How to Freeze Beef Stew

how long is beef stew good in the refrigerator

Are you time-poor? Do you dream about coming home from work on a cold day to a homemade stew bubbling away on the stove? Me too! And while I have no magic formula to give you more time in your day, I can teach you how to freeze lamb and beef stew, so you’ll always have a freezer full of batch-cooked meals for those busy days, just waiting to be reheated at a moment’s notice, saving you A LOT OF TIME.

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a big blue oval pot of just cooked beef stew.

A big batch of beef stew can be worth its weight in gold in the cooler months of the year. It’s classic comfort food, plus who doesn’t love a bowl of delicious beef stew and a glass of red wine when it’s cold out? Here’s how I think about turning leftover stew into homemade freezer meals… It generally takes the same amount of time to make a stew with 2kg of meat as it does with 1kg of meat. So why not save yourself some time in the kitchen and make a big hearty meal that you can enjoy again, and again, and again?

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Can you freeze beef stew?

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Yes! Most slow-cooked stews, soups, and casseroles freeze quite well. The beef broth or sauce seals the beef chunks to prevent freezer burn when frozen for future use.

Equipment you’ll need

Freezeable airtight containers are a must. I have also used reusable, freezer bags (or pouches) before. Bonus points if it’s a microwave-safe container – Easier for reheating small amounts in the microwave. You can also use lidded foil trays. All options work equally as well freezing leftover beef stew. I also make sure there is the ability to write on the container (or be able to attach labels) so I can keep track of what’s inside.

Here are a few simple steps to freeze stew

The first step is to let your cooked beef stew cool completely to room temperature.
Divide it into practical portions in airtight containers, leaving a little room for expansion and the lid to secure.
Label each container with the name and date to ensure you can keep track of when a frozen stew is nearing its best-before date. Don’t have labels? A handy roll of masking tape and black markers make easy labels for the deep freeze.
Pop your containers into the freezer until you need them!

Ok, now here is the defrosting process…

I find that the best way to defrost frozen beef stew is by moving it from the freezer to the fridge and letting it defrost in the fridge overnight before consuming it. If you’re in a hurry, another great way, providing you have used the right containers for a microwave, is to use the defrost setting and microwave the freezer container until defrosted.

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As a general rule, I reheat my frozen stews and soups in a cast iron French oven on low heat on top of the stove. If you find it needs a little more liquid when you are reheating, add a little beef stock or water to bring the reheated stew back to life.