Can You Freeze Couscous? – How to Do It
If you are reading this, you are probably interested in finding out if couscous can be frozen, and if so, what the best approach would be to do this.
In this article, we are going to answer this question. This will ensure that the next time you prepare couscous, you will know exactly how to properly freeze it.
So, can you freeze couscous? Yes! You can freeze the couscous after it has been prepared and then reheat it at another time. Freezing and reheating couscous is similar to freezing other kinds of grains or pasta, however, there are some specific steps you can take to make sure it is done properly.
To make sure you are able to properly freeze couscous, we will also go over the best way to prepare the three most popular kinds of couscous (Moroccan, Israeli, and Lebanese) that you know you will be freezing.
Then, to help you after the freezing has been done, we will go over the best approach for reheating frozen couscous and what to expect the condition of your couscous to be like after reheating it.
Preparation of Couscous Prior to Freezing
If you are planning on cooking a large amount of couscous (by the way, I’ve tried dozens of couscous brands, and this is by far the best one I’ve found), this section will go over exactly how to prepare couscous that you plan on freezing after the fact.
We will go over the proper preparation for the three most popular kinds of couscous: Moroccan, Israeli, and Lebanese.
While couscous can also be prepared in the microwave, we will describe how to prepare couscous over a stovetop, as this is the preferred method to use when the couscous is meant to be frozen afterward.
1. Moroccan Couscous: Stovetop Preparation
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Uncooked Couscous (I like this one from Amazon if you’re looking for a plain couscous) (yields 10 servings)
- 2 Cups Hot Liquid (Chicken stock or water flavored with salt, pepper, and spices)
- 1 TBSP Oil
- Salt
Preparation:
- Bring hot liquid, oil, and salt to a boil
- Turn off the heat and stir in uncooked couscous
- Cover the pot and allow the couscous to absorb hot liquid for 5 minutes
- Remove the cover and fluff the couscous with a fork
- Serve and enjoy!
2. Israeli (Pearl) Couscous: Stovetop Preparation
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Uncooked Couscous (get a true pearl couscous like this one) (yields 8 servings)
- 2 Cups Hot Liquid (Chicken stock or water flavored with salt, pepper, and spices)
- 1 TBSP Oil
- Salt
Preparation:
- Bring hot liquid, oil, and salt to a boil
- Stir in uncooked couscous, cover the pot, and turn down the heat to a low simmer
- Let simmer for 10 minutes
- Turn off the heat and let the couscous sit for 5 minutes
- Remove the cover and fluff the couscous with a fork
- Serve and enjoy!
3. Lebanese (Moghrabieh) Couscous: Stovetop Preparation
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Uncooked Couscous (yields 10 servings)
- 2 Cups Hot Liquid (Chicken stock or water flavored with salt, pepper, and spices)
- 1 TBSP Oil
- Salt
Preparation:
- Bring hot liquid, oil, and salt to a boil
- Stir in uncooked couscous and reduce the heat to a low simmer
- Cook about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Drain water
- Serve and enjoy!
Freezing Couscous: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you know how to properly prepare the various kinds of couscous prior to freezing, it is time to learn exactly how to freeze your couscous to ensure that it remains free of contamination and is ready to be reheated and eaten.
While there are slight variations in the preparation process for the different kinds of couscous, the freezing process described below is the same for all of the different kinds of couscous.
The goal when freezing couscous is to prevent it from becoming a large frozen “block”, which will, in turn, help it to not be mushy after reheating.
Step 1:
Make sure the couscous is separated from any other foods you might have served it with. This is to ensure that the freezing of the other foods does not mess with the texture and consistency of the couscous itself.
Step 2:
Leave the couscous out at room temperature until it cools. In other words, do not freeze the couscous until it has already become cold.
This is essential because if you place the couscous in the freezer while it is still warm, moisture will rise from the couscous and freeze, creating a “block” of frozen couscous that will be difficult to reheat.
