Can You Freeze Miso Soup?

If you enjoy Japanese cuisine, one of the foods that are popular is miso soup. The soup is usually made from fermented miso paste. It has a salty, tangy, and savory taste on its own.

If you made some miso soup at home, you will probably have some leftovers. Instead of discarding the soup, you may wonder if you can freeze them for later.

Can you freeze miso soup? Yes, you can freeze miso soup, and they freeze quite well. Miso soup that is sealed in a freezer bag will last for up to 6 months. You can freeze them in a small portion using an ice cube tray and transfer them to a freezer bag. For a large portion, you can use a large freezer bag.

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Does Miso Soup Freeze Well?

Miso soup freeze well due to the high water content. If you have some leftovers of miso soup, you can preserve them in the refrigerator. You can keep it fresh in the fridge for about 3 days. Before storing the soup in the fridge, place them into an airtight container.

If 3 days isn’t enough to store them, you can transfer them to the freezer to extend their shelf life.

Whether you’re preparing to save them in the fridge or the freezer, don’t leave the soup out too long. Miso soup that’s exposed to room temperature for more than 2 hours will have to be discarded. After 2 hours, the soup will have already been contaminated with bacteria.

How To Freeze Miso Soup

When it comes to freezing miso soup, there are steps you need to follow in order to keep them fresh. The process of freezing miso soup is straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of time.

Below is what you need to do:

Step 1: Let Miso Soup Cool Down

Allow the miso soup to cool down to room temperature first. If not, it will cause condensation when it’s stored in the freezer. This will cause the soup to not last as long as it should. Also, it will cause other food around it to thaw which could make them go bad.

Let the miso soup sit on the counter for about an hour. However, don’t let the soup exposed to room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Once it’s cooled enough, you can start to package them for the freezer.

Step 2: Storage Container

You have 2 options of freezing the miso soup. If you’re going to use a small amount of it, it’s best to freeze them in ice cubes. This will make it easier for you to remove as much as you need to use for cooking.

Simply pour the miso soup into the ice cube tray. Leave a small space at the top of each slot. This will allow the soup to expand when it’s frozen. Then place the tray into the freezer. Leave it for about 1-2 hours to let it freeze.

Once it’s completely frozen, remove the tray from the freezer. Immediately transfer the miso soup cubes into a freezer bag. After all the miso soup cubes are in the bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air. Then seal it tightly.

If you’re going to use miso soup in large amounts, it’s best to freeze them in a large freezer bag. Pour the soup into the freezer bag and leave about an inch of space at the top of the bag. This will allow the soup to expand during freezing without breaking the freezer bag. Then seal the bag tightly.

Step 3: Label and Store In Freezer

With a marker, write the date of freezing on the freezer bag. If you’re planning to use the freezer bag, you can place paper tape on the bag. Then write down the date on it.

After that, place the freezer bag into the freezer. Make sure to let the miso soup freeze completely first if you’re planning to stack them on top of each other or other items on it.

How Long Can You Freeze Miso Soup?

Miso soup can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. However, it can last much longer than that, but the quality of the soup will start to decrease. The longer it’s stored in the freezer, the more the texture and taste will be affected.

After 6 months, the soup will still be safe to eat, but you won’t enjoy it very much. It’s best to consume miso soup within 6 months for the best taste.

How Do You Defrost Miso Soup?

You can defrost miso soup in the fridge. This is the best method to ensure the soup retain their texture and flavors. Remove the soup from the fridge, place it into a bowl, and pop it into the fridge. Let it sit overnight or for at least 5 hours to thaw completely. Then you can reheat them in a pot and serve.

If you need miso soup much sooner, you can thaw them in cool water. This will cause the ingredients to separate a little, but you can always stir them back together when reheating them.

To do so, remove the frozen miso soup from the freezer. Leave it in the container or bag and place it into a bowl of cool water. After about 10 minutes, replace the water. In about 20 minutes, you should have a completely thawed soup ready to be reheated.

Can You Refreeze Miso Soup?

It’s not recommended to refreezing miso soup. Repeated freezing and thawing will the soup to degrade in quality. After it thaws the second time, the ingredients will separate and cause the flavors to become bland.

However, if you have a change in plan and need to refreeze the soup, you can do so if it hasn’t completely thawed yet. Just make sure the miso soup is still frozen and is in the fridge. You can simply place them back into the freezer.

To avoid having to refreeze miso soup, you should portion them in small freezer bags or airtight containers. This way, you’ll only remove a small amount which will avoid any leftovers.