Rice Pudding is a delicious dessert of cooked rice with sugar and milk, usually served on its own or with jam, syrup, or fresh fruit. Whatever kind of serving you prefer, sometimes you have some leftovers and wonder how to make rice pudding last longer. The question is:
Can you really freeze rice pudding?
Yes! You can freeze rice pudding easily. It’s a good way to make it ahead of time, and to store it for later!
Ok, so now with that out of the way, let’s dive into the topic and see how to make your own frozen rice pudding in some easy steps.
How To Freeze Rice Pudding
Four simple steps to freezing rice pudding:
1.) First, you must cool your rice pudding before freezing. The temperature should be at room temperature.
2.) Spoon your rice pudding into an airtight container or freezer bag. If using the latter, remove the excess air so that it doesn’t form ice crystals when you freeze it.
3.) Label and date your frozen rice pudding! It’s always a good idea to label things before storing them in the freezer – this will make it easier to keep track of what you have.
4.) Put your container/bag in the freezer, on a flat surface if possible (so that it freezes level).
How Long Does Rice Pudding Last In The Freezer?
Well, this depends on a lot of factors. Foremost, the storage time for this dessert depends on the type of milk that has been used to cook it.
Unfortunately, you can’t just say “X” months because if your pudding is made with regular cow’s milk instead of evaporated (canned) milk, it’s probably going to last much less time.
It also depends on how cold your freezer is and how carefully you prepared everything.
So it’s hard to say.
Your best option is to serve your rice pudding within a few months. Most people who freeze rice pudding say that it’s best to use it within three months.
I think that the shorter the freezing time, the lower the loss of quality should be.
But it would be wise to check the quality of your frozen treat before digging in any way! When the surface of the rice pudding looks wrinkled and dried out, you know it’s time to throw it away.
Pros and Cons of freezing rice pudding
Freezing rice pudding has its advantages and disadvantages.
On one hand, it can be very convenient to make larger batches of rice pudding in advance and freeze it for later, especially if you have a large family or lots of guests.
But on the other hand, frozen rice pudding is not quite the same as fresh.
Texture and flavor are compromised somewhat, and the consistency will not be as smooth after it thaws. It becomes slightly ‘grainier’, even though we tend to associate rice with grains, which has more to do with the structure of rice than with the properties of frozen cooked rice.
Which is also a common problem when freezing dairy products.
Also, if you wait too long to eat the rice pudding after you’ve frozen it – even in an airtight container, some water will eventually evaporate and cause it to dry out.
Another thing to keep in mind is that freezing will only extend the shelf life for a while and not forever.
How to thaw rice pudding
There are two ways to thaw frozen rice pudding:
1) Place it in the refrigerator overnight or
2) Place it in a saucepan or microwave on low heat, stirring constantly until heated through.
The first option allows for gradual thawing that lessens the effect on texture.
Thawing it with heat like in the second option will just cause it to go mushy and change consistency.
I think the best option to thaw your rice pudding is to put it in the refrigerator overnight.
This way it can defrost more slowly, which will have a positive effect on the quality.
Some more tips to improve your thawed rice pudding
If your rice pudding has lost its bite and flavor after defrosting, add a little water to it to keep the rice pudding’s texture and taste.
You can also add some cream or milk to make it more creamy again.
Recipes for Frozen Rice Pudding
There are many recipes for rice pudding, but some of our favorites include:
1. Rice Pudding with syrup and blueberries
2. Banana Rice Pudding
3. Rice pudding with almond nuts, milk chocolate, and caramelized apples
We hope this provides you with some inspiration.
Conclusion
Freezing rice pudding is a great way to save time and money. It doesn’t require any fancy equipment or special techniques, either!
The major disadvantage of freezing rice pudding is the loss of texture and taste experiences when you freeze and thaw it. You can try to improve this with some simple tricks, but freshly made rice pudding still beats the frozen one.
However, if you have some leftovers, it is still a good idea to freeze them rather than throw them away.
Can you freeze rice pudding made with coconut milk?
Yes, since coconut milk can be frozen on its own, it can also be frozen as rice pudding, I’d say.
Can you freeze rice pudding made with almond milk?
Yes, because you can freeze almond milk, you can also freeze rice pudding made with almond milk.
