Rice Krispie treats are perfect snacks that kids love, and these chewy treats also hold a lot of nostalgia for many parents.
While these treats consist of butter, Rice Krispies, and marshmallows, some recipes will call for additional ingredients such as crushed sweets, chocolate chips or even sprinkles.
But what if you went a bit overboard on the portions? There’s only so much that both children and parents can eat combined, and you don’t want their/your hard efforts to go to waste.
Because of the ingredients like butter and marshmallows, you might assume that rice krispie treats don’t freeze well, but luckily, they freeze perfectly (see also Can You Freeze Rice Pudding). Both store-bought and homemade versions of this tasty treat freeze fine.
But first, let’s talk about the shelf life of these great treats, and whether you need to freeze them or not.
The Shelf Life Of Rice Krispie Treats
It can depend on the ingredients and the recipe you use, but as a guide, rice krispie treats are best eaten on the day they are made.
They will last up to 2 days at room temperature if you keep them in an airtight container before they start to lose their quality.
Some recipes claim that if you use salted butter, they can last for up to a week.
So with a relatively little amount of time in which to eat all of these treats, it does make sense to freeze them. Depending on the recipe, rice krispie treats can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
For best results, use within a month of freezing, as the rice cereals will otherwise start to lose their trademark texture.
How Do You Freeze Rice Krispie Treats?
It’s worth noting that the better quality ingredients you use in rice krispie treats, the better these tasty treats will freeze, and it’s less likely they will degrade as quickly.
This is especially important when it comes to the cereal base itself, as very low quality rice cereal may turn soggy or grainy.
Preparing Homemade Rice Krispie Treats For Freezing
The first thing you need to do is to slice up the rice krispie treats into portions, if you haven’t already. Make sure that the treats are completely cool before you do, otherwise they won’t separate properly.
Wrap each portion in cling film, making sure that it’s airtight. Transfer the slices into a resealable freezer bag, and get rid of any excess air. Label, and freeze.
This method works for short-term storage, for up to a month. If you want to freeze them for longer, use the technique below.
How To Prepare Rice Krispie Treats For Long Term Freezing
This method uses flash-freezing to preserve the rice krispie treats for longer. Once they have cooled completely, you can cut them into slices as you please.
Cover them with wax paper to protect them from freezer burn and from losing too much moisture. Put them onto a baking tray, and let them freeze for a maximum of 2 hours.
Take out of the freezer, wrap in cling film, and put them into an airtight container. Label, and freeze.
Preparing Store-Bought Rice Krispie Treats For Freezing
If you don’t think you’ll get through all the rice krispie treats before they’ll go stale, you can freeze them to extend the shelf life.
If you’ve not opened the packaging, you can freeze the whole thing, provided that the packaging is freezer-friendly.
If not, discard the packaging. Wrap them individually in cling film, and put them into freezer bags. Make sure to get rid of any excess air, and seal. Label, and lie them flat in the freezer.
How To Thaw Rice Krispie Treats
Defrosting rice krispie treats couldn’t be simpler. Transfer them from the freezer and onto the kitchen counter.
They should be fully thawed after about an hour, depending on how warm your kitchen is, of course. You won’t need to reheat them, unless you want to soften them a little in the microwave.
Conclusion
Rice krispie treats are lovely snacks which are very easy to prepare, though they don’t keep very well.
Freezing them is a great way to ensure you don’t have any food waste, as well as being a great way to make these tasty treats ahead of time.
