Can You Freeze Rice Pudding?

Yes, you can easily freeze rice pudding for up to 3 months. Do be aware of it due to the milk content in the rice pudding you may have some texture degradation when you thaw it

How to Freeze Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a warm comfort food that is made of milk, sugar, rice, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Making your own rice pudding can be relatively easy and it makes for a delicious breakfast, side dish or even dessert.

The process for freezing rice pudding is practically the same as that for freezing custard, freezing banana pudding or freezing plain pudding.

Cool it

Start out by making sure that the rice pudding has completely cooled before getting started.

Portion it

Next, decide what size serving size you will be using when you defrost it. While you can freeze the entire batch all together, it's best to freeze an individual portions due to the fact that you cannot refreeze it once it's been thawed.

Package it

You can use either a freezer bag or an airtight freezer safe container for this step. Go ahead and transfer your rice pudding into your freezer container of choice.

If using a freezer bag, you'll want to ensure that you squeeze out any excess air before zipping the bag closed.

If you're using an airtight container, You want to fill it almost completely to the top, but leave an inch or so between the rice pudding and the lid so that it has room to expand once frozen.

Additionally, if you'd like to add an extra layer of protection, you can add a layer of plastic wrap over top of the rice pudding before putting the lid on it.

Label it

Go ahead and label your freezer bag or airtight container with the date.

Freeze it

Finally, pop your rice pudding into the freezer on an even and level surface.

Tips for freezing rice pudding

• Freeze it as fresh as possible to maintain maximum quality.
• Don't include toppings such as raisins as they don't freeze well.
• Make sure that you use a completely airtight container for freezing.
• If using freezer bags, make sure to flatten the rice pudding in the bag before putting it in the freezer to save space.
• Freeze in individual portions so you can thaw it one portion at a time.

Supplies/Equipment Needed:

• Ziploc Bags
• Plastic Wrap
• Aluminum Foil
• Marker or Pen
• Airtight Freezer Container

How to Defrost Rice Pudding

The best way to defrost rice pudding is to simply place it into the refrigerator overnight. By the morning it should be thawed out. For example, I froze one cup in a freezer bag and it was totally thawed in 8 -10 hours.

It is important not to thaw rice pudding on the countertop or in the microwave. The extreme temperature changes can both degrade texture and quality as well as safety.

If you froze it in a freezer bag once it is defrosted, hold it over a container, squeeze it towards a bottom corner and snip the corner off with kitchen scissors to easily get it out of the bag.

Once your rice pudding has defrosted, it may have separated some due to the milk content. If this is the case, stir it well to help it go back together.

If it is separated, when you reheat it if you do so slowly on the stove top stirring it this can also help it regain its texture. You could also use the microwave as long as you do so at a low temperature.

If your defrosted rice pudding is a little dry, add a little splash of milk or cream to help get some of its richness back.

Freezing Rice Pudding FAQ

How long can rice pudding be frozen?

Rice putting can be frozen for up to 3 months and still maintain maximum quality. However, it can be frozen longer and still be safe to eat, but the quality will start to degrade.

How long does rice pudding last in the fridge?

Rice pudding only lasts for around 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

Can you freeze rice pudding with raisins?

No, you cannot freeze rice pudding with raisins due to the fact that raisins become extremely hard when frozen.