Best Way to Freeze Soup for Busy Nights

Whenever I have a freezer cooking session, I almost always make homemade soup. Usually, I just have to dump ingredients into a bag and that’s it!

Freezing soup is a great way to have an easy dinner ready on busy nights. Do you know the best ways to freeze soup?

In this post, I’ve outlined the best tips on how to freeze soup. Whether you’ve made a big batch of soup and want to freeze half, or divide leftover soup into individual servings, I’ve got answers for you.

Best soups to freeze

The best kinds of soups to freeze are the broth-based soups:

• Chicken noodle soup
• Vegetable soup
• Tortilla soup
• Chili

I’ve found that the creamy soups have almost a grainy texture once thawed. They’re still safe to eat, but the consistency of these cream-based soups might be different.

How to freeze soup for best results

Let the soup cool

Any food you freeze needs to come to room temperature first. Otherwise you’ll get a buildup of condensation.

In addition, hot soup can decrease the temperature of the freezer if you put it in too soon. That can affect the quality and safety of the food around it.

Label containers

This is the most important step! If you don’t label your containers, you won’t remember what it is.

Here’s what I add to all my labels:

• Name of the soup
• Date it was put in the freezer
• Cooking instructions (If not already cooked)

Fill containers

You can fill the freezer containers in a couple different ways.

If you’re filling one large container for the entire recipe, you can carefully dump the entire contents into it. Same as if you were filling a freezer bag. I use these bag holders to keep the bags steady so they don’t tip over!

If you’re freezing smaller portions, like individual small containers or bags, use your ladle or spoon to fill each one. I actually like to use a 1-cup measuring cup, because it’s a bit faster and I can fill the containers more evenly.

Another thing to note is that you don’t have to cook any of the ingredients before freezing, including raw chicken. As long as you fully cook the soup when you’re ready to eat, it’s safe!

Add to freezer

Tightly place the lids on the containers. If you’re using bags, carefully close them and squeeze out as much air as you can.

Containers will stack nicely in a freezer. If you’re using bags, lay them out flat on a baking sheet and put that directly in the freezer. That will help the bags freeze flat and be able to stack better!

I have a chest freezer that allows me to keep a TON of meals. However, you can still keep freezer meals in a smaller freezer!

Can you freeze soup in Ziploc bags?

Absolutely! This is my preferred way to freeze soup. Ziploc makes a freezer-safe bag that I buy in bulk at Sam’s Club.

I find that the gallon-sized freezer bags work well for an entire recipe, while quart-size bags can be used for one or two servings.

If you lay the plastic freezer bags flat on a cookie sheet, remove excess air, and freeze, the soup will keep that flat shape and allow you more freezer space.

Note: A lot of times, there won’t be enough space in the bag for the water/broth. It’s a good idea to leave the liquid out, and instead write on the bag how much to add when you’re ready to cook the soup.

Best containers to freeze soup

Plastic containers

Almost every time I freeze individual portions, I use plastic containers. They’re cheap and convenient and I always have a ton available.

Whatever you decide to use, make sure it’s a freezer-safe container. You can typically find that information right on the box.

Glass containers

A lot of people prefer glass containers because of the positive effects on the environment. They’re more expensive, but they don’t usually stain like a plastic container would.

If you freeze soup in a glass container, make sure the soup has cooled COMPLETELY. Otherwise it might affect the glass’s structure.

Mason jars

Mason jars are incredible for storage! I’ve used them for freezing smoothies and they work so well.

A 16-ounce glass jar is about the right size for an individual serving. When you pour soup into the jar, make sure you leave some empty space near the lid. As the soup freezes, glass jars will expand. And if there’s not enough space, the glass could crack.

How long is soup good for in the freezer?

Most foods will stay fresh in the freezer up to 3 months. They’re still safe to eat after that, but you risk the food getting freezer burn.

The Bottom Line

For me, the easiest way to store soup in the freezer is in large freezer bags. And individual portions of soup go in plastic containers.

Use whatever you have available. Whatever fits your budget and lifestyle!

Favorite soup recipes

Looking for delicious soup recipes to fill your freezer? Here are some good ones to print for later!

• One Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• 5-Ingredient Black Bean Soup
• Instant Pot Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
• Ham and White Bean Soup