excellent alternative to dough-based pizza. Perfect for anyone watching their waistline or who wants a healthy alternative to their traditional takeaway pizza.Ā
Freezing this can be a little tricky though and it might be best to freeze cauliflower rice and make the pizza base fresh when you want to eat pizza.
However, you can technically freeze cauliflower rice pizza crust but you should do so once it has been cooked as a pizza.
- Cook and Cool: Cook your cauliflower crust pizza and let it cool completely.
- Bag Up: Pop the cooled pizza into a suitable, freezer-safe container or large freezer bag.
- Freeze: Label the container with the date and pop it into the freezer.
When it comes to cooking and eating all you need to do is take the cauliflower pizza out of the freezer and bake it in the oven. You can even cook it from frozen.
3 Tips for Freezing Cauliflower Rice
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cauliflower rice to have the best results:
Freeze in Portions
Freeze the cauliflower rice in portions so that it is easier to defrost one portion at a time. This will avoid unwanted waste as you won’t want to refreeze any cauliflower rice.
Keep it Plain
Avoid adding spices or herbs to cauliflower rice before freezing. These can degrade during the freezing process. Instead, add those flavourings once it has cooked through.
Cook from Frozen
There’s no need to defrost cauliflower rice. Pop it into a sieve over simmering water to steam through. It will defrost almost instantly and then cook through as you normally would.
How Long Can You Freeze Cauliflower Rice?
There is some more great news when it comes to cauliflower rice and that is how long you can store it. You can store uncooked and frozen cauliflower rice for up to two months in the freezer.
Perfect for making a large batch of cauliflower rice and storing it in handy portion-sized containers. Then you can always add some extra veggies or healthy rice to your meal.
Raw cauliflower rice will last for 24 hours if you’re lucky. Instead, store it cooked. Once cooked, cauliflower rice will keep for around 4 days in a sealed container.
How Do You Defrost Cauliflower Rice?
The best way to use cauliflower rice is to not defrost it at all. Simply steam it from frozen. Easy, simple and with no hassle. This makes it perfect for a quick and easy meal that is still healthy.
If you do want to defrost it then just pop the freezer bag into a bowl and pop it into the fridge to defrost for a couple of hours before using it.
Can You Refreeze Cauliflower Rice?
You shouldnāt refreeze cauliflower rice in its raw state once it has been thawed out. The texture and structure will have changed too much and you might end up with a soggy mess.
There is one exception to this and this is that you could refreeze it if you have then cooked up the rice as part of a meal. You should be able to get away with freezing the entire meal.
Does Cauliflower Rice Freeze Well?
Not only is cauliflower rice tasty and healthy but it also does freeze very well! You might notice some slight texture change but it shouldnāt be enough to cause you too many problems.
Some people find that they prefer the texture once it has been frozen.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing cauliflower rice or cauliflower in general, then these may help:
Cauliflower fried rice can be frozen but you may find that it overcooks when you reheat it in future. Ideally, freeze cauliflower rice raw.
Yes, cauliflower rice can be frozen without being blanched. In fact, cauliflower rice freezes best when left raw.
