Can warm soup go in the fridge?

In this brief article, we are going to answer the question “can warm soup go in the fridge?”.

Yes, warm soup can go in the fridge. However, It is not advised to store a big pot or vessel of meal that is hot in the fridge or freezer because it will spoil other food items present in the fridge. The hot food increases the temperature within the refrigerator/freezer, this serves as a risk to the food which is in the refrigerator/freezer.

When storing large quantities of hot food, including a large pot of soup or a whole roast, the USDA suggests dividing the food down into small sections, putting it in shallow containers, and putting those vessels in the refrigerator as soon as possible after cooking.

A big batch of soup needs a lot of time to cool down, and this can lead to danger. It is crucial to store soup at low temperatures. The soup should cool from 60°C to 21°C in 2 hours and from 21°C to 4°C in 4 hours.

Failure to properly cool food is the reason why food-borne illness is so common. The food danger zone is the temperature that ranges between 4 celsius and 60 celsius. This temperature is favorable for bacterial growth.

How to cool a soup in a safe manner?

To cool your soup safely, choose one of the options below.

Make use of an ice water bath

The ice water bath is best for cooling hot soups  This procedure helps to reduce the temperature of the food quickly and safely. Water and ice should be added to an appropriate-sized vessel or sink for easy disposal. Place the soup kettle in the ice bath to cool it down. In order to rapidly cool the soup, stir it so that the heat will release quickly.

Make use of shallow pans

The process of cooling is faster when you make small portions. Separate the big quantity into smaller vessels with a depth of no more than 3 inches. Stirring every few minutes will help to speed up the cooling process.

Incorporate ice into the directions

Add ice to the soup to facilitate the cooling process. By modifying your soup recipe, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to cool. Make a thicker soup by removing moisture or fluid specified in the recipes originally intended for use. At the end of the preparation process, add ice cubes to the soup. Make use of cooling paddles.

A commercial kitchen is more likely to employ these types of appliances. To thaw the paddle, half-fill it with water. place it in the refrigerator. To prevent the soup from adhering to the bottom of the kettle, use the ice chill paddle to stir it.

It is possible to place a pot of soup in the refrigerator once it has been cooled to 70°F using one of the rapidly cooling options listed above.

Place the container on the high rack. keep the door of the oven open until the temperature drops to 40°F. Before four days after preparation, any leftovers should be consumed or frozen.

Take the initiative to cool the soup. Preparation is key when making a massive batch of soup, so think ahead about the method you intend to use. Start by ensuring that you have an efficient food thermometer on hand to keep track of the temperature throughout the cooling process.

How long should hot soup be left out?

Keep the soup at ambient temperature for less than 2 hours. You must first cool down the massive pot of soup and then put it in the refrigerator.

Preparing a huge batch of soup will allow you to save some for the next meal. Several soups other than seafood soups may be improved by being served the next day.  You must consume soup for at least 3 to 4 days, Otherwise, you must freeze it. This will make sure that the soup is of its highest quality and is safe to consume.

A stockpot of steaming chicken soup would take an extremely hard time to settle down to a safe temperature in your refrigerator, as per the USDA. To be on the safe side, consider the following:

  • Transfer the soup to individual containers, making sure that the soup is not more than 2 inches deep, to expedite cooling. Refrigerate as soon as possible.
  • Before putting the soup in the refrigerator, it can be cooled in a cold water bath.
  • While food is still warm, you can place it in the refrigerator with only a loose cover. Cover them once the food has completely cooled.
  • When reheating soup for a second time, make sure it’s boiling hot, at a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other FAQs about Soup that you may be interested in.

How to add flavour to a bland soup?

How to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?

How do I add flavour to bland cabbage soup?

How to add flavour to bland potato soup?


Conclusion


In this brief article, we have answered the question “can warm soup go in the fridge?”.

Reference

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/cooling_hot_food_do_it_right_to_prevent_bacterial_growth#:~:text=A%20large%20pot%20or%20container,food%20already%20in%20the%20appliance.

https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/cool-soup-safely

https://food.unl.edu/free-resources/newsletters/serving-soup-safely