Raita might simply be yoghurt combined with a few herbs and some cucumber but it’s an essential contrast for spicy curries and chilli wraps. If you’ve made a little too much, what are you supposed to do with it?
Can You Freeze Raita?
Yes, you can freeze raita for up to 3 months. Add the raita to a freezer bag and then press the bag as flat as possible without the raita spilling out. Seal the bag and freeze the raita into a flat slab.
Does Raita Freeze Well? Sometimes
Can You Refreeze Raita? No
How to Freeze Raita
It’s no use trying to freeze raita that you’ve left sitting in the fridge for a few days. Instead, before you get to freezing it, ensure that it was made within the last 24 hours. You can then get to freezing it:
- Add to a Bag: Transfer the raita to a freezer bag, adding plenty to a reasonably large bag. You don’t want to overfill the bag. You also want to stick to adding one portion per bag.
- Remove Air: Lie the bag containing the raita down on a baking sheet, and press out as much air as possible, pressing the raita down as you go. Make sure not to spill any, of course.
- Seal: As soon as you have removed the air, seal the bag up tightly without letting any air back into the bag.
- Freeze: Keep it on the baking sheet and transfer the whole tray into the freezer, so that the raita can freeze into a solid layer. This will allow you to fit it into your freezer much more easily later on.
- Remove from the Tray: When the raita is frozen solid, remove it from the baking sheet and then pop the flat slab(s) of raita into your freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Raita
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing raita to have the best results:
Ensure the Bag is Sealed
Ensuring that the bag of raita is sealed is essential as the yoghurt component of the dip is very likely to soak up different aromas from within the freezer. Ensuring the bag is sealed will maintain the taste of the sauce well.Â
Mince the Herbs Smaller Than Usual
Mincing your herbs more finely for a sauce destined for the freezer will allow you to make sure that they don’t get freezer burned or otherwise damaged over time.
Include a Date on the Bag
As raita contains dairy, eating it within three months of freezing is vital for proper food safety. It will ensure that no bacterial growth occurs or that the dairy becomes unsafe for human consumption.Â
How Long Can You Freeze Raita?
You can freeze raita for around three months from the first time that you have frozen it. During that time, it shouldn’t deteriorate too much, if at all.
Homemade raita will keep in an airtight container or in a pot covered with cling film for around 3 days. Beyond that, it will be unenjoyable to eat and potentially unsafe too.
How Do You Defrost Raita?
The simplest way to defrost raita is to keep it in the fridge overnight, where it will thaw. When thawed, it may need to be stirred back into a cohesive liquid before serving.
If you really want to hide the fact that it was frozen then, once defrosted, stir in a few pinches of freshly chopped herbs to add zing and freshness that might be lost during the freezing process.
Can You Refreeze Raita?
No, as raita contains dairy, we would advise against refreezing.
The reason for this is that it can lead to food poisoning should contamination take place outside of your freezer.
Does Raita Freeze Well?
Yes, raita does freeze well. It can separate a little bit in your freezer, but it typically comes back together when stirred at room temperature.
Were you to put a frozen and fresh raita side-by-side then you would be able to spot the differences, of course.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing raita or raita in general, then these may help:
It should be safe to freeze raita from an Indian takeaway. However, it’s always worth erring on the side of caution when freezing takeaway items.
Yes, you can freeze most store-bought raita. Some packets may claim it is not suitable for home freezing but this is because of the risk of the product splitting.
