Can You Freeze Cabbage Soup? – The Best Way
Cabbage soup can be so tasty, and whether you are eating it as part of a diet or to get in some extra veggies, you will probably find that you have made more than what you can eat.
A vegetarian soup, it is made up primarily of cabbage and different veggies, as well as a hearty veggie stock, but do the vegetables and soup taste the same after being frozen?
Can you freeze cabbage soup? Yes, cabbage soup is one of the meals that taste almost exactly the same after being frozen and thawed and is perfect to freeze to enjoy at a later stage or to save some of those delicious leftovers. Cabbage even softens in the freezer, so your soup will be even more tender when it has thawed and been reheated.
How To Freeze Cabbage Soup
Freezing cabbage soup is really easy, and there is not much prep involved at all. Once you have cooked up your cabbage soup, you can begin getting it ready to freeze.
First, you will need to allow your cabbage soup to cool down. Placing hot soup in the freezer will thaw already-frozen food in the freezer, as it will raise the temperature around it.
You can either leave the cabbage soup out to cool, or you could place the soup in the pot into an ice-water bath in your sink, stirring it often. You can also divide the soup into smaller portions to allow it to cool faster.
It is a good idea to portion the soup into smaller size bags to allow for quick meals on the go and to prevent you from thawing a big batch of soup and not being able to finish it all again. Individual serving sizes are always a great idea.
Make sure to use a freezer bag which gives you enough room for your desired portion, as well as some extra space for the cabbage soup to expand into when it freezes. Using freezer bags is a good option as you can freeze them flat to save a good amount of space in the freezer.
You may also use freezer-safe, airtight containers to freeze the cabbage soup in. These keep any other odors from the freezer away from the cabbage soup and are easy to pop into the microwave when it is time to heat the cabbage soup up again. However, airtight containers are not as space-friendly as freezer bags.
If you are cooking your cabbage soup for the purpose of freezing, you will want to cook the vegetables al dente.
Cook the cabbage and other ingredients until they are only slightly tender, and still crisp. The vegetables will soften slightly when frozen and thawed, so it is better to not cook them too much.
If you are cooking some cabbage soup for dinner and to freeze, remove the desired portion for freezing just before it is cooked through, and then continue to cook your dinner portion until the cabbage and other vegetables are tender.
You must also remember to label the freezer bags or airtight containers of cabbage soup before placing them in the freezer. It can become very easy to lose track of what is in the freezer, and labels will save you a lot of hassle and waste.
Make sure to label the soup with the name of the recipe, as well as the date it was made. To make life a little easier for yourself, you could also choose to add in some reheating and garnishing instructions for when it is time for the cabbage soup to be eaten.
Thawing And Reheating Cabbage Soup
Knowing how to properly thaw and reheat cabbage soup is almost as important as knowing how to freeze it. If done incorrectly, you can ruin both the taste and texture of the cabbage soup during the thawing and reheating process.
For the best results, you should place the frozen portion of cabbage soup in the fridge overnight to thaw. This allows it to defrost gently at a temperature that does not support rapid bacterial growth.
You then have two options on how to reheat the cabbage soup:
Microwave
Heating cabbage soup in a microwave is the quickest way to heat it up. You should take it slow and not heat the soup at full power straight away.
- Stir the soup around and put it into the microwave for 1 minute at about 70% power. Remove the soup from the microwave, stir it around and leave it to sit for a minute. This allows the heat to distribute evenly throughout the soup.
- Place it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds at full power and leave it to sit for 30 seconds.
- Taste the soup to see if it is warm enough, and if not, place it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds until done.
Stove
Reheating cabbage soup on the stove is probably the best way to do it.
- Once it is thawed in the refrigerator overnight, you can place the cabbage soup into a soup pot and place it on the stove.
- Warm it on a low to medium heat, stirring it every now and then.
- Once the soup begins steaming and is warm, you can dish it up into a bowl.
- You can also add in some more stock or seasoning to the cabbage soup as it cooks on the stove.
How Long Can I Store Cabbage Soup?
Cabbage soup keeps quite well in both the fridge and the freezer. If you are storing the cabbage soup in the fridge, you should leave it in a sealed plastic container and place it near the back of the fridge.
Stored like this, the cabbage soup can last for up to 5 days. You can then just reheat it in the microwave or on the stove when you are ready to eat it.
When frozen, cabbage soup can remain in the freezer for up to 6 months. It can stay in the freezer for longer than this, but it will not be at its best quality. The soup should be kept constantly below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and should be kept safe indefinitely at this temperature.
Be sure to keep the soup in an airtight container or tightly sealed freezer bag to ensure no extra moisture, air or odors come into contact with the frozen soup.
Once you have thawed the frozen cabbage soup, you can leave it in the fridge for up to 4 days. However, if you reheat the vegetable soup after thawing it, it should be eaten immediately and not be refrigerated again.
You will be able to tell if the cabbage soup is off if it has an off odor, a sour taste or if there is any mold apparent in the soup. If the cabbage soup has any of these qualities, it should be thrown away immediately.
Related Questions
Can you freeze cooked cabbage?
If stored properly, cooked cabbage can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you want to extend the shelf life of the cabbage even further, you can place it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag to place in the freezer.
You are also able to wrap the cabbage in heavy-duty aluminum foil or even freezer wrap to be put into the freezer. The cabbage will keep its properties well if consumed within 6 months.
How can I freeze raw cabbage?
To freeze raw cabbage, you should blanch it before placing it in the freezer. Blanching the cabbage helps to keep it crisp and helps to preserve its flavor.
You can blanch the cabbage in boiling water for 1 ½ minutes, and then place it in ice water. Pat the cabbage dry and the place it in freezer bags or wrap it tightly in cling wrap. You can also freeze shredded cabbage, but you do not necessarily have to blanch it before.
Place the shredded cabbage onto a baking tray and freeze it for a few hours. Once frozen, you can portion the frozen shredded cabbage into smaller portion freezer bags.
Can you freeze coleslaw?
Most coleslaw is made with a vinegar-based dressing, which is fine to freeze. All you need to do is place the coleslaw mix in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible from it.
Seal the bag and label it, and it can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months, perfect for when you need a quick side dish.
Freezing Cabbage Soup
Not only is cabbage soup really healthy, but it is a really inexpensive meal to make at home, which you can make a large batch of. It is perfect for planning meals ahead and freezing smaller portions to keep in the freezer, and cabbage soup tastes just as wonderful after being frozen and thawed as it does fresh.
You need to make sure you freeze the cabbage soup properly and follow safe ways to thaw and reheat the cabbage soup for the best results.