Can You Freeze Borscht? – How Long Can You Freeze Borscht And 5 Must Read Tips

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Can You Freeze Borscht?: Borscht refers to a soup made with beetroot, and it is usually served with sour cream. Ukrainian borscht soup is a traditional beet soup that is associated with the cuisine of eastern and central Europe. It is a delicious soup prepared with vegetables, ham, or chicken.

Borscht is best served hot, but you can refrigerate it for four to five days for preservation. However, can you freeze borscht for a longer period of time? Let’s find out. This article will provide all the necessary details related to the shelf life and freezing of borscht, along with many more interesting facts. Keep reading!

Can You Freeze Borscht

Can You Freeze Borscht?

Yes, you can definitely freeze borscht. Borscht is loved by many because it is a nutritious, flavorful, and delicious soup made with red beets and plenty of vegetables. It involves minimal prep work and can be easily cooked in an Instant Pot. Thus, it’s not surprising to cook a lot of borscht in one go.

Borscht is easy to make ahead and freezes really well, keeping it readily available for days or months to come.

Borscht can be frozen for about two months. It’s best to freeze the borscht in handy portion-sized amounts; if you do this, it freezes well and can be enjoyed at a much later date with no problems. Borscht can be prepared with various vegetables, and if you use the right ingredients, it can freeze really well. Let’s find out how to properly freeze borscht.

How to Freeze Borscht?

Just like any other soup, borscht is easy to freeze as well. Freezing borscht is no rocket science. Just follow the below-given steps to get successfully frozen borscht that is handy for those days you need a quick, easy, and healthy lunch:

  • Cook and let the borscht cool down: Cook the borscht according to your favorite recipe and allow it to cool down at room temperature.
  • Divide into smaller portions: Grab some freezer-safe containers or strong freezer bags and pour small portions of borscht into these. It is recommended to freeze borscht in small bags so that it is easy to pull out the perfect portion size when you need it.
  • Seal the containers: Seal the freezer-safe containers tightly. If you are using freezer bags, keep them upright until the borscht is completely frozen solid, or else there will be a danger of the borscht spilling into the freezer.
  • Put a label on the container: Label the freezer bags with the date and contents. This ensures that you don’t forget about frozen borscht and can check for expiration when you need to use it.
  • Freeze: Pop the borscht bags or containers into the freezer and freeze. If you face any difficulties keeping the bags upright, then pop them into a large container side by side. This will prevent any spilling in the freezer.

Once you’re ready to consume the borscht, take the container out of the freezer and let it thaw.

Borscht  Shelf Life 
In the Refrigerator 2 to 3 days
In the freezer 2 months

Storage Tips for Borscht

Now that you know how to freeze borscht, we’ve got some additional tips for doing it properly. Follow the below-given tips to get the best results:

  • It’s best to freeze in small portions; think about your portion requirements before freezing. The best way is to freeze single-sized, individual portions. However, if you know you always serve the borscht to a whole family, then you can freeze it in larger portions and consume the whole bag in one go.
  • Use freezer-safe bags: If you struggle for space in the freezer, go for liquid-safe freezer bags. These are freezer bags designed for soups and liquids and are perfect for freezing your borscht without any spillage.
  • Check for signs of spoilage: even if you think that your borscht has been frozen well, check its smell, texture, and taste for any spoilage indications. This helps you make good, healthy choices and safeguards you from the risk of food poisoning.

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How Do You Defrost Borscht?

You can defrost the borscht in multiple ways. The easiest way to defrost the borscht is to transfer the container from the freezer to the fridge. The gradual change in temperature helps the borscht defrost naturally. However, this process can take several hours, so it’s advised to initiate the thawing process the night before you plan to consume the borscht. Following this, the borscht will defrost by morning.

For faster defrosting, use the defrost settings and thaw the borscht in the microwave. If you are following this method, we recommend consuming the borscht immediately, or bacterial contamination can set in. You can simultaneously reheat the borscht in the microwave and serve it piping hot.

Alternatively, you can defrost the frozen borscht by heating it in a saucepan at low heat. This defrosting and reheating method requires you to stir the borscht regularly to prevent it from sticking to the saucepan and getting burnt.

We recommend consuming the borscht immediately if you use the rapid defrosting method. On defrosting, you might find the texture becoming watery because of ice crystals melting. At this moment, keep calm and try to restore its consistency by stirring the borscht and adding some cornstarch flour.

Can You Refreeze Borscht?

No, it’s not a good idea to refreeze borscht once it has been thawed out. This is because refreezing causes a risk of spoilage. You may get sick or the taste of the soup might get ruined, so don’t risk refreezing the borscht.

Harmful bacteria often grow when food is left at room temperature, and the more times you heat and refreeze the borsch, the more chance it has to grow these bacteria and start to spoil.

Interesting Facts About Borscht

Here are a few reasons why you’ll love borscht or beet soup:

  • A vegan and gluten-free dish: Did you know that the classic borscht soup is completely vegan and gluten-free? Borscht is loaded with vegetables like beets, cabbage, carrots, and onions and is made with vegetable broth and simple seasonings. It can be served with sour cream, but you can leave even that out to keep the soup vegan.
  • Borscht is full of flavor: One may think that vegan means bland. You should keep in mind that beets are highly flavorful, and along with the other vegetables you find in this beet soup, you will taste tons of flavor in every spoonful.
  • Borscht is nutritious: The vegetables found in borscht are nutrient-dense, and they contain plenty of antioxidants and vitamins. Plus, the delicious taste keeps you full and satisfied until your next meal.
  • Borscht has a rich, beautiful color: The red beets in this soup lend a gorgeous earthy purple-red color to the entire dish and tempt anyone and everyone to have a taste.

Become familiar with the freezing process of vegetables like cherry tomatoes by going through our article on Can You Freeze Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in no time.

FAQs on Can You Freeze Borscht

1. Can you freeze homemade borscht?

Yes, you can surely freeze homemade borscht. Freezing gets impacted by the vegetables and other ingredients; for this reason, we advise using freezer-friendly ingredients for preparing the borscht. For example, challenging ingredients like potatoes can be added to the borscht later on when serving.

2. Can You Freeze Borscht With Cream?

Yes, you can freeze borscht with cream. You should freeze the borscht with cream in airtight plastic containers, leaving some space at the top. This allows the borscht to expand while freezing.

3. Can you freeze Instant Pot Borscht?

Yes, you can but we do not advise freezing Instant Pot Borscht in its original container because it does not have sufficient space for the soup to expand during freezing. Therefore, you must transfer the Instant Pot borscht to another container or freezer bag before placing it in the freezer.

4. Can You Freeze Borscht With Potatoes?

No, cooked potatoes do not freeze well. Potatoes can become grainy when defrosted, thus, we do not recommend freezing borscht with potatoes. Also, freezing the soup with potatoes affects the soup’s texture. Therefore, it’s best to add the potatoes before serving.

Wrapping Up

Hope this article helps you properly freeze the borscht. Follow the above-mentioned tips and consume your borscht today, tomorrow, or whenever you want within a time frame of 2 months. Keep reading our article for the best wellness guidelines.

Drop us a comment below to share your borscht freezing experience and get answers to any queries. For more articles on Can You Freeze Cucumbers and freezing methods of various vegetables keep in touch with us.

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