Radicchio is one of the most versatile vegetables going, working well in both raw salads, cooked dishes and even simply grilled on the BBQ. But, it can be tough to find. So, how can you ensure you have a regular supply of radicchio at home?
Can You Freeze Radicchio? Yes, you can freeze radicchio. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. However, radicchio does not freeze well so you may want to avoid doing so, unfortunately.
Do Does Radicchio freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Radicchio? No
How to Freeze Radicchio
Although it’s not necessarily a good idea to do so, if you’ve decided that you want to go ahead with freezing radicchio (even though we’ve warned against it) then here is our method for doing so:
- Cut Into Wedges
Firstly, cut the radicchio into quarters or sixths so that you’re left with some big wedges. Try not to cut it any smaller and there’s no need to remove any outer leaves at this point as they’ll act as added protection. - Wrap the Wedges in Clingfilm
Wrap each individual wedge in multiple layers of clingfilm to ensure it is completely airtight. - Bag Up
Once every wedge has been wrapped, place them into a freezer bag and seal it up, removing as much air from the bag as you can when doing so. - Freeze
Label the bag with the contents and carefully place the bag into the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Radicchio
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing radicchio to have the best results:
Don’t Bother
As you will have worked out by now, freezing radicchio is not a good idea. The flavour will be ruined. The texture will soften. So, our top tip for freezing radicchio is to not bother in the first place.
Wrap Tightly
Air getting to your radicchio is what will ruin the texture and taste. To prevent this, make sure you wrap it multiple times in clingfilm to stop any air from getting to it.
Freeze In Chunks
Although you could chop the radicchio up so that it is shredded or left as whole leaves, you’ll find that they break down quickly in the freezer. To prevent this, try to freeze it in large wedges.
How Long Can You Freeze Radicchio?
Radicchio will slowly deteriorate as soon as it is frozen and then thawed out. However, during the first few months, this process does seem to be a little slower. This is why we would advise only freezing it for 2 months – at most!
Beyond this, you’ll find you lose any flavour and the texture rapidly degrades.
You Can Freeze Radicchio for up to 2 Months
How Do You Defrost Radicchio?
Defrosting should be as slow as possible. The best way to do this is to place the unwrapped radicchio wedges on a plate in the fridge to allow them to thaw overnight.
As the wedges can be quick thick, it may take closer to 36 hours to thaw through so ensure you allow time for this.
Can You Refreeze Radicchio?
No, you cannot refreeze radicchio. Radicchio will already freeze pretty poorly, trying to refreeze it will only make things worse with the flavour and texture both being ruined.
Does Radicchio Freeze Well?
As you have probably worked out by now, freezing radicchio really is not a good idea. The flavour will change drastically. The texture will degrade. The colour will fade. There really is no advantage to freezing radicchio.
It’s just one of those vegetables that doesn’t freeze well.
In fact, the bad news doesn’t end there. Not only will the flavour and taste change, but you’ll find any nutritional value in the radicchio will rapidly disappear the longer it is frozen, including from day 1.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing radicchio or radicchio in general, then these may help:
