Can risotto be frozen?

One of the trickiest things about making rice, especially risotto, is that you can never seem to make the exact amount you need. Either there is not enough or there is too much, the latter being the most common.

In the case of risotto, this is especially frustrating, as it is a very long cooking process that requires constant stirring. If you turn over for a few minutes, the whole pot can burn and be gross and ruined.

The dish is delicious and simple to make, but requires a bit of patience and nudges.

So, getting to the end of cooking and serving and realizing that you and your guests have barely made a dent in the still-steaming pot of risotto? We have to do something!

The best solution is probably to put it in the freezer, but is that possible?

So can risotto be frozen?

You can freeze the risotto! It can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months and is still edible. Unfortunately, risotto undergoes severe textural changes when thawed. Frozen or refrigerated risotto can be used in a variety of different recipes, including the iconic Italian dish Arancini.

In this article, we’ll take a brief look at what risotto is to break down exactly how to freeze different types of this flavorful Italian dish. We will also look at different ways to use leftover risotto.

What is risotto?

Risotto, in its most basic form, is an Italian dish made by simmering risotto rice (traditionally Carnaroli or Arborio) in white wine and chicken or vegetable broth until creamy.

Other ingredients of a traditional (regular) risotto are sautéed onions and grated Parmesan.

It is a very versatile recipe that cannot be missing from your home, if it is not already there. It can be a side dish, but it really shines the brightest as a main course.

Using a basic recipe, you can create many different dinners with a variety of flavor profiles, such as making a mushroom risotto, seafood risotto, or roasted vegetable risotto.

Outside of a traditional recipe, there are no rules when it comes to flavors, so feel free to experiment and be creative!

Nor is it necessary to always use rice as the main ingredient in risotto. Many other ingredients can be used to make risotto, such as farro, lentils, or barley. Some people even use cauliflower or zucchini instead!

How to preserve the risotto

Risotto is definitely at its best when it’s still fresh. Fresh risotto should have a creamy, moist, almost smooth consistency, with strong flavors.

However, as we have said, making the right amount is a complicated task. Luckily, risotto is a dish that keeps relatively well in the fridge for a couple of days.

Leftover risotto should be stored in an airtight plastic or glass container in the fridge. Do not use a metal container, as the risotto will absorb the metallic flavors and turn a greyish color.

As risotto is a type of rice, it can spoil very easily if stored at room temperature after cooking. The spores can develop into bacteria and produce dangerous and unpleasant mold.

If you prepare the risotto in advance, be sure to follow these rules when storing it in the fridge:

• Once the risotto has stopped steaming, place it in the fridge.
• Do not cover the container with a lid. Instead, wrap the container in saran wrap or plastic wrap and poke holes in the top. This will allow the risotto to cool down further without drying out too much from the fridge.
• Once the risotto has completely cooled, you can cover it completely with saran paper or a lid.
• Store it in a place where there are no ingredients that produce strong odors.
• You can put a label on the container to help you remember when the risotto was made and when it should be used.

Traditional risotto will last about 5 days in the fridge.

Any risotto that contains other ingredients, such as meat or vegetables, can also be kept, but should not be kept as long as plain risotto.

These ingredients can breed bacteria and go rancid. Keep this type of risotto for a maximum of 3 days in the refrigerator.

Remember that the longer the risotto is kept, the more flavor and texture it will lose.

Can risotto be frozen?

Of course, the ideal solution is to freeze the entire batch of leftover risotto. However, we strongly recommend that you do not freeze it if you expect it to resemble its fresh version.

When the risotto is cooked, the rice grains have absorbed all the moisture they need.

If you put the rice in the freezer, all that moisture will freeze (forming ice crystals) and the grain of rice could become very soggy when it thaws.

Another risk of freezing risotto is that it will dry out and become tough and difficult to eat.

That being said, it is still possible to freeze risotto, and there are a few steps you can take to mitigate the difference between thawed risotto and its fresh counterpart.

How to freeze risotto

When freezing risotto, it is best to freeze recipes that do not have additional ingredients. Different ingredients freeze and thaw differently, so it could affect the outcome of the risotto.

To freeze a plain risotto, follow these steps for the best possible results:

• Once the risotto has stopped smoking, put it in the fridge.
• When the risotto has cooled completely, place it in an airtight container or zip-top bags. Make sure the bags are leak-proof to prevent the risotto from being soggy when you finally thaw it. You can also place the bags inside the containers when thawing.
• Place the containers or bags in the freezer and do not move them until they are completely frozen.
• Be sure to label each container or plastic package to remember when the risotto is made and when it should be taken out (2-3 months after cooking).

Frozen risotto will last about 2-3 months if stored in the right conditions. Your freezer should not have fluctuating temperatures or strong odors inside.

Can pearl barley risotto be frozen?

Pearl barley is an alternative grain to use instead of rice. It also contains gluten, so it’s not a good substitute for those with gluten sensitivities.

