Can you freeze curry?
Yes, it is possible to make curry freezable and it will keep well when prepared correctly to be frozen. The type of curry being frozen can influence the extent to which it can be frozen but the majority of curries and curry paste and leaves will last for about a month. The only curry made of potato is not able to stand up to the freezing.
Curry is among the meals that typically end up with way more than you can consume in just one or two bites regardless of how committed you are.
There’s a chance that you’ll be looking for a tasty curry to eat for dinner on a weeknight however, you don’t have the energy to cook it. The best solution is to prepare a huge quantity of curry and then store it for a later time.
There are numerous curries you can choose from, but they all have different ingredients that perform differently in the freezer.
However, once you know how to properly freeze curries, according to their ingredients and contents You can begin freezing portions that you can have ready in case you require a delicious and quick meal.
Guide To Freezing Curry
When you are freezing curry one of the main things you should remember is to make sure that you freeze the curry cold.
It is not possible to place curry or any other food item that is warm, inside the freezer. The placement of warm food items in the freezer could increase the temperature and place other food items at risk of getting rotten.
Prior to freezing, you can start making your curry in the same way as you normally do. Follow your preferred recipe and cook the curry.
If you’re making a slack and would like to freeze takeaway or restaurant curry, you have to ensure that the meat has not been already frozen. Restaurants that are responsible can provide the information you require if you inquire.
Most meats and a lot of other food items are best not frozen more than twice. This can reduce the quality of the food and increases the risk of getting food poisoning.
The Best Way To Freeze Curry
It is important to allow the curry to cool to the temperature of the room. It’s not advisable to keep it in the fridge for longer than two hours since this could result in the growth of bacteria therefore if you want to speed up the cooling process, you can break it up into smaller pieces.
After it’s cooled and cooled, you can begin making it ready to put and store away. You’ll know roughly the sizes of portions to freeze and whether it is an entire group of 4 or a couple of portions that you can take pleasure in by yourself.
If you’re unsure about the size of the portion to freeze, choose smaller portions. It is possible to defrost additional portions however you are not able to put the frozen curry back into your freezer.
Two feasible containers that you can keep your curry frozen in:
1. Plastic Freezer Containers
The plastic freezer container is the best option to freeze curry. They are durable, can be reused, and offer good protection for the freezer.
But, it is important to remember that the spices that are in the curry, particularly the turmeric, may make a mess on the inside of your plastic container for freezing. You don’t want the best containers made of plastic to be stained!
If you do get your freezer containers stained with curry, you could make use of bleach or a baby bottle sterilizing solution to rid the container of the stain, however, it is not guaranteed that it will get rid of the stain.
2. Plastic Freezer Bags
These freezer bags can be a great choice if you’re freezing several single-sized portions of curry. It is easy to spoon one serving of curry into bags for freezing and squeeze as much air out as you can and then seal it.
The great thing about using freezer bags made of plastic is that they’re extremely practical in terms of space and can be flatly stacked one over the other within the freezer. This is particularly helpful for those with little space for freezers.
The drawback is that freezer bags aren’t always recyclable, and they do begin at a cost when you’re freezing several portions.
It is important that you must mark the freezer container or the freezer bag with your name, the title of the dish as well as the date it was frozen. This will help you locate the curry in the freezer and provides you with a timeframe of when you can use the curry.
How Long Does Curry Last In The Freezer?
It is recommended to cook this dish in the first 3 months after freezing. The curry will technically be acceptable to eat within three months, however, the quality will begin to diminish and the flavor won’t be the same as it would taste fresh when it was cooked.
This is why it’s crucial to identify the curry by the date of its freezing so that you can be sure to ensure that you consume it within the specified time to ensure that it tastes as fresh as it can be!
Does Freezing Curry Cange The Taste?
When you store curry the meat and veggies will stew and soak in the garlic and spices for longer. That means that, after freezing and thawing, your spices, as well as garlic, are more powerful.
This is true for the hotness in the curries as well. The curry that contained a hint of bite after cooking is likely to taste spicier when it is thawed, then reheated so be sure to be aware of this when you cook your curry.
Reheating and freezing the curry does not alter the flavor and taste of the curry. However, it can make the flavor.
A prolonged period of time can cause the meat and veggies to soften. If stored in the freezer for longer than three months the meat and the vegetables will become mushy, and the curry will not taste as good.
It is recommended to limit the time between freezing as short as you can so that you do not risk the flavors from intensifying too much, and also to prevent the meat and the vegetables from becoming too soft.
Another option is you can freeze your curry without the cloves, garlic as well as cinnamon, and cardamom However, you’ll have to consider this prior to cooking the curry.
You can always take out the portion you wish to freeze prior to adding those spices into the curry portion you’ll consume. You can then add them to the curry that you have frozen in the oven.
Garlic, cloves cardamom, and cinnamon do freeze very well particularly when the curry is to be stored at a temperature that is frozen for a longer time. Simply fry them with some ghee before adding to the curry as you’re reheating the curry from frozen to preserve the taste and taste.
Can You Freeze Curry Made With Coconut Milk?
Curries made from tomatoes and stock can be frozen well however the outcomes when freezing curries with coconut milk could differ. If coconut milk has been frozen by itself, it will be separated, and, even though it’s fine to eat once separated but it could be a bit gritty.
