Can I freeze rice and pasta?

[HairyMaclary]

I've been in hospital with DS1 for 2 weeks and am fed up of ready meals. I'm at home this week while DH is there but have about 3 more weeks back in hospital after that. There is a freezer there and a microwave, can I freeze portions of spaghetti bolognaise or curry and rice for eg?

I often freeze the curry or bolognaise sauce but need to be able to freeze them all together, like a home made ready meal. Is this possible? If so, how?

I'm sure you can buy frozen ready meals with rice in, so in theory I think yes to rice. Not sure re pasta - might be a bit sticky?
Hope DS1 is ok.

I'll probably get shot down by the food safety police but I do for DD.

I often make extra curry and rice, divide into 11mo DD size portions and freeze, either separately, or if feeling extra lazy together in the same pot.

Just make sure you reheat REALLY well then allow to cool to a temperature you can actually eat it at. Rice is a high risk food if not heated to a high enough temperature to kill off any bugs.

Hope your DS is on the mend soon :)

I think pasta goes mushy if frozen, not tried it myself though.

I agree with everyone else.

Thanks, it's a planned op for DS so he's fine, just a long rehabilitation phase. There are I'm just not sure how to go about cooking it all, fully cooked, partially cooked, running under cold water to stop it sticking together?

Will have a google tonight.

Yes, I would rinse pasta/rice in cold water as soon as it's cooked. I think when I have done this I sometimes put some olive oil in the pasta because it can go a little dry when you microwave it. Rice is usually better. I always freeze the left over Chinese takeaway boiled rice.

Hi. Yes I always freeze mini portions of spag Bol for dd. I have found that it reheats perfectly if I make sure all pasta pieces are coated in sauce, iykwim. Also grate cheese on prior to freezing as this works really well. Rice also good.

I don't think that rice should be kept in the fridge or freezer. I found this out after a particularly unpleasant bout of food
poisoning. I know it might just have been a coincidence, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take.

rice is fine to put in fridge/freezer as long as it is cooled quickly and stored immediately and not left at room temperature for long.

I don't think you are supposed to freeze rice. I would just buy some uncle bens microwave rice as its been sterilised somehow and is safe to heat. It can be kept in a cupboard so could stay in your bag until you wanted it.

hairy the rice I freeze is fully cooked. I literally just boil up extra whilst cooking dinner.

To be fair dyzzidi has a good point, tilda do some nice micro rice pouches which would save you worrying. I could happily eat the butternut squash one just on its own!

I freeze pasta regularly. I always rinse in water before heating to refresh and take away stickiness so maybe you should freeze sauce separate?

Rice I don't freeze, but I freeze pasta all the time. Just make sure that you coat it well with whatever sauce you are using e.g. cheese, tomato etc and it will be fine!

I freeze rice, I tend to under cook it by 1minute or so, cool in water and allow to drain well then portion up with chilli, curry, casserole etc in the plastic takeaway containers. Freeze and then dethaw and heat for 2-3 minutes with some stirring.

I have frozen rice dishes and I have frozen pasta dishes. The pasta dishes were really soggy once I heated them through and the rice dishes were fine. All I would say is that as with any food just ensure that you reheat thoroughly especially rice.

You can buy individual packs of frozen rice in the supermarket. At the veg bit.