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Is there any good way to freeze/save jambalaya?

Posted on 1/23/26 at 4:42 pm
Posted by IlikeyouBetty
Bossier City, LA
Member since Nov 2010
1616 posts
Posted on 1/23/26 at 4:42 pm
I’ve tried vacuum sealing it and freezing it and after warming it up, it has a weird texture. Maybe I’m reheating it wrong. Just looking for tips because I’m making a big pot for the storm and I know I’ll have a shitload left. Thanks in advance.
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
28257 posts
Posted on 1/23/26 at 4:51 pm to
I’ve vacuum sealed it with some good results, and also some not so good results. You have to get ALL the air out, or it freezer burns quickly.

At the end of the day, I’ve learned to make smaller batches than can be eaten by our household in a few days. I’ll even bring some to the neighbors if I don’t think we’ll eat it all.
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 4:52 pm
Posted by Out da box
Member since Feb 2018
850 posts
Posted on 1/23/26 at 6:23 pm to
Gotta let it thaw naturally and completely. Once room
Temperature, put in fridge.
Posted by Citica8
Duckroost, LA
Member since Dec 2012
3984 posts
Posted on 1/23/26 at 9:14 pm to
You can cool it first and vacuum seal jambalaya before freezing, but it will never be as good as the day it is cooked. Gumbo, beans, stews, and gravies are all as good or better the day after, as well as pastalaya. If you're cooking a big pot for the purpose of leftovers, you're better off cooking more than you want that day and pulling some of the cooked down meat and trinity and freezing that, then when you it, adding the rice and water/stock the day you want it. Having fresh jambalaya on a week night in 30-45 minutes beats mushy or crunchy in 5-10 minutes
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6929 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 12:26 am to
Rice in general doesnt freeze and reheat well. I have tried many ways, unsuccessfully, the save jambalaya.

Now I make what I think we will eat in 3 or 4 days and chuck the rest.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19707 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 7:57 am to
quote:

Rice in general doesnt freeze and reheat well. I have tried many ways, unsuccessfully, the save jambalaya.

Now I make what I think we will eat in 3 or 4 days and chuck the rest.



This is how it goes in my house too. Rice is cheap and I'm not taking up freezer space with frozen rice dishes.

I only make large batches for parties. My next large batch will be dropped off at my brother-in-law's house when Endymion passes within a couple blocks of his house and he has LOTS of people stopping over.
Posted by Twenty 49
Shreveport
Member since Jun 2014
20992 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 9:15 am to
We have frozen it in quart containers. It was fair when thawed and reheated, but it was watery, and the rice had an odd texture.

As someone posted above, rice just doesn’t freeze well.
Posted by jfw3535
South of Bunkie
Member since Mar 2008
5485 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 10:56 am to
Froze some from a recent batch I made. It was not good when defrosted and reheated. The texture of the rice was definitely off.
Posted by CallinBatonRouge25
Los Angeles by way of Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2026
198 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 12:23 pm to
not sure why people are having so much trouble with this
i always freeze and it comes out really close to how it was fresh
id bet the problem is how it’s reheated as opposed to just not being good after frozen
Posted by Big Chipper
Charlotte, NC
Member since Sep 2008
2942 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 3:55 pm to
I usually put enough for a few servings in a gallon bag and flatten it out making sure no air is in the bag when I seal it.

To use, I put in the fridge about 24 hrs.to defrost. Dump it in a pot with a touch of stock and reheat slowly. Comes out great.
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
10127 posts
Posted on 1/25/26 at 8:32 am to
quote:

i always freeze and it comes out really close to how it was fresh
Posted by Graton
Member since Jun 2017
356 posts
Posted on 1/26/26 at 2:16 pm to
I've only tried once using a vacuum sealer. I feel like the vacuum sealing process, not the freezing process is what changed my rice texture as it basically turned it into mush before my eyes. If I ever try it again, I think I'll watch it closely and hit the "seal" button right when all of the air is removed, but before it starts to really compress everything.
Posted by kingbob
Sorrento, LA
Member since Nov 2010
69682 posts
Posted on 1/26/26 at 3:09 pm to
On a related note, anyone have a good recipe for pastalaya? Curious if the water:pasta ratios and/or cooking times are different vs rice.
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
10127 posts
Posted on 1/26/26 at 3:30 pm to
The Jambalaya Calculator has a pastalaya tab.

Generally, use 1 to 1 1/2 quarts per lb of pasta (start with 1.25). You can use the equivalent weight of pasta as the calculator indicates for rice.
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