In curry recipes, coconut milk can be frozen perfectly without making any significant changes, but you need to be aware of the possibility that coconut milk could split.
There is a greater chance that coconut milk will separate when it is one of the primary ingredients in the curry and when it is kept on the counter for a long time.
Curries with other creams like heavy cream are more likely to be able to freeze, however curries with yogurt or light cream do not because they can split and break up easily when frozen and won’t maintain an even consistency after being reheated.
If you wish to prevent the curry made with coconut milk from splitting after defrosting and freezing and you do not want the grainy texture it is recommended to not add the coconut milk into the curry prior to freezing instead, be added to the curry after it’s thawed, then warmed up.
Can You Freeze Paneer Curry?
Paneer curry is a favorite because it is extremely delicious! Paneer cheese can be used to add flavor to vegetarian curries. It is easy to cook since it cooks fast and doesn’t require a lot of time to cook correctly.
It’s possible to be a bit nervous when you freeze curry paneer since the majority of soft cheeses don’t freeze well, however, paneer is one of them.
Paneer curry can be frozen simply, all you need to do is to cook it as you would if you were eating it right from the moment it was cooked. Divide it into the desired serving size and allow it to cool down to room temperature. Label and seal the containers before putting them into the freezer!
It is recommended to freeze paneer curry similar to how you keep any other curry in the freezer, make sure you make use of the curry within three months to ensure that it retains its finest quality and flavor.
Paneer can be stored frozen for six months. However, when cooked in a curry, it acts as a sponge for the sauce and spices which is why it is best to consume it within 3 months so that it never gets too soft and mushy. It will then lose the flavor and texture the paneer is famous for.
Can You Freeze Curry Leaves?
If you buy your curry leaves at the local grocery store or collect them to make the creation of a curry tree in your yard it is possible that you have more curry leaves that you can use before they lose their flavor and power.
To prolong their shelf life, you can freeze curry leaves.
Here’s how to freeze curry leaves with a pre-freeze procedure:
- Place the leaves on a baking sheet that has been lined with baking sheets.
- Spread the leaves apart so that they do not overlap.
- The baking sheet should be placed with your curry leaves and freeze for at least 2 hours.
- When the curry leaves are been frozen, take them out and place them carefully in a plastic container that can be resealable or in a freezer bag.
- Note the date for freezing and put it in the freezer.
- Use the leaves that have been frozen within two months, prior to when they begin to dry out.
A baking tray first keeps them from freezing and clumping. This permits you to take just one curry leaf at a moment from the freezer without needing to defrost and dehydrate the entire lot.
They can also be stored at a temperature of freezer storage for more than two months however they may not be as powerful. Everyone doesn’t want weak curry leaves.
How To Defrost Frozen Curry
The process of freezing curry is one aspect, but you must be aware of how to defrost and heat curry so that the curry tastes as good as it can.
The most effective method to defrost curry is to keep the curry in the fridge for a night. This stops the curry from rising to temperatures that could encourage bacteria development, which can result in food-borne illness.
You’ll need to make a plan to get the curry ready at the right time to allow it to defrost for when you’re planning to consume it. If you don’t have enough time to wait around for your curry to cool in the refrigerator then you can allow it to defrost in the room for two hours or more or microwave it using the defrost option.
After the curry has thawed, you are able to cook the curry either on the stove or microwave. The stovetop allows for more uniform heating however, it will take longer than the microwave.
If you’re using your microwave for cooking, you may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of stock or water to prevent your curry from becoming dry. Be sure to heat your curry till it’s hot so that it’s suitable for eating!
Interesting Facts & Questions
Can you make curry paste freezable?
You can indeed store curry paste in a freezer, meaning there is no reason to be wasted it. When freezing curry paste it is recommended to freeze portions of one serving to ensure that you don’t have to defrost the entire batch before you can make one curry.
In order to make sure that we make sure that you don’t have any urgent questions regarding the freezing of curry paste unanswered, we’ve created a complete guide focused on this topic: Can you freeze Curry Paste? This is the Ultimate Guide.
Can you freeze potato curry?
Curry made from potatoes is a curry that is not able to be frozen well. The potato becomes soft and grainy when frozen. This is especially true when it is used in a curry. It is better to consume as many dishes as you want, and don’t freeze them!
Does curry made from vegetables freeze well?
Vegetable curry can be frozen however, you must eat it within two months. Vegetables can become soft and mushy when stored in the freezer, which can make the curry look soupier as opposed to other foods when it is thawed and then heated.
Vegetable curry comes with the advantage of having plenty of liquid to soak the veggies, which helps help to protect them from freezing burns, but helps to create a mushy texture!
How long will curry keep in the fridge?
If the curry was put in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking and stored inside an airtight container, and free of contamination by additional food products, the curry could be stored in the refrigerator until at least 3 days.
If you are concerned that your curry has been being stored in the fridge for longer then the best option is to freeze it instead, to ensure that no food goes to be wasted.
Freezing Curry The Right Way
It is not necessary to suffer the burden of throwing away curry that’s been in the refrigerator for a long time. Make sure you take the leftover curry and put it into the freezer for rainy days.
Curry freezes well once it is prepared and stored correctly It is a fantastic way to ensure you get to savor every drop and have some meals to go in the freezer when you’re not in the mood to spend all day slaving at the stove!
Last updated and verified on September 19th, 2022 by our editorial team.
