How to store potato soup in the freezer

When you’ve taken the time to make a big batch of homemade potato soup, and there’s plenty leftover, you might be left wondering how to store potato soup and whether you can freeze homemade potato soup too. The good news is you can freeze it, but there are a few steps to follow to get the best out of your soup, including how to store it correctly. Read on below for our potato soup storage tips and advice, as well as how to reheat frozen potato soup.

How long can you keep potato soup in the refrigerator?

Potato soup can be safely stored in the fridge for around three to four days. You’ll want to check that it has completely cooled before you transfer it to the fridge for storage and look for any sign of spoilage before eating. Ideally you should store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and make sure that you haven’t left it sitting on the side for longer than an hour or so to cool down. If you’ve made too much soup, and you know you’ll need it for leftover lunch throughout the week, then storing it in the fridge is easy. All you’ll need to do to enjoy it at a later date is ensure it’s been fully heated through on the stove.

Can you freeze homemade potato soup?

When freezing potato soup there are a few considerations before doing so. Firstly, you’ll need to pick the right recipe to freeze, as the freezing process can turn potatoes very mushy when defrosted. To avoid this, try opting for a soup with puréed potatoes instead of chunks in the soup. Or you could undercook the potatoes when initially making the soup if you know you want to freeze it, as they’ll cook fully when you heat the soup on the stove prior to consuming. You’ll need to confirm that it has fully cooled down before you transfer to the fridge or freezer. Ideally it’s best to place it into an airtight container (leaving space for the soup to expand when frozen) and leave it to cool down in the fridge first for a few hours before transferring to the freezer. Lastly, you’ll want to check that the airtight container is truly airtight to avoid freezer burn once frozen, which will result in a watery texture when you thaw your soup. If you want to add other ingredients to your soup, it’s worth being aware of which vegetables freeze best before you add these in. Ingredients like peas and carrots fare well in the freezer, for example.

Can you freeze potato soup with milk in it?

Dairy doesn’t tend to freeze well, and will often split when it’s defrosted. It’s far easier to leave any dairy out of the soup when you’re preparing it, if you know you want to freeze the soup. Then you can introduce it to the dish when you heat the soup for cooking after freezing. For example, in this Irish potato soup recipe, you can follow the recipe as normal, and just hold on adding the milk until you’re ready to defrost and heat up the soup. Similarly in this Cheddar potato soup recipe, you can add both the milk and the cheese after defrosting.

How to reheat frozen potato soup

If stored correctly, your frozen potato soup can last up to two months in the freezer. If you have the time, frozen potato soup is best thawed in a fridge overnight before the day you’d like to eat it. Then you can simply heat on the stove when you’re ready to consume the soup that day. This is the best method if you need to add dairy to the soup to finish the recipe. If you’re in a real rush, you can defrost it on the stove at the same time of cooking, but this won’t provide the best results and you’re likely to end up with a slightly watery texture.