Can You Freeze Spinach Artichoke Dip?
A timeless party favorite, spinach artichoke dip has been there since we all can remember, and it never gets old or boring.
Even thinking about it makes our mouths water! Why does almost everyone love it so much? Well, it is creamy, cheesy, and savory. What’s not to love?
The only bad thing about spinach artichoke dip is running out of it. Also, when you are craving some delicious and creamy dip, and you just don’t want to make a whole batch for yourself.
So, can you freeze spinach artichoke dip? Yes, you can freeze spinach artichoke dip, and it’s easier than you think. You can store it in your freezer for up to 3 months and enjoy whenever you want.
Read on to see the best practices for freezing spinach artichoke dip, a simple recipe for the most freezer-friendly dip, and more.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Spinach Artichoke Dip?
You will be able to freeze spinach artichoke dip that has cream cheese, Greek yogurt, or non-dairy ingredients in it.
The best way to freeze it is dividing it into small portions before baking it.
You can purchase small aluminum disposable baking pans, spray them with some canola oil, fill them up with your dip, cover them up with plastic wrapping, and then store them in a freezer-safe plastic bag.
You can also store the dip directly using airtight containers or zip-lock freezer bags that are vacuumed or with as much air removed as possible.
To maintain food safety and to get the best results, you should not freeze your dip if you have already cooked it. The dip needs to be raw when you store it in your freezer.
Plan ahead to freeze the spinach artichoke dip and mix it up and freeze it. You will bake it before serving for best results.
Storing it in the aluminum disposable pans will make it easier to just take out of the fridge and throw in the oven real quick.
Just make sure you don’t forget to spray it with some canola or vegetable oil before putting the dip inside the containers and freezing it. That way, the dip will not stick to the pan and will be easier to eat.
In lieu of baking you can also pop it in the crock pot and and wait for it to reach the desired gooey consistency you’re looking for. As an added bonus, it’s a great way to serve it at parties to keep it warm all night.
How Long Does Spinach Artichoke Dip Last Frozen?
Unbaked spinach artichoke dip will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. You just need to make sure you vacuumed the freezer bags you stored it into, and that they are very well sealed.
Be sure to label the container or bags with the content and date before storing them in the freezer.
It is very important that the freezer bags have as little air as possible, because oxygen is what leaves room for bacteria and fungus reproduction.
Also, you need to take into consideration that for food safety reasons, if you have already frozen it one time, yon cannot freeze the leftovers a second time.
You should also note that spinach artichoke dip can usually contain mayonnaise or sour cream. Both are considered hard substances to freeze.
If you’re positive you’re going to decide to freeze your dip, we advise you to use an alternative to those ingredients instead.
Cream cheese, milk, Parmesan cheese, Greek yogurt, and even heavy cream can be used instead. These ingredients tend to freeze better than mayo or sour cream and will not change the texture of your dip when you defrost it.
Is There A Difference Between Freezing Homemade and Store-bought Spinach Artichoke Dip?
The simple answer is yes. But let’s go into details. When you make your dip at home, you know exactly which ingredients you add to it. Moreover, you can adapt the ingredients, so they are more suitable for freezing.
With supermarket spinach artichoke dip, you know there will always be some more additives and preservatives that will extend the product’s shelf life. But you can also always look at the ingredients list to make sure it is safe to freeze.
If your favorite spinach artichoke dip brand goes on sale, just check the ingredients first to make sure you can stock up and fill your freezer with it.
Make sure it does not contain mayo or sour cream, and just transfer it into an airtight container or freezer bag. Also make sure you put the date on it, and it will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe: Freezer Friendly Spinach Artichoke Dip
If you are a big fan of meal prepping or if you are famous among your friends for making great dips and bringing them to dinner parties, you need to save this recipe.
Sometimes, you just do not want to go through all the trouble and dirty all those dishes to make a small batch of spinach artichoke dip. Your solution is to make a lot of it a freeze it for later.
This way, you will be able to sign up to bring the dip when your friends invite you unexpectedly, and you have little time to cook.
Here is an easy step by step for the best freezer friendly spinach artichoke dip:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a baking dish (or two, depending on how much dip you are baking at once). The set it aside. A 11×7 inch pan will work great for this recipe, but you can also use a 9×9 inch pan.
- Look for a large bowl and combine cream cheese with Greek yogurt. For an 8 oz cream cheese block, a cup of plain Greek yogurt is the perfect proportion.
- Then, you can add parmesan and mozzarella cheese (We like to use both, but you can use either). Mix everything very well.
- Next, you can drain a can of quartered artichoke hearts, chop them roughly and add them to the bowl.
- Now it’s spinach time! You can use either fresh or frozen spinach. If you use the frozen option, it should be thawed in the fridge overnight in a plastic bag.
- Grab a cheese cloth to put the spinach in the middle. If you don’t have one, a couple of paper towels will also work perfectly fine.
- Wrap the cheese cloth (or paper towels) around the spinach and give it a good squeeze. It might surprise you how much water comes out. Once squeezed, give the spinach a rough chop and add it to the bowl as well.
- Adding a couple of minced garlic cloves will give it a nice flavor kick! Mix everything well. Smooth it out in the baking dishes you sprayed with oil earlier and bake it for 20-25 minutes.
- Once it is ready, let it cool before serving.
Freezer Instructions
If you are planning on freezing your spinach and artichoke dip, instead of using a baking dish, it’s best if you use a disposable aluminum pan.
You need to spread the mixture in the disposable pan, cover it very well with plastic wrapping and then storing it in a large plastic freezer bag.
You’re safe to store it in your freezer for up to 3 months. Once you are ready to defrost it and eat, you just need to bake it for about 40 minutes at 350°F.
This is a very easy spinach artichoke dip that you can be sure will be a huge hit at your next dinner party or get together.
Just be prepared for your guests to like it so much that from now on you will be always in charge of the spinach artichoke dip for every single party!
This dip can be served with chips, crackers, veggies or mini toast. It really is very good on almost anything!
What To Do With Leftover Spinach Artichoke Dip
If you want some ideas for your leftover spinach artichoke dip, rather than just freezing it, here are some creative ways to use it to create a whole new meal.
Pasta Sauce
You can make a delicious spinach artichoke pasta sauce using your leftover dip. You just need to make your favorite pasta and add the leftover dip on it.
Furthermore, you can also add chicken or shrimp if you wish to incorporate more protein to your meal. Add some cheese on top, and you will enjoy a delicacy.
Sandwiches
You could also incorporate your dip into a yummy and toasty sandwich. Spread some artichoke dip on your favorite bread slices. You can add some more cheese, or even some jam or turkey and a some arugula or kale.
Baked Potatoes
Potatoes are very yummy, and when you bake them with some spinach artichoke dip on top and add some cheese, they become creamy and even more delicious.
