Can You Freeze Risotto?

Last updated on September 6th, 2022 at 04:55 pm

Risotto is an Italian dish. It is creamy and  sort of tastes a lot like a rice version of mac and cheese. Basically, risotto is rice, broth, and aromatics. 

Risotto can be used in all sorts of recipes but the way you make it can either be really good or totally ruin the dish. You have to create the perfect texture. 

You can make risotto at home or order it from your favorite Italian restaurant. If you like to make this creamy rice dish at home there may be times when you are left with remaining risotto. 

These leftovers will only keep for a few days so can you freeze risotto? 

You can freeze risotto although it is not recommended. Freezing rice can affect its texture and it may taste strange when it’s thawed and reheated.

The easy thing to do with the leftover risotto is to store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. It is said that you should try not to freeze risotto since it can affect the texture of the rice and won’t taste as good when it is heated up again for a meal. 

According to The Kitchn, risotto is the freshest it will ever be right after you make it. They continue to state, 

“Avoid freezing risotto: It’s actually best not to freeze risotto. Cooked rice can become hard when frozen, and the texture of the risotto could get a bit grainy. You’re better off not risking these changes and simply storing leftover risotto in the fridge instead.”

Now, the reason the risotto won’t taste good after it is reheated is because of the reheating process, not the actual freezing of it. It is said that the food actually freezes well but the problem comes when it is defrosted and reheated because the texture becomes mushy and the rice gets tough. 

There is a certain way to freeze the risotto to help keep the yummy food, well, yummy. I will discuss the way later on in this article. For now, know that you can freeze risotto but if it’s important how it tastes, the best bet is to avoid the freezing process. 

If you are determined to freeze the rice, you will still be able to enjoy it. Just remember that risotto that is freshly made will always be better than frozen and reheated risotto.

Is It Safe To Freeze Cooked Risotto? 

Risotto can be a little complicated to cook so after you have done the work you wonder if you can freeze the leftovers. You may also be curious if you can cook the italian rice dish and then freeze it to use later. 

This can save you time and effort in the long run. So, is it safe to freeze risotto?

It is safe to freeze risotto to be eaten later. Unfortunately, the dish won’t taste as good once it is reheated but it still can be done and is safe to do. Just the taste/consistency will be affected not whether the dish is safe to eat or not. 

Risotto will stay safe when it is frozen. The only thing you have to worry about is texture change. But it is completely safe to freeze cooked risotto. 

Now, let’s talk about how to freeze it. 

First, you will want to cool the cooked risotto. After you have cooked it, let it cool for about 2 hours. That will prevent any bacteria from forming. To help a large batch of risotto cool faster you can spread it all out on a baking tray. 

Don’t place it in the fridge right away for cooling while it is still warm. Instead, let it cool while it is sitting out. 

So the risotto is cooled and now it’s time to portion it out. Transfer the rice to some freezer bags or use freezer safe airtight plastic canisters for storage. 

Remove any air and seal them up. 

You are now ready to freeze the risotto. Label the beg or container with the current date so you know when you put it in the freezer. Risotto will only keep for a few months in the freezer. Then that is it! 

Freeze the riscotto until you want to use it. 

Keep in mind that you need to cool the risotto safely. Just like rice, it’s important that bacteria doesn’t form on the risotto and so you should always deal with it safely. Cool it down at room temperature and as soon  as it reaches room temperature, freeze it. 

By freezing the risotto in portions, defrosting it will go much faster. By portioning  the risotto before freezing it you can also only thaw as much as you need that day. 

One more helpful tip about risotto, it can get a little dry when it is frozen and reheated so you will want to add a splash of water or stock to it. Stir this in and if it still looks dry, add more splashes of water until it is brought to the right consistency. 

Freezing risotto can help save it for later. Although it may not taste as good as when it was fresh it is still safe to eat and is nice to have on hand when you need it.

How Long Does Risotto Last In The Freezer? 

Now that you have frozen your leftover risotto, you can use it wherever you want. But how long does it last in the freezer without going bad?

Risotto will only keep for about 3 months in the freezer. This is the longest you will want to keep the rice dish frozen because after this amount of time it is at risk for contamination and also won’t taste good at all. 

So, your risotto was delicious when you made it for dinner a few weeks back and so you decided to freeze it for later. You know the texture will be slightly different after it is frozen and reheated but you don’t care about this too much. 

After following all the steps provided on how to freeze risotto properly, you put it in the freezer to preserve it. 

The risotto will only last for up to 3 months in the freezer and it is getting close to that point. Now, you want to reheat the dish to eat. 

You will need to defrost the risotto in the fridge overnight. This will prevent the texture from being ruined more. When it’s time to cook the risotto, bring a small amount of water or stock to a boil then turn down the heat. 

Put in the risotto and stir gently until it is all loosened up. 

If you stir this too much it can also ruin the texture. Keep adding in water until it is loose. 

Once it is all warmed, add in some parmesan cheese to complete the consistency. 

You can also use the microwave to defrost risotto. For this you will need to microwave the dish for 30 seconds, stir it, and then put it back into the microwave for 30 more seconds, stir it and so on until it is defrosted and hot. 

This should take around 5 minutes of reheating. It is recommended not to try refreezing risotto after thawing it because it can be hazardous to your health and the texture will be ruined completely. 

So, if you are going to freeze risotto you can only keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months but you can have it on hand during this time for wherever you want to make a quick meal out of the Italian food.

Final Thoughts

If you want to freeze risotto you can! Just follow some of the simple steps that were mentioned on how to freeze, store, and defrost the rice dish safely. 

It won’t taste as good as when it is freshly made because freezing it will affect its texture but if you want to save risotto for later, freezing the food is a great way to preserve it for future meals.