How to Freeze Pork Stew

Stews contain vegetables, meat and a thick broth.

Pork stew can contain a variety of ingredients, depending on the recipe. Most pork stews include vegetables and seasonings, such as celery, carrots, onions, parsley or oregano. While you can store leftover pork stew in the refrigerator, it will only last for 2 to 3 days. Prolong the shelf life of the pork stew by preparing it for the freezer. Properly frozen pork stew is a quick meal that you can make the next time you do not have time to prepare one. Does this Spark an idea?

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Ice water
Freezer containers
Freezer labels

Instructions

- 1
  
  Leave the potatoes out of the stew, if possible. The texture of the potatoes will change once frozen, which may affect the texture and flavor of the stew once you thaw it.
- 2
  
  Allow the pork stew to cool completely before you prepare it for the freezer. Cool the stew quickly by placing it in the refrigerator. You can also cool stew rapidly by placing the pot or bowl of stew in an ice-water bath. Stir the stew to help it cool quickly.
- 3
  
  Pour the stew into freezer containers. Leave 1/2 to 1 inch of head space to allow the stew to expand once frozen.
- 4
  
  Label the stew with the contents, date and ingredients. Store the stew in the freezer for 4 to 6 months for best results.
- 5
  
  Defrost the stew in the refrigerator overnight. Heat the stew without thawing it first if you desire. Stews need to be defrosted before microwaving, because the microwave heats foods unevenly.

Tips & Warnings

Freeze the stew in serving sizes so you do not thaw more stew than you plan to consume.
Never leave the pork stew sitting out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours; the stew may become hazardous due to the growth of bacteria.

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