To freeze pearl barley risotto, you can follow the same procedure as for regular risotto.

You just have to cool the risotto in the fridge and transfer it to a container suitable for the freezer. Again, make sure there are no strong odors in your fridge/freezer, and label all your containers or bags.

It will last about 2-3 months in the freezer or about 3-5 days in the fridge.

Tips and Tricks for Freezing Risotto

If you’re going to freeze risotto, be sure to put these tips into practice for easier, better-tasting risotto.

• If you have a large batch of risotto, instead of waiting hours for it to cool , place it on a cookie sheet in an even layer in the fridge to cool quickly and evenly.
• If you have a ton of risotto leftover, portion it into bags or containers before freezing. This will help you choose the correct amount to defrost instead of defrosting the entire batch.
• If you decide to freeze the bagged risotto, place the bags on a flat tray and freeze completely before stacking them neatly. This way you will save a lot of space in the freezer instead of having warped packages.
• Do not freeze risotto on metal or glass (unless it is freezer-safe glass). Although the glass will not affect the risotto, freezing the glass makes it very brittle and could cause it to crack. The metal, as we have said before, will affect the flavor and color of the risotto.
• Using a vacuum sealer will definitely help preserve and store frozen risotto.

What to do with leftover risotto (instead of freezing it)

Leftover risotto is an extremely flexible and versatile product that can be used in many different recipes. Here are some of our favorites that we’ve tried and love.

Arancini (risotto balls)

Perhaps the easiest and most iconic recipe to make is Arancini, a classic Italian dish that is essentially fried risotto balls. This party snack is crunchy, hot, and best served with a hot tomato sauce.

They are an amazing fried Sicilian appetizer. Andrew Rea of the Babish Culinary Universe has a very comprehensive video on all things risotto, including the aforementioned Arancini!

Can Arancini be frozen?

In our opinion, this is the best way to use and freeze leftover risotto.

Arancini freeze very well, as the outer layer protects the inner rice from moisture loss.

Be sure to wrap the container in saran wrap or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. You can then place all the balls in a single container to save space.

When you’re ready to use them, simply fry them straight from the freezer until they’re a nice golden color and cooked through. You can check the inside using a thermometer.

The internal temperature should be at least 35°C (95°F) in the center of the risotto ball.

The size of the risotto balls will determine how long they will take to fully freeze, as well as how long they will take to cook.

risotto cakes

Another great idea is to form risotto cakes. They can be fried as is or battered like arancini and fried. They’re a great substitute for beef burgers if you’re trying to be a vegetarian, and they’re ridiculously tasty.

risotto bakes

Using leftover risotto to make a delicious tomato and mozzarella pie is absolutely great. The strong flavors of the tomato will hide any flaws in the risotto from the day before.

By simply adding a hot tomato sauce and mozzarella you can create a delicious dish that is almost like macaroni and cheese.

You can also create a wide variety of other cakes. Take a look in your fridge for other leftovers or for unused vegetables and meats.

Risotto al Salto (crispy rice pancakes)

This is a brilliant dish as it takes advantage of firm, dry risotto leftovers. Start by taking some risotto and mixing it with butter and cheese to create a dough.

Fry small batches to create a thin, crispy pancake that’s best served for breakfast with a ton of cheese.

risotto soup

Believe it or not, risotto in soup is amazing. It rehydrates and brings additional flavors and textures to soups. You can add it to most soups, but make sure the flavors complement each other well first.

Related questions

We hope this guide to freezing risotto has been helpful. Just in case, we’ve included a few other questions you may have about this delicious Italian meal.

How do you defrost risotto?

Risotto can be defrosted in several ways:

• You can let the risotto thaw on a plate in the fridge overnight.
• If you’re short on time, you can take it out of its packaging and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Put the microwave on the defrost position and add a teaspoon of water every 30 seconds. This will prevent the risotto from drying out completely.
• You can also defrost it in a saucepan over very low heat. Keep adding water to prevent the risotto from sticking to the bottom or getting too dry.

What changes does risotto undergo when frozen?

As we have said, risotto can dry out or become brittle when frozen.

This will be determined by many factors, including the amount of moisture in the cooked risotto, other ingredients in the risotto, how it has cooled, and the thawing process.

We recommend that you try some of the different techniques that we have listed above and see which ones work best for you.

What are the health risks of freezing risotto?

Rice contains Bacillus cereus, which is a spore that multiplies during cooling. There is a certain range of temperatures (between 12-23?C approximately) that is the optimum temperature for these bacteria to multiply.

So if cooling takes too long and rice sits too long at these temperatures, you could end up with dangerous levels of bacteria. Make sure your risotto is always stored correctly!

Can risotto be refrozen?

You should absolutely avoid refreezing already thawed risotto . Rice will be further exposed to temperature hazard zones if it is constantly being heated, cold, frozen, and thawed.

That’s why there aren’t many foods that can be refrozen after being thawed. It is rarely safe!