Cullen Skink is a quintessentially Scottish dish perfect for a cold winter’s day. The fact that it’s super easy to put together at home, makes it a great family-friendly meal option when you’re in a hurry. But what happens if you’ve made too much?
Can You Freeze Cullen Skink?
Yes, you can freeze Cullen Skink for up to 2 months. It’s up to you whether you want to freeze it as it is or separate it into portions. You can also keep Cullen Skink in the fridge for a couple of days after you’ve made it.
Do Does Cullen Skink freeze well? Sometimes
Can you refreeze Cullen Skink? No
How to Freeze Cullen Skink
Soups are great to make in batches and freeze in advance, and Cullen Skink is no different.
Because Cullen Skink has a thick texture, you must ensure you have suitably strong freezer-safe bags or use a Tupperware box if you’re worried about the bag splitting. Below are the steps to freeze Cullen Skink:
- Allow to Cool: You must allow your Cullen Skink to cool to room temperature before freezing it. Although it will cause more washing up, removing your soup from the pan you prepared and transferring it to a separate dish is always a good idea. This will help it cool down more quickly.
- Separate Into Portions: If you plan to use the soup all at once, you can skip this step. However, splitting your Cullen Skink into portion sizes before freezing saves you from wastage.
- Ladle Into Containers: If you have heavy-duty freezer-safe bags, they will be ideal for your Cullen Skink. If you don’t, we’d recommend using a Tupperware box, as you don’t want your soup to split in the freezer! Leave at least an inch at the top of the bag or box to allow space for expansion during freezing.
- Label and Freeze: Write the date that you prepared the Cullen Skink and the use-by date on the front of the bag or the lid of the box. Remember, you can freeze Cullen Skink for around two months.
3 Tips for Freezing Cullen Skink
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Cullen Skink to have the best results:
Ensure Ingredients are Evenly Spread
If you decide to split your Cullen Skink into portions before freezing it, separate the ingredients appropriately. The last thing you want is one portion full of potato and the other full of fish!
Add Cream After Thawing
If you know you’ll freeze Cullen Skink beforehand, it’s a good idea to add the cream once it has been defrosted. This is because the cream will likely split when you freeze it and can affect the soup’s texture.
Stir Gently
However, if you have already added the cream and want to freeze leftovers, it’s perfectly safe. You will need to gently stir your mixture before reheating it, to make sure you get the texture you desire when it comes to enjoying the soup.
How Long Can You Freeze Cullen Skink?
You can freeze Cullen Skink for around 2 months.
To preserve its freshness, we recommend placing your Cullen Skink in the freezer as soon as you can after preparing it. The longer you leave it to sit out or in the fridge, the more likely it is to deteriorate in quality.
Unfortunately, Cullen Skink does not last particularly long in the fridge. It will keep for around 2 days in a covered dish.
How Do You Defrost Cullen Skink?
To defrost Cullen Skink, remove it from the freezer the night before you plan to use it and place it in the fridge. You should never defrost soup with fish and dairy on the countertop.
You should then heat your Cullen Skink on a low heat and stir it consistently to ensure it regains the desired texture. You can then add the cream once it has been reheated.
Can You Refreeze Cullen Skink?
We wouldn’t recommend refreezing Cullen Skink. Because it contains fish and dairy, you need to be really careful when it comes to preserving it.
If you don’t think you will enjoy your Cullen Skink in one sitting, separating it into portions before you freeze it and taking out of the freezer only what you need. This way you won’t have to worry about wastage.
Does Cullen Skink Freeze Well?
Following the instructions listed above, you should have no problems when it comes to freezing Cullen Skink.
The only issue you might face is with the cream, as it will likely split if you freeze your soup with the already-added cream.
If this happens, don’t panic! You need to stir your Cullen Skink before you reheat it gently, and you should rescue the texture.
As has been mentioned, it’s much better to add the cream to your Cullen Skink once it has been defrosted and reheated, so you don’t have to worry about it splitting.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing Cullen Skink or soup in general, then these may help:
You can reheat Cullen Skink. When doing so, make sure you reheat it over a low heat and stir it constantly to ensure the cream doesn’t split.
Yes, it can be made either 2 days in advance if you’re going to keep it in the fridge or up to 2 months in advance if you’re going to freeze it.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
