This method for freezing chili is super simple and the most convenient since it doesn’t take much room in the freezer! Double your favorite recipe, and enjoy a delicious bowl of chili whenever you need it!
Does Chili Freeze Well?
Chili is a crowd-pleaser, but we don’t always have a crowd to feed nor know what to do with all those leftovers. We also know chili tastes better the next day but did you know you can freeze it and enjoy those same delicious results later?
Freezing works whether you are making all meat or vegetarian chili. While the texture might change slightly due to the veggies and beans, everything still reheats in one cohesive, delicious lunch or dinner that you can serve with your favorite toppings and add-ins or pack into athermoscontainer for a hot lunch. I use the freezing method in this post whenever I make a double batch of my famousPaleo Chili.
How to Freeze Homemade Chili
Freezing chili helps you save time, make the most of leftovers, and avoid any waste. I’ll show you how to freeze chili for future meals quick and easy using a zip bag and a baking sheet:
Cool down Allow chili leftovers to cool down to room temperature.
Label the bags Before filling the bags, write down the date, servings, and thaw/reheating instructions in the bag. This will be very useful for later!
Pack Pour the chili into a freezer-safe bag. Pack it in single-serve portions or the amount of servings you usually serve for dinner. You can also use an airtight container or souper cubes.
Flatten Place the bag on a baking sheet and store in the freezer for about 2 hours or until solid. This way, the chili will freeze flat, making it easy to store.
Store Once the chili is frozen, remove the baking sheet and keep it in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
Watch this video and I’ll take you through the steps!
If you cooked chili and feel that it turned out more like a soup, here you can learn how to thicken chili before freezing it.
Can You Freeze Chili with Beans?
Yes! Whether you cook chili with or without beans, you can freeze it to enjoy later with your favorite chili sides. That said, beans may change their texture a little bit, but the chili will still taste delicious.
Freezer-safe bagsare your best ally for freezing soups and stews. Since they have a stay-open design, you can easily pour chili leftovers right into the bag, avoiding any counter mess.
If you prefer a reusable option and have more room in your freezer,souper cubesare a great choice too!
How Long Does Chili Last in the Freezer
Chili will stay good in the freezer for 4 to 6 months! So when I plan to make a batch, I’ll double the recipe, use ½ for dinners that week, and freeze the extra that day.
Whenever I’m in a pinch or know a day out my upcoming week will be extra busy, I have a delicious dinner waiting to be defrosted and reheated.
How Long Does Chili Last in the Fridge
Chili can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. After that, you should freeze it to extend its shelf life.
How to Thaw & Reheat Frozen Chili
You can thaw frozen chili in the fridge, with cold water, or using the microwave. These are the same methods I use to defrost chicken. The microwave method is the quickest, but I prefer to use it only for emergencies! Even in this case, remember to NOT place the frozen bag directly from the freezer.
Defrost in the fridge Place one or two zip bags with frozen chili in a large bowl. Store in the fridge overnight so it will be thaw the next day, ready to heat it up.
Defrost with water For defrosting chili faster, place the chili zip bag or container in the sink with room temperature water. Flip the container until is thawed.
Defrost in the microwave First, run the frozen chili bag under hot water, so the soup detaches from the container’s surface. Once done, transfer the chili to a large bowl to microwave.
To reheat chili, you can use the stove or the microwave:
Stove top:place the chili and a cup of water in a soup pot. Bring it to a boil over medium heat until it’s warm enough, stirring often.
Microwave:microwave the chili on high for 5 minutes, stirring often until it’s heated through.
Best Chili Recipes
Now that you master the art of freezing chili, it’s time to cook it in bulk! You’ll want to fill the freezer with these delicious chili recipes:
Slow Cooker No Bean Chili
Red Chicken Chili
Ground Chicken Chili with no Beans
Ground Turkey Chili
Low Carb Chili
The Best Ever Keto Chili
by Laura Fuentes
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Place one or two zip bags with frozen chili in a large bowl.Store in the fridge overnight so it will be thaw the next day, ready to heat it up. For defrosting chili faster, place the chili zip bag or container in the sink with room temperature water. Flip the container until is thawed.
