Rice pudding is a traditional dessert usually eaten after lunch, but you can enjoy it anytime. However, it is common to prepare a significant portion of it; that’s why we created this to teach you how we can keep rice pudding in good condition.
To preserve rice pudding, you must store it in the refrigerator for between 4 to 5 days. For long-term storage, it is possible to freeze rice pudding for up to 3 months.
Read on if you want to learn how to preserve homemade rice pudding.
Store rice pudding in the fridge
You can eat rice pudding cold or hot, although I prefer it cold. If you have wondered, “Can I preserve rice pudding at room temperature? I would say it is not recommendable.
It is convenient to refrigerate it since milk is not a product that lasts too long at room temperature and can favor the growth of bacteria. [1]
To properly store rice pudding in the fridge, do what I explain below:
- Step 1: Let it cool.
It should be left at room temperature until it cools completely. You can stir the rice to speed up the cooling process from time to time.
- Step 2: Transfer the contents to a container.
It can be a bowl, but it is much better if you have an airtight container. It should not be filled entirely, as rice usually expands a bit.
- Step 3: Cover with plastic.
Cover the surface with a plastic film. Don’t miss any corner
- Step 4: Cover.
If you have an airtight container, you must use the corresponding lid. Otherwise, you can cover the bowl with aluminum foil.
- Step 5: Tag.
It is always good to put the storage date to know the conditions of the food, although this step is much more critical when we are going to freeze the rice pudding.
- Step 6: Store in the coldest part of the fridge.
Place it at the bottom of the fridge, away from the door, as this is the fridge’s coldest and most stable area.
Rice pudding may remain refrigerated for about 4 or 5 days.
How to freeze rice pudding
Can rice pudding be frozen? It is possible to freeze rice pudding, although it is not an option that is advised to do for quality reasons. However, it is an alternative when a significant amount of rice pudding is available since you can store it for three months.
To properly freeze rice pudding, follow these instructions:
- Step 1: Cool.
Stir the rice from time to time to speed up cooling.
- Step 2: Refrigerate for a full day.
If you refrigerate the rice pudding first, it will freeze better. To do that, cover the surface of the container with plastic film.
- Step 3: Store in an airtight container or bags.
These must be suitable for freezing. Now, suppose you have a considerable amount of rice pudding. In that case, it is best to store it in portions to avoid thawing everything.
Airtight bags are a good option for storing small portions; you need to flatten the contents to freeze better.
- Step 4: Tag.
Setting the storage date helps maintain better control over the product.
- Step 5: Freeze.
You can store rice pudding in the freezer for up to 3 months. It is advisable not to add anything that could mess up the duration, such as fruits or dulce de leche.
To thaw, leave the rice pudding in the fridge for an entire night, leave it for an hour or two at room temperature, and then put it in the microwave to heat if you want to eat it hot.
How do you know if rice pudding is in bad?
It’s easy to determine if the rice pudding you stored is in poor condition. First, the smell, if it has a bad smell, such as rotten, is indicative that the milk has some problems.
But if it passes the smell test but has a strange taste, it should not be eaten either because you could get intoxicated.
The appearance and texture are also important. Although the rice pudding tends to dry when you freeze, this does not mean that it is bad; adding a little milk will get better.
However, if it has a transparent liquid and the rice changes a little color, discard it.
How long does rice pudding last?
To know better the duration of rice pudding, here is a summary:
| Product | Duration |
| Rice pudding in fridge | 4 – 5 days |
| Frozen rice pudding | 3 months |
| Industrial rice pudding | According to Manufacturer |
What is the best way to preserve rice pudding?
The best way to store rice pudding is to keep it in the fridge because you can maintain its consistency better, apart from the fact that it can be eaten instantly, without waiting a few hours.
However, freezing rice pudding, especially when there is a lot of it, is an intelligent choice, as it makes sure you don’t waste a considerable amount of it.
But when you freeze the rice pudding, do it in portions. In this way, you only start thawing what you want to eat since the rice pudding cannot be re-frozen.
If you are interested in knowing more about the storage methods of some other food, you can explore this site since we have a lot of this type of topic.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740002003000224