How to Cool and Store Leftover Soup

Soups make a comforting meal on a cold night.

Soups make a wonderful warm meal that can be easily prepared in advance. It is also a great way to use up leftovers after a holiday or other cooking extravaganza. You can prepare your soups in bulk and then store pre-portioned amounts in the freezer to save time later. A key element to cooling and storing soups is the airspace between the soup and the storage container's lid.

Instructions

1. Fill your sink with several inches of cold water.

2. Place your soup pot, filled with your fresh soup, in the cold water in the sink. Make sure the water does not come up over the sides. If the water gets warm, drain it and add more cool water.

3. Store your soup in the refrigerator when it has cooled by completely filling a storage container. There should be no airspace left between the soup and the lid, and any meat in the soup should be completely covered by broth. It will keep for several days this way.

4. Store your soup in the freezer when it has cooled by portioning it out into freezer-safe containers. Leave 1/4 inch space between the top of the soup and the lid to allow the broth to expand when it freezes. It will keep several months in the freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• Clear broth soups freeze best. Avoid freezing creams and noodles. Remember to clearly label and date your freezer portions. You can use ice cube trays to portion out broth; after they are frozen, keep them in a bag in the freezer and use as needed.

• Never put a hot pot of soup in the refrigerator. It takes too long to cool this way, and the warm environment provides growing conditions for bacteria.

References

• Reader's Digest: Facts for Freezing Soup
• Shelf Life Advice: Keeping Soup