Chicken tikka masala is undoubtedly the most popular curry dish in the UK! Whether you make it yourself or order it regularly from your favourite Indian takeaway, the creamy and rich sauce is just too good to turn down! But what’s the best way to store this delicious curry?
Can You Freeze Chicken Tikka Masala? Yes, you can freeze chicken tikka masala. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. As soon as it has cooled, add your chicken tikka masala to a suitably sized freezer-safe container, label it, and place it in the freezer.
Do Does Chicken Tikka Masala freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Chicken Tikka Masala? No
How to Freeze Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala is the quintessential British curry. If you have made a batch for the family and have some leftover, the good news is that it freezes really well, so you don’t have to worry about it going to waste.
Below are the steps you need to take to freeze chicken tikka masala the right way:
- Cool
Place your chicken tikka masala in a bowl and leave it to sit at room temperature until it has completely cooled. If you ordered it from a takeaway, this shouldn’t take too long as it won’t be that hot. But if you’ve just cooked it through on the stove it will take a little longer.
Your chicken tikka masala must have cooled completely before you proceed to the next steps. - Split Into Portions
Depending on how much chicken tikka masala you have leftover, it’s a good idea to split it into portions so you can easily defrost the serving that you need at any given time. How you do this is entirely up to you. - Add to Containers
Place your chicken tikka masala into freezer-safe containers and add a lid. - Label and Freeze
Write today’s date and the use-by date on the lid and place your chicken tikka masala in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze chicken tikka masala for around three months.
3 Tips for Freezing Chicken Tikka Masala
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing chicken tikka masala to have the best results:
Don’t Freeze in Bags
It’s never a good idea to freeze chicken tikka masala – or any curry for that matter – in a freezer-safe bag. A bag might split or pierce in the freezer, which will cause your curry to go everywhere! Trust us, you don’t want to clean up after a chicken tikka masala leak in your freezer!
Consider Your Portions
When you’re splitting your chicken tikka masala into portions, make sure you separate it evenly. What we mean by this is that you don’t want one portion to have all the chicken and little sauce!
Add the chicken tikka masala evenly to the containers and you will have the perfect lunch or dinner option when you come to defrost it.
Freeze Any Type of Curry
While chicken tikka masala is undoubtedly one of the most popular curries out there, you can actually freeze almost any curry that you make at home or order from a takeaway. Just be careful of potatoes, as they don’t freeze very well in a curry and are likely to go mushy!
How Long Can You Freeze Chicken Tikka Masala?
You can freeze chicken tikka masala for around three months. As soon as you have decided that you’re going to freeze a batch of curry, it’s best to get it into the freezer as quickly as you can.
This ensures it’s super fresh when you freeze it in the first instance, which will help it to retain those delicious flavours it’s renowned for. You can store chicken tikka masala in the fridge for around 2-3 days.
You Can Freeze Chicken Tikka Masala for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Chicken Tikka Masala?
The best way to defrost chicken tikka masala is to remove it from the freezer and place it in the fridge. You should never defrost chicken tikka masala at room temperature as this will cause the meat to spoil and could lead to food poisoning.
It can take a while for your chicken tikka masala to thaw completely, so you should remove it from the freezer the night before you plan to enjoy it, as this will give it sufficient time to defrost.
Alternatively, you can thaw chicken tikka masala on low power in your microwave, before reheating it in any way that you choose.
Can You Refreeze Chicken Tikka Masala?
We wouldn’t recommend refreezing chicken tikka masala. While it’s safe to refreeze meat that has been thawed in the fridge, refreezing curry can affect its taste due to the ice crystals that form during the freezing process.
Also, if you have ordered chicken tikka masala from a takeaway, you can’t be sure if it has already been frozen, so it’s best to avoid freezing it more than once.
Does Chicken Tikka Masala Freeze Well?
Chicken tikka masala, like many other curry dishes, freezes really well. As soon as it has cooled, portion it up into serving sizes and add it to freezer-safe containers.
You will then have access to a delicious curry for a quick and easy dinner option throughout the week.
