Can You Freeze Rice Noodles?

Rice noodles are versatile and suit many different Asian dishes. Try grilled pork rice noodle salad or chicken pad Thai Add rice noodles to coconut curry chicken soup or turkey and ginger soup.

Meals are quick and easy to make with rice noodles so wouldn’t it be useful to have them on hand for times when you are too busy to slog over a hot stove for hours on end? Well, you can. You can freeze rice noodles which is handy because if you open a packet, they won’t last long in the larder. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze rice noodles and how to defrost them.

How To Freeze Rice Noodles

You can freeze rice noodles either cooked or uncooked.

How To Freeze Cooked Noodles

If possible, freeze the cooked noodles without a sauce otherwise the noodles may be mushy when defrosted. In addition, their shelf life will be shortened.

1. Cook the noodles.

Make sure that they are al dente. This will ensure that the noodles won’t become mushy when you come to defrost and reheat them.

2. Cool down the noodles.

You don’t want to put the noodles in the freezer while they are warm as they will bring up the temperature, and other food in the freezer may start to defrost and eventually spoil. Transfer the hot noodles to a cold bowl to speed up the cooling process.

3. Put the rice noodles in freezer bags.

Divide the noodles into meal-size portions and put them in freezer bags. This ensures that you only defrost as much as you need and don’t waste any. Put labels on the bags with the date and contents. Squeeze out all the air from the bags so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your noodles. Alternatively, you can use airtight containers.

4. Freeze.

Lay the bags out flat so that ice doesn’t form in the middle of the bags. Be careful where you put them in the freezer so that they don’t get squashed.

How To Freeze Uncooked Noodles

It is better to freeze uncooked noodles as there is less chance of them going mushy when you defrost and heat them.

1. Put the noodles in freezer bags.

Divide the noodles into meal-size portions so that you only defrost as much as you need. Squeeze out the air from the bags to prevent freezer burn and label the bags with the date and contents. Alternatively, put the noodles in airtight containers.

2. Freeze.

Lay the bags out flat. You can stack them on top of each other but don’t put anything heavy on top of them as they could get squashed.

If you have a vacuum sealer, use it as it is extra protection against freezer burn.

Tips For Freezing Rice Noodles

  1. Divide the rice noodles into meal-size portions so that you only defrost what you need, and you don’t have to throw any away.
  2. Don’t freeze the noodles with a sauce if you can help it as it can make the noodles mushy. In addition, it shortens the time you can keep the noodles in the freezer.
  3. Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bags so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
  4. If you are freezing the rice noodles in airtight containers, drizzle the noodles with oil. This helps to stop the noodles from sticking together.

For How Long Can You Freeze Rice Noodles?

You can freeze rice noodles for around two months. After this time, they will still be safe to eat but they may be mushy when you come to defrost and heat them.

How Do You Defrost Rice Noodles?

The best way to defrost rice noodles is slowly and steadily. This helps the noodles to retain their texture. Put them in the fridge and let them thaw slowly. It will take around four hours. Don’t defrost them at room temperature as this is an open invitation for bacteria to form. You could then become sick when you come to eat the noodles. 

There are two ways in which you can reheat cooked rice noodles. The first is using a frying pan. Put a little oil in the pan and then put in the noodles. They will take minutes to heat up. Keep stirring them to ensure that they don’t stick to the pan. The other method is to use the microwave. Put the noodles in a microwave-safe bowl and put a cup of water in the microwave. Cook for 30 seconds at full power and they will be done. 

If you want to cook uncooked noodles, use the microwave method but heat them for a minute on full power. Alternatively, you can cook them in a pan of boiling water.

Can You Refreeze Rice Noodles?

No, we don’t recommend that you refreeze rice noodles. It is an open invitation for bacteria to grow. In addition, the noodles will end up mushy.

Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Rice Noodles?

If stored and defrosted correctly, rice noodles freeze well. You won’t be able to tell the difference between fresh and frozen noodles. They are a great staple to have on hand for quick and easy meals. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing rice noodles but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.

How long can you keep rice noodles in the fridge?

You can keep rice noodles in the fridge for up to three days. They need to be stored in an airtight container. This, however, only refers to a packet that you have just opened. If you have defrosted rice noodles and have some leftovers, we suggest that you throw them away as they will go bad very quickly in the fridge.

Can you freeze soba noodles?

Soba noodles are a Japanese delicacy made from buckwheat. You can freeze the noodles as long as they are uncooked, and they will last for up to three months in the freezer.

Can you freeze vermicelli noodles?

Vermicelli noodles are a type of rice noodle, and they can be frozen in the same way as ordinary rice noodles.

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