It’s warming, unctuous and hearty but risotto can be a bit of a faff to prepare. You must carefully watch over it as you regularly stir stock into it. But, is it possible to bulk prepare risotto for meals later in the year?
Can You Freeze Risotto?
Yes, you can freeze risotto for up to 3 months. Once cooked and cooled, portion risotto into Tupperware, airtight containers. Label the containers and then carefully place them into the freezer until you need them.
Do Does Risotto freeze well? Sometimes
Can you refreeze Risotto? No
How to Freeze Risotto
Whether it’s a plain risotto, mushroom risotto or a fancy Milanese risotto spiked with saffron, this is the best approach to take when it comes to freezing risotto:
- Cool Your Risotto: Once you’ve made your risotto, you need to allow it to cool. With rice, you want to cool it down within 2 hours to be on the safe side and prevent bacteria from forming.
- Portion Your Risotto
As soon as it has cooled, grab portion-sized Tupperware pots and spoon your risotto into these pots. If you haven’t got any plastic, airtight containers then you can scoop portions into freezer-safe bags. - Seal: If using bags, try to squeeze out as much air from the bag as possible as you seal it up.
- Freeze Your Risotto: Label the bags with the contents and the date and then place the containers or bags into the freezer to freeze.
That’s all there is to freezing risotto. But it’s the thawing where you need to take special care which we’ve discussed a little further down the page.
Yes, mushroom risotto can be frozen. Mushroom risotto can be frozen in the same way as most other risotto. Once cooled, portion it out into Tupperware containers and then freeze. 
Yes, chicken risotto can be frozen. It’s vital that once it is cooked and then thawed, it is heated thoroughly and ensure that the chicken is piping hot and at least 75C in the centre.
When freezing fish, especially shellfish, you need to err on the side of caution. We recommend not freezing prawn risotto as prawns do not freeze well in cooked dishes.
3 Tips for Freezing Risotto
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing risotto to have the best results:
Cool Safely
You’ve probably heard how important it is to deal with cooked rice safely to avoid bacteria forming. This is the same case for risotto. You need to cool it down quickly to room temperature. You must get it frozen when it is at room temperature.
Freeze in Portions
Freeze your risotto in portions in bags so you can quickly defrost the amount you need at a time.
Add a Splash of Water When Reheating
Risotto can dry out a little when frozen so when reheating it, you’ll want to add a splash of water or stock. Stir it and if it still looks a bit dry, add a further splash until it is the right consistency.
How Long Can You Freeze Risotto?
3 months is the longest you will want to store your risotto in the freezer. It will be perfectly safe to eat beyond this period, but there is an increased risk that both the flavour and texture will degrade.
As always, make sure you label your risotto clearly with the date it needs to be consumed to avoid wasting it.
Leftover risotto can be popped into an airtight container when cooled and then stored in the fridge for around 4 days.
How Do You Defrost Risotto?
The first step is to defrost it in the fridge overnight. This will prevent you from overcooking the rice’s already cooked grains and further destroying its texture. So place the risotto in a bowl and in the fridge allowing it to thaw slowly.
Next, in the evening you want to eat your risotto, bring a small amount of water, preferably stock, to the boil then turn the heat right down. Place your risotto into the pan and give it a gentle stir until the liquid has loosened your risotto.
Don’t stir too vigorously or you’ll ruin the texture of the rice. You may need to add a little more water to loosen it.
Once warmed through, add a fresh grating of parmesan cheese to give it that desirable consistency.
How Do You Defrost Risotto in the Microwave
You can defrost risotto in the microwave, but it’s not as simple as placing it in the microwave and heating it on full power for 5 minutes. Unfortunately, it takes a little effort. Instead, you will want to microwave it in short bursts of 30 seconds.
Between every burst, you’ll need to stir in a little water or stick before giving it another burst.
Your risotto should then be defrosted and piping hot after around 5 minutes of microwaving.
You should avoid reheating risotto from frozen. Instead, allow it to thaw slowly in the fridge before reheating it or try defrosting it in the microwave if you’re pushed for time.
Can You Refreeze Risotto?
As you already know, cooked rice is something you need to be careful with when storing leftovers. We’ve mentioned previously that bacteria can form on rice which can do quite a lot of harm.
It’s for this reason that we would highly recommend not refreezing risotto. To err on the side of caution.
Not only is there a risk to your health were you to refreeze it, but you’ll also find that the texture of your rice is completely ruined when it comes to eating it.
Does Risotto Freeze Well?
It freezes well, but it’s in the defrosting where you may have issues. If you defrost or reheat it too quickly, you can ruin your risotto’s texture. Take your time, and you’ll still be able to enjoy your risotto as you normally would.
However, a freshly made risotto will trump a frozen one.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing risotto or risotto in general, then these may help:
Yes, you can freeze barley risotto, but it can become quite dry when frozen and then thawed so ensure you add a splash of moisture to it when it comes to reheating it.
Risotto will last for around 5 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. This will depend heavily on the contents of the risotto. Meat and fish risotto will last only 2 to 3 days, for example.
