Risotto is made to be served as an appetizer or a main dish. This is made up of four main ingredients which include soffritto – sauteed vegetables, broth, rice, and flavorings.
This recipe can also use ingredients such herbs, fish or meats. Risotto is a dish that is at its best taste when freshly served.
However, many people tend to wonder whether risotto can be stored in the freezer.
So, can you freeze risotto?
Risotto is best when it’s fresh, but if you happen to have leftovers, you can freeze it. However, freezing can potentially compromise the creaminess and taste of the food especially if it stays in the freezer for too long.
When frozen for too long, risotto can turn grainy and it will thicken due to the rice’s starch. But there are a few steps you can do to avoid this issue from happening. There is a proper way of freezing risotto.
How to Freeze Risotto Correctly?
The first process of freezing risotto is letting it cool down, just like other cooked dishes. You need to make sure that in less than two hours it gets to about room temperature. It’s best if you let it cool down on the kitchen counter or store it in the pantry. If you have a large portion of risotto, you can use a cookie sheet to lose the heat more quickly.
After cooling down the risotto, transfer it to freezer containers, specifically airtight containers or you can use bags that are resealable. You need to make sure that the bag(s) and container(s) are leak-proof to avoid defrosting the freezer and turn it into a mess.
If you want to secure your risotto, you can just put the bag in a container. In that way, when the risotto leaks in the bag, you can just wash the container. After transferring the risotto to bags or containers, you can put it in the freezer until it has frozen and you’re done!
There’s also an option to divide the risotto leftovers into several portions if you have more than you need for a meal. In this way, you can defrost one or two portions if needed.
You can leave it in the freezer for a couple of days, but the quality of taste will not be guaranteed to be as good as when it’s still fresh after freezing it.
How to Defrost Risotto?
Of course, after freezing, it’s time to defrost the dish! And there are three ways of defrosting risotto.
One is using the refrigerator. If you want to defrost your risotto, you need to plan ahead. To completely defrost the dish, you need to place the container or bag in the refrigerator. You need to thaw it in lukewarm water in the fridge for at least 11 hours.
If you forgot to defrost it using the refrigerator, you don’t have to worry because you can use the microwave. You can microwave the risotto on the defrost setting in short increments, at least 30 seconds tops, and pour a little bit (a teaspoon) of water on top every time it gets dry. This will help the risotto to break down from its frozen state.
If you don’t have a microwave, you can use a stove. It’s recommended to use a non-stick pan and water. Make sure that the pan is set on low heat, then add the frozen risotto to the pan and add a couple of tablespoons of water. After a minute, scrape the risotto once the outer layer defrosts. Keep scraping it off until the whole thing melts. When using the stove, pay attention to it so the dish doesn’t burn.
If you use a microwave or stove, make sure that you will reheat and cook the risotto immediately after defrosting.
How to Reheat Risotto?
Reheating is what comes after defrosting. You can’t really enjoy risotto if it’s not hot, and there are several options to reheat this dish.
The best way to reheat risotto is using a non-stick pan on the stove. First, set the pan on medium heat. Before putting the thawed dish, make sure to put some butter. Then add some stock or water to reheat the risotto. Since it doesn’t taste the way it was before freezing, make sure to taste it and adjust its flavor to your liking.
You can also use a microwave for reheating. Microwave the dish just like in defrosting, but in 30-45 seconds increments. You need to stir it and add butter, stock, or water between intervals.
It should be good within 3 to 6 minutes. Make sure that you stir it and add extra liquids between increments to prevent the risotto from drying.
I do not recommend reheating risotto using oven because it will be difficult to achieve good results and consistency.
Of course, reheating alone doesn’t make it tasty as before. If you find that your risotto is too dry, you need to add more stock, water, or butter when reheating. And when you think it lacks the creaminess according to your liking, you can add shredded cheese to it when reheating.
This will help you to adjust the texture. Make sure not to use too much cheese, especially if it’s salty cheese because you will end up with salty risotto.
Final Thoughts
Risotto is one of the recipes that most people love. If you are reading this post, there is a high chance that you also love risotto.
But like any other foods, storing leftover risotto can be a challenge especially for beginners. The good thing is that you can freeze risotto for later consumption.
It is important to remember though that freezing can potentially affect the taste and consistency of the dish. So it is something that you think about.
If you want to learn more about freezing foods, feel free to visit this page.
Related Questions
Is it safe to freeze and reheat risotto?
You can freeze risotto and reheat it for later consumption. However, freezing and reheating can potentially affect the texture and taste of the food. But risotto still safe to eat after freezing or reheating.
How long does risotto last in the freezer?
Risotto can last for about 2-3 months if stored properly. Make sure that it is placed in a freezer-safe container before freezing.