After cooking chili, let the cooked chili cool to room temperature for best quality. Transfer fresh chili to air-tight containers, glass jars or freezer-safe bags (double bag the freezer bags to avoid leakage and freezer burn). Freeze for up to six months for best results.
Flavor in chili comes chiefly from spices and seasonings that have melded over time. When reheating, it's important to do so gently to preserve these complex flavors. A saucepan is often the preferred method for gently warming leftover chili, allowing for stirring to distribute heat without degrading the taste.
First step is to defrost the chili, and the best way to do that is to plan ahead and put the frozen chili in the fridge overnight to thaw out. Otherwise, you can also submerge the container in cold water or use the microwave.
Not only does this preserve the food, but as chili freezes, the flavors are able to blend. This makes it taste even better the second time around. Having frozen chili in the freezer can save you time and money. Instead of buying fast food or spending hours in the kitchen, you'll have a delicious meal ready to enjoy.
Freezer-safe bags are your best ally for freezing soups and stews. Since they have a stay-open design, you can easily pour chili leftovers right into the bag, avoiding any counter mess. If you prefer a reusable option and have more room in your freezer, souper cubes are a great choice too!
Quick and easy, just the way we like it! Simply throw the frozen chilli con carne into a saucepan.Then gently heat it over a low to medium heat. This slow heating ensures your delicious chilli retains its characteristic aromas and flavours.
"Transfer some warm liquid [from the chili] to a separate bowl. Whisk in the flour or cornstarch, then slowly stir it back in the pot," advises Wofford. Bring the mixture back to a boil, which will "activate" the ingredient, instantly thickening the dish.
Aging creates roundness in the flavor profile and mellows the distinct notes into a synchronous tapestry of intermingling tastes. Allowed to rest over time, long protein chains break down into shorter ones, meaning those complex carbs and scratches become simple sugars, which have a noticeably sweeter taste.
There are no limits to how many times you can safely reheat leftover home-cooked meals. However, best practice is to limit the number of times you do so. More often than not, you wouldn't need to reheat one type of dish more than once. If you are making meals in bulk, separate and store them in individual portions.
Transfer chili into airtight containers or freezer bags. Leave a small gap at the top of the container or bag. It's best to freeze chili in several smaller portions. Label the container with the contents and date of freezing and place in the freezer.
Meatless chili and opened canned chili stay safe to eat for up to 7 days in the fridge. Meat-based homemade chilis kept in the fridge only last for 3-4 days. If your chili contains meat and it's been in the fridge for 5 days, you should discard it, even if it looks good.
Food should be completely cooled before freezing – actually, it is even better if you allow it to fully cool down in the fridge first and then freeze. If you store a bag or container with hot food along with an already frozen one, it might defrost slightly, creating a safety breach.
You can safely refreeze frozen food that has thawed—raw or cooked, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. To safely refreeze, the thawed product must have been kept cold at 40 degrees or below for no more than 3-4 days.
Zip-top bags are great for freezing food because it's easier to get all the air out of them than it is with rigid containers. And zip-top bags have an added space-saving benefit: You can stack them, if you lay them flat to freeze first.
You can use regular zip-top storage bags in the freezer. However, foods stored in these bags in the freezer might not hold up as well over long periods of time, and can be more prone to punctures and rips.
Food grade materials, such as aluminum foil, heavy freezer-weight plastic bags, heavy plastic wrap and parchment or freezer paper are excellent choices. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its supermarket wrapping, but this type of wrap is thin and lets air in.
My method is to pack everything into zipper-seal freezer bags. Put a straw into the bag and zip the bag around it. Suck as much air out through the straw as possible, then quickly remove it and seal the bag the rest of the way.
Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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