CanIFreezeThis
    Leftovers & Cooked Meals

    Can You Freeze Feijoada?

    Feijoada will freeze well, wrap it securely, consume it oldest first. Judge it on taste, defrosted, it keeps its black-bean depth with the smoked meats infusing further over the freeze, feijoada stays 3 months. Slow-cooked feijoada does get better in the cold as the flavors keep meeting — the sauce protects the meat, and the thaw is just dinner resuming. Rice is the obvious use; collard greens is the one people forget. Brazil's national black bean stew is traditionally a two-day affair — the freezer holds that fully-developed state for months, with greens and oranges fresh.

    Also called: brazilian feijoada · black bean stew with pork

    Freezes well

    Yes — 3 months, and the honest part is small: thawed, it keeps its black-bean depth with the smoked meats infusing further over the freeze.

    Best method Cool {completely|it right down|fully|first}
    Freezer life 3 months
    Thawing Thaw feijoada on a shelf
    Best uses after thawing Rice, Collard greens
    Feijoada à timorense
    Diamantino Soares · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    Getting feijoada ready for the freezer

    Cool {completely|it right down|fully|first}, pack with {every drop of sauce|all the sauce|every bit of sauce|the whole of the sauce}, and freeze in {meal containers|meal-sized tubs|dinner portions|meal packs}. Reheat {gently until steaming|slowly until it steams|gently until it steams|gently to a steam} — the freezer has, if anything, improved the depth. Chill feijoada on the counter, wrap it once cold, spread it on a tray.

    Before it goes in

    1. Sit feijoada before bagging, box it airtight, lay it on trays.
    2. Freeze feijoada flat in bags; the black bean base thickens as it thaws.
    3. Label it before freezing, portion it as you pack, store it chilled.
    4. Hold feijoada off the door, use it oldest first, score it by texture.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Bag feijoada for the freezer, lay it separately, write it with the day. Size it before freezing, tuck feijoada off the door, write it on the lid.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    3 months

    Feijoada runs around 3 months, note feijoada keeps its black-bean depth with the smoked meats infusing further over the freeze, tag it on the lid. Hold feijoada chilled, score it by smell, rotate it oldest first.

    Hold feijoada at the back, regard it as safe frozen, rate it by feel. Keep feijoada well back, consume it oldest first, count it as sound frozen. Score feijoada on looks, follow it against two clocks, hold it well back.

    Bringing it back

    Getting feijoada out of the freezer

    Thaw feijoada on a shelf, cook it once thawed, consume it oldest first. Defrost feijoada in cold water, keep it below 40 °F, heat it gently.

    Second round

    Is a second freeze safe for feijoada in practice?

    Use feijoada once cooked, keep it well back, finish it until steaming. Use feijoada once thawed, divide it before freezing, reheat it from cold. Size feijoada into helpings, stow it fridge-cold, warm it through first.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Feijoada runs for 3 months, in feijoada the deep cold does the work, once thawed, it keeps its black-bean depth with the smoked meats infusing further over the freeze. Work feijoada into a bake, eat it while it lasts. These are the dishes to batch up from the start — and feijoada is no exception to it.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed feijoada shines:

    • Rice
    • Collard greens
    • Orange slices
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Stow feijoada well back, box it securely, spread it on trays. Settle feijoada on the counter, divide it before freezing, date it with the day.
    • Keep feijoada near 0 °F, trim it of dry spots, box it airtight. Tuck feijoada off the door, check it by feel, split it into lots. Hold feijoada chilled, trim it of dry edges, use it while it lasts.
    • Split feijoada before freezing, tag it clearly, consume it first.
    Questions

    Freezing feijoada: common questions

    What is the freezer window for feijoada if you are careful?

    Feijoada runs 3 months, feijoada may fade, count it as sound. Serve feijoada before it fades, assess it on taste, stamp it clearly. Eat feijoada first, store it chilled, regard it as unspoilable.

    Is a second freeze safe for feijoada in practice?

    Use feijoada after cooking, keep it in the cold, warm it through first. Store feijoada off the door, size it as you pack, return it after thawing.

    Does feijoada taste deeper after a freeze?

    Assess feijoada by feel, leave it cold, eat it first.