Note: In order to speed up the cooling process, you can place the couscous in a sealed bag or container and place the bag or container in cold water. Don’t rinse the couscous with cold water directly, as after placing the couscous in the freezer, this water will then freeze, creating a block of couscous.
Step 3:
Once the couscous has been cooled or reached room temperature, take a large plate or baking sheet and spread the couscous across in an even layer. If you have too much couscous, use an additional plate or baking sheet if needed.
Note: By laying out the couscous in a single, even layer, we are preventing clumping from occurring during the freezing process. By preventing clumping, the couscous will not end up mushy after reheating.
Step 4:
Place a plate or baking sheet with couscous into the freezer and freeze.
Step 5:
Transfer couscous from the plate or baking sheet into an air-tight ziplock bag.
Step 6:
Remove as much air as possible from the ziplock bag.
Step 7:
Place a ziplock bag with couscous into the freezer.
Note: You can use an air-tight Tupperware container (I use these) instead of a ziplock bag if needed. However, try to use a container that would have the least amount of air possible inside of it after adding couscous to it.
Reheating Frozen Couscous: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you have successfully prepared a batch of couscous and followed the proper steps for freezing it, you are ready to remove it from the freezer and begin the reheating process.
The main goal in reheating frozen couscous is to reheat it in a way such that it ends up feeling and tasting like a batch of couscous that was cooked for the first time.
The best approach to accomplish this is to saute the couscous over your stovetop since during this process you will have the opportunity to re-fluff and separate any couscous that might have clumped together during the freezing process.
Step 1: Heat a drizzle of oil and 2 TBSP of water on a non-stick saucepan over medium heat
Step 2: Add couscous to a saucepan and stir.
Step 3: Continue to stir couscous until water is absorbed or evaporated.
Step 4: Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
Step 5: Re-season with your favorite spices (optional), serve, and enjoy!
Another method that you can use to reheat frozen couscous is by placing the frozen couscous in a microwave.
While this method is not preferred to the stovetop method, it is still viable and will work perfectly for those who prefer (or have to use) this method.
How to Reheat Couscous in the Microwave
Step 1: Transfer the frozen couscous to a microwave-friendly container.
Step 2: Add up to 3 TBSP of water, and place it into the microwave.
Step 3: Microwave on high for one-minute increments until you can see steam rising from the couscous, fluffing with a fork after each increment.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy!
Related Questions
How Long Can I Keep Couscous Frozen For?
You can keep couscous in your freezer for as long as you want. As long as the couscous remains frozen, it will not expire, become contaminated or pose any health risks.
Something to keep in mind, however, is that the couscous might develop “freezer burn” in which all of the moisture is sucked out of the food and becomes the food becomes frosted. This will cause the food to taste extremely bland/stale after being reheated.
The best way to avoid freezer burn is by freezing the couscous in an air-tight ziplock bag which has had all of the air removed from it.
Will Frozen Couscous Be Mushy After Reheating?
Couscous will only be mushy after reheating if it is not prepared or frozen in an optimal way.
To avoid couscous becoming mushy after reheating, be sure to follow the preparation and freezing processes described above.
Will Freezing Couscous Make It Taste Bad?
While couscous (and most other foods) generally taste better after being prepared fresh for the first time, as long as you follow the steps outlined in this article, the couscous you eat after reheating will still taste delicious.
If while freezing your couscous develops freezer burn, then it will most likely taste a bit staler after being reheated. Thus, it is important to follow the proper procedure when freezing your couscous in order to avoid this.
Should I Let the Couscous Thaw Before Reheating?
As long as your couscous was frozen the correct way, (as described in this article), you should not have to thaw it before reheating. If, however, your couscous was frozen in such a way that it turned into a large “block” of frozen couscous, you will have to thaw it before reheating.
For thawing, simply place the frozen couscous in your fridge or submerge in cold water until thawed.
