How to Freeze Cooked Quinoa?
Can you freeze cooked quinoa? The short answer is yes, but here are the foolproof steps to freeze quinoa to have it ready for you whenever you need.
Servings 4 pouches
Equipment
- Freezer friendly storage bags
Ingredients
- Cooked Quinoa
Instructions
- Cool quinoa: Spread cooked quinoa on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper on a single layer. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, it takes about 30 minutes for it to cool completely to room temperature.
- Measure: Using a measuring cup, portion it out. I usually like to save them in one cup and two-cups increments to use in quinoa salads or simple quinoa bowls.
- Store: Place cooked quinoa in either a resealable plastic bag (such as a Ziploc Bag), heavy-duty freezer bags, or reusable silicone bags like you see in the pictures.
- Get the air out as much as you can: Gently press the bag to get the air out of it as much as you can and seal tightly. This is an important step to prevent freezer burn.
- Label: Write the date and amount of quinoa you are freezing on freezer friendly labels and stick it to each bag.
- Freeze: Place in the freezer and let it freeze for at least 24 hours before defrosting.
Notes
- If you need help on cooking quinoa be sure to check out my post on How To Cook Quinoa Perfectly
- When stored properly, frozen quinoa will last in the freezer for up to 6-8 months.
- To defrost: The best thing about frozen quinoa is that there is no need to remember to take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Instead, you can take it out of the freezer and let it thaw on the counter for 45 - 60 minutes before using it in your recipe.
- You can use this method for any type of quinoa. White quinoa, red quinoa, black quinoa and tricolor quinoa would all work.