Rice cakes are a delicacy that’s popular in South Korea. It has a very crunchy texture and tastes like rice. If you’ve bought some from the store, they may come in a large package. Rice cakes tend to not last long once the package is open. Would you be able to freeze leftover rice cakes?
Yes, you can freeze rice cakes. Properly frozen, the rice cakes can stay fresh for up to 4 months. However, it may become mushy after it is thawed. But, prepping the rice cakes first will prevent that from happening.
Does Rice Cake Freeze Well?
Rice cake freezes well, but only if it’s uncooked. Cooked rice cakes tend to become mushy and soft when it’s thawed. Since rice cakes are usually eaten with a crunchy texture, you may not enjoy eating them.
Whenever you need to freeze rice cakes, make sure that it’s uncooked. After it has frozen and thawed, you can cook them for that crunchy texture that it is known for.
What Are Rice Cakes?
Rice cakes are a type of flourless, low-carbohydrate product made from rice flour. They are usually eaten as snacks and can be used to make rice cake recipes or rice cake desserts.
These cakes consist of plain white or brown rice flour and water. The dough is then formed into cakes and baked until they are crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle. Rice cakes are often flavored with herbs, spices, or nuts for added flavor.
Rice cake recipes can be sweet or savory, depending on your preference. A few popular types of rice cakes include:
1) Savory Rice Cakes: These can be seasoned with herbs such as rosemary and thyme, as well as garlic and onion powders.
2) Sweet Rice Cakes: These can be flavored with cinnamon sugar or honey butter spread onto them before baking them in the oven.
3) Chocolate Rice Cakes: Chocolate chips can be added to these cakes in order to create chocolate rice cake recipes that taste like chocolate chip cookies!
How To Freeze Rice Cakes
When it comes to freezing rice cakes, preparation is the key to keeping them fresh in the freeze. Rice can be frozen and enjoyed when thawed.
However, it’s best to freeze only uncooked rice cakes. It freezes well and can be cooked when thawed.
On the other hand, cooked rice cake should not be frozen. Once it has frozen and thawed, it will become
Freezing Cooked Rice Cakes
Most people will say to avoid freezing rice cakes since it becomes mushy when thawed. That’s true, and they are referring to cooked rice cakes.
You should avoid freezing cooked rice cakes. Instead, storing them in the refrigerator works best. If you have any leftover rice cakes, transfer them to an airtight container and seal them tightly.
Then place them into the fridge and try to use them within 3 days.
On the other hand, if for some reason, you must freeze cooked rice cake, then be prepared for it to become mushy when you thaw it.
Freezing Uncooked Rice Cakes
If you’ve bought rice cakes from the grocery stores, like the Korean Rice Cakes. These are usually packed in an airtight seal package.
If you’ve bought them in bulk, you can freeze them by following the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Storage
If you’ve bought rice cake that is individually wrapped, you can simply place them straight into the freezer.
However, if the rice cakes come in bulk, you’ll need to prep them first before freezing them.
Step 2: Flash Freezing
With a baking sheet or parchment paper, lay a sheet on a tray. Then place the rice cakes on the sheet, spacing them out, so they don’t touch each other.
Place the rice cakes into the freezer. Doing so will prevent the rice cakes from sticking to each other when you store them together.
Flash freeze them for about 1-2 hours.
Step 3: Airtight Container or Freeze Bag Storage
When the rice cakes are frozen solid, remove them from the freezer. Immediately transfer them into an airtight container or freezer bag.
In an airtight container, place a plastic wrap around the opening at the top. This will give the rice cake double protection from the cold temperature. Before sealing the lid on the container, check to see if there are any damages. If not, secure the lid on the container tightly.
For the freezer bag, once all the rice cakes are in there, press on the bag to remove any excess air. Then seal the bag tightly.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the freezer bag or airtight container.
Then place them into the freezer for storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Rice Cakes?
Rice cake can be frozen for up to 4 months in the freezer. After that time, the quality of it will start to deteriorate.
You’ll still be able to eat it though, but you may not enjoy the taste of it very much.
How Do You Defrost Rice Cakes?
The best way to defrost rice cakes is in the fridge. Remove them from the freezer, place them on a plate, and leave them in the fridge. Let the rice cakes sit in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Once it’s thawed, you can pan-sear them. Then use the rice cake in the sauce of your choice or in recipes.
Can You Refreeze Rice Cakes?
No, it’s not recommended to refreeze rice cakes. Repeated freezing and thawing will cause a change in the texture and taste of the rice cake.
Rice cakes have a very delicate texture and freezing them will alter the texture a bit. When you thaw them, the rice cake will be a bit soft.
To avoid having to refreeze rice cakes, remove the amount you need from the freezer. You can always grab more if you need it.
How To Tell When Rice Cakes Go Bad
Rice cakes are a quick and easy snack that you can eat right out of the box. They are also a great source of fiber, calcium, and iron. However, they don’t have a long shelf life and may go bad if not properly stored.
To tell if your rice cakes have gone bad, look for these signs:
Strange Odor
Rice cakes should have a mild smell when you open the package, but if it smells sour or rancid, it has gone bad. This is especially true if there is an oily residue on the rice cake itself.
Mold Growth
If mold has grown on your rice cake, throw it away immediately because it can be toxic to humans and animals alike. If you see any discoloration or spots appearing on your rice cake, consider throwing it away as well.
Discoloration
Rice cakes can turn brown over time due to exposure to light or heat. If this happens to you, try to keep them in an airtight container in order to prevent further discoloration or spoilage.
Other Questions about Rice Cakes
Can you freeze Quaker rice cakes?
Yes, you can freeze Quaker rice cakes. They are already cooked, so you should have no problem freezing them. Make sure to flash freeze them first, so they will not stick to each other while in the freezer.
Can you freeze store bought rice cakes?
You can freeze store bought rice cakes, but you want to make sure that they are completely dry before you put them in the freezer. This is because freezing wet food can cause mold growth, which will ruin your food and make it unsafe to eat.