How To Freeze Soup

Soup is a great dish to have in the freezer ready to pull out and reheat on cold days when you crave a quick and healthy meal. When you freeze it correctly it will keep its flavor and last for many months. 

The main consideration when it comes to freezing soup is the type of soup you want to freeze. Soups with a broth or tomato base freeze best while creamy soups, chowders, and potato-based soups don’t freeze very well as the ingredients split. 

Once you have cooked up your batch of soup, follow our step-by-step instructions for freezing it.

Steps to freeze soup

Freezing soup is a simple 3 step process. Here’s what to do:

Step 1- Let the soup cool down

First and foremost, let the soup cool down completely. One trick is to fill your sink with ice water and then place the soup pot into it. This will help speed up the cooling process and prevent bacteria from developing. 

Step 2 – Pour into containers or bags

Once the soup is cool, the next step is to portion it into freezer-safe bags or containers. The size of your containers or bags depends on how much soup you want to defrost. For example, if you want to have enough for your whole family you can use large containers or if you want to have enough for one person you can make portions for one serving. 

You can either pour the soup directly from the pot into your storage containers or use a ladle. When filling your containers leave about 1 inch of space at the top as your soup will expand when it freezes.

Step 3 – Place the soup in the freezer

Once the soup is all portioned out you can place the containers or bags into the freezer. Make sure you label each container or bag with the type of soup and date to help you keep track of how long they have been frozen. Most soup can last at least 3 months in the freezer.

How to reheat frozen soup

When the time comes to reheat your frozen soup you can use a microwave, place it in a pot on the stove, or use an instant pot. For best results, remove your frozen soup the night before you want to reheat it and let it thaw overnight in your refrigerator. This will help prevent the soup from splitting (especially if it has dairy products in it).

How to reheat your frozen soup in a microwave

Your first option is to reheat your soup in the microwave. While all types of soup can be reheated this way, you might be better off reheating it on a stovetop if your soup is chowder.

Follow these steps to reheat frozen soup in the microwave:

1. Remove your soup from the freezer. For best results, let it thaw overnight. If this isn’t possible leave it out for an hour or so to let it soften up.
2. Place the soup in a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Poke a couple of holes in the plastic wrap to let steam exit the bowl during cooking.
3. Cook in 30 seconds intervals on high. After every 30 seconds, gently stir the soup. Repeat this process until your soup reaches the desired temperature.
4. Enjoy your soup!

How to reheat your frozen soup on a stovetop

Every type of soup can be reheated on the stovetop in a pot. Follow these steps to reheat your frozen soup on the stovetop.

1. Remove your soup from the freezer. For best results, let it thaw overnight. If this isn’t possible leave it out for an hour or so to let it soften up.
2. Get a suitably sized pot and pour a small amount of water into it. This will prevent the pot from burning.
3. Pour the soup into the pot.
4. Place the pot on medium heat. Gently stir the soup until your soup reaches your desired temperature.
5. Enjoy your soup!

Reheat Soup with an Instant Pot

The final method to reheat frozen soup is to use an instant pot. All types of soup can be reheated using this method.

Follow these steps to reheat frozen soup in an instant pot:

1. Remove your soup from the freezer. For best results, let it thaw overnight. If this isn’t possible leave it out for an hour or so to let it soften up.
2. Turn your instant pot on medium heat.
3. Place the soup into the instant pot. Gently stir the soup until it reaches your desired temperature. This process will take about 5 to 8 minutes.
4. Enjoy your soup!

Freezing soup FAQs

What types of soup freeze best?

Not all soups freeze the same. Soups with a creamy consistency, like potato or chowders, might not taste good after freezing because the ingredients split. Rice, beans, and noodle soups might also taste differently once frozen. Typically, broth-based soups will freeze well.

What containers do I use to freeze soup?

Soup can be stored in the freezer in a freezer-proof container or you can use a plastic bag that can be closed. Make sure you leave between ½ and 1 inch of space at the top of the container or bag as soup expands when it freezes.

How long can I freeze soup?

Soup can be safely kept in your freezer for up to 3 months. After 3 months the soup will start to lose flavor as ice will form inside the container or plastic bag. When freezing soup make sure you label it with the date so you can track how long it has been in the freezer.

How do I reheat frozen soup?

You can reheat frozen soup in a microwave, in a pot on your stove, or an instant pot. When reheating soup try to let it fully defrost before heating it as this will help it keep its consistency and flavor. For best results, stir the soup during the heating process.