Can You Freeze Rice Pudding? 

Last updated on July 24th, 2022 at 04:45 am

Rice pudding is a popular dish that is found in many countries around the world. Different countries have different ways of preparing it. 

Simply put, rice pudding is a dish made with rice, and water or milk, and ingredients such as vanilla or cinnamon to give it flavor. Rice pudding can be served for dinner, if it is served as a dessert, it is oftentimes sweetened. 

Some varieties of rice pudding are thickened with eggs which makes it more like custard. While you can find rice pudding in most countries around the world, what you find will differ from country to country. 

If you’ve made rice pudding but made far too much you won’t want it to go to waste. Your first thought might be freezing it, but can you freeze rice pudding? 

You can freeze rice pudding by putting them into freezer safe containers or bags. Rice pudding will last 3-6 months in the freezer before it begins to lose its taste and texture. 

Although the frozen rice pudding will be safe to eat for much longer than that, the taste of the dish will be affected. 

To make your rice pudding last as long as possible in the freezer you will want to ensure that the containers or bags are sealed tightly and that as much air is removed as possible before closing them. 

How Do You Freeze Homemade Rice Pudding? 

Nothing is quite as comforting as a bowl of warm, homemade rice pudding. Maybe you want to make some ahead of time so you will have it ready to go at a later date. 

How do you freeze homemade rice pudding? 

Freezing homemade rice pudding is simple, all you need are freezer safe bags or containers. 

The first thing you need to do is allow the rice pudding to cool completely. Make sure to not let your rice pudding sit out for too long, as sitting at room temperature for too long of a time gives bacteria a chance to develop and that can make you sick. 

Once your rice pudding has cooled completely you will want to divide it up into the portion sizes that you will want later on. I divide mine into single serving sizes but if it is something that you will serve as a dessert for the family then you can divide it into the portion sizes that will best suit your family. 

Place each portion size into its own freezer safe bag or container. If you are using a freezer safe plastic bag then you will want to make sure that you remove any excess air from the bag before sealing it. 

If you are using a freezer safe container you will want to get containers that just fit your portion sizes, this avoids having excess air in the container and helps to avoid freezer burn. 

Next you will want to label your containers. Clearly label the contents of the container along with the date that you prepared the rice pudding. 

Your rice pudding will keep in the freezer for three to six months. You can also label the container with a “use by” date so you will remember when you will need to have used it by.

How Do You Defrost Rice Pudding? 

Now that you have rice pudding stored in your freezer you will need to know the best way to defrost it for when you want to eat it. 

There are two ways that you can defrost your rice pudding, in the fridge or on the stove. Do not defrost your rice pudding by simply leaving it on the counter, that will cause the milk in the pudding to spoil. 

If you want to defrost your rice pudding overnight then all you need to do is place it in a bowl and put that bowl in the fridge. It will slowly defrost overnight but at a temperature that will not spoil the milk. 

The other way to defrost your rice pudding is to slowly heat it on the stovetop over a medium low heat until it has thawed and been brought to the temperature that you want it to be.

How Long Can You Keep Homemade Rice Pudding In The Fridge? 

Homemade rice pudding is delicious and, in my opinion, better than the stuff that you can purchase at the store. Making rice pudding with leftover rice is a simple task that even those with basic culinary skills can accomplish. 

Once you have made your rice pudding you will need to store it either in the fridge or freezer. I’ve already mentioned that it will last 3-6 months in the freezer but what about in the fridge? 

Rice pudding will last 3-4 days in the fridge before it is best to get rid of it. So if you have a ton of extra rice pudding then freezing some of it is a great idea. 

To make your own homemade rice pudding you will be standing over your stove stirring the rice for about thirty minutes but if you start with the leftover rice from dinner, you can easily cut that time in half. 

You don’t even need a recipe if you want to make rice pudding, though beginner cooks might find having one on hand makes them feel a little more comfortable in the kitchen. 

Start with the amount of cooked rice that you have then add whatever kind of milk you want to use. You will need equal parts milk to rice. Place your rice in the pot and then cover it with the milk. 

Place the pot over a medium high heat until the milk begins to boil, make sure that you are stirring your rice. Once the contents of the pot begin to boil reduce the heat to medium low. 

Now, you will add a sweetener. You can use regular sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Really the choice of sweetener is entirely up to you and your preferences. 

You can also make the rice pudding as sweet as you want it. Once it is as sweet as you want it you can add flavors, cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa powder, nutmeg; you can add anything that you desire. 

That is what is so wonderful about rice pudding! It is easily customizable. 

You will continue to stir your pudding until the cooked rice has expanded and it has reached the consistency that you want. You can eat your rice pudding right away while it is still warm or you can put it in the fridge. 

Can You Reheat Rice Pudding? 

Whether your rice pudding has been in the fridge or freezer you will likely want to heat it up before you use it again. But can you reheat rice pudding? 

You can reheat rice pudding and it is pretty simple to do. All you need to do is put it in a pan/pot, put it on the stove, and add some additional milk. 

Some people like to eat rice pudding cold. The members in my family do not fall into that category so  reheating rice pudding is a must in this household. 

What is the best way to reheat rice pudding? The best way to reheat your rice pudding is to allow it to defrost completely, if you are reheating previously frozen pudding. Then place the pudding into a heavy bottomed pan. 

Add two to three tablespoons of milk per serving of rice pudding to that pan. Place the pan over a medium low heat and slowly bring your pudding to your desired temperature. Make sure that you stir the pudding while you are reheating it.

Now you know how to make homemade rice pudding, how to freeze it, and how to reheat it.