Freezing Quinoa: What You Need to Know
I don’t know about you but when we make quinoa in our Instant Pot, we always end up with leftovers. And if we can’t find a way to eat those leftovers in a couple of days, then we need to either toss the food or freeze it. That’s why I learned to freeze quinoa and wanted to share those tips with you, too.
Preparing the quinoa for freezing
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Proper preparation is key to preserving quinoa’s light, fluffy texture and subtle nutty flavor. From cooking to storing, following these steps will make reheating quinoa down the road much quicker and more convenient.
Make sure your quinoa is fully cooked before freezing. This will prevent ice crystals from forming. If you’ve served it for dinner like we often do and know you won’t get to those leftovers in a couple of days, spread the remaining quinoa in a thin layer on a baking sheet. You want it to reach room temperature before moving on to packaging it for the freezer.
Once cooled, transfer the quinoa to freezer-safe reusable silicone or plastic bags. I suggest storing it in one or two cup batches — basically, an amount that would be reasonable for you to reheat later on for a meal, such as serving shrimp in the air fryer over quinoa like you might risotto shrimp scampi or as a base for roasted vegetables or lean proteins in your side dishes. Label each bag with the date and the quantity of quinoa. Portioning before freezing makes it easier to grab exactly what you need later on.
Press out as much air as possible before sealing, which helps prevent freezer burn and ensures the quinoa freezes in a thin, flat layer. Lay the bags flat in the freezer. Quinoa can last up to six months in the freezer without sacrificing flavor or texture.
“I usually make a big batch of quinoa and portion it out into freezer bags,” says Jere’ Cassidy of One Hot Oven. “It makes it super convenient to grab whenever I need it toss it into salads or make a fast breakfast bowl with some fruits and nuts.”
Reheating frozen quinoa
There are several effective methods to reheat frozen quinoa but for me, the microwave is the best and easiest. Why dirty a pan on the stovetop to reheat it when I can use the bowl I’ll be serving the quinoa in for dinner and just reheat in the microwave.
Anyway, when you’re ready to reheat in the microwave, you don’t have to thaw it first. Instead, add a few teaspoons of water to rehydrate the grains. Cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid or plate and heat on high for one to three minutes. The quinoa should be hot and fluffy when done.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.