Hummus, our favorite Mediterranean dip, is a simple and healthy blend of chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and sea salt. And lately, the marketplace has seen a cornucopia of exciting new flavors arrive on the market, which both suits the dip to many different palates, and allows for versatility of use in unexpected ways. Aside from its traditional role as a tasty dip for pita or veggies, humus has found its way into a myriad of recipes – including pastas, tacos, egg salads, nutrition bowls, baked goods, and comfort foods like cauliflower wings and mac’n’cheese! With the resurgence of healthy eating and active lifestyles, it’s no wonder such a simple and nutritious dip has increasingly become a standby in the refrigerators of the health-conscious.
Don’t Let Dip Go to Waste: Freeze Hummus for Later Use
The widespread increase in consumption of our favorite dip has had many of us searching for practical solutions to common problems, such as preservation. If you are like us, there is always a container or two in your fridge. A common problem is, once you open it, it will only stay fresh for a week or so. Perhaps that isn’t really a problem at all, especially if you have tasty HOPE flavors in the fridge… because they will be gone in a couple of days! However, we do often have people asking us, “Can hummus be frozen?” and “Can I freeze hummus?”
If you too find yourself with a lot of extra dip on hand, or if you’re leaving the house for a few days, fear not – hummus does freeze well, as long as you know a couple insider secrets. Just following these simple steps is all it takes to freeze hummus like a pro!
How to Freeze Hummus
Use a Freezer-Safe Container: Use a freezer-safe container to store humus in the freezer, and check to make sure that the seal is airtight. Any air leakage can cause flavor contamination from other freezer odors. Fill the container with as much dip as you like, but leave a little room at the top because it expands as it freezes. Also, try not to freeze more than 12 ounces in one container, so that it will thaw more evenly and quickly when you move it from the freezer to the fridge.- Preserve Moisture: Pour a thin layer of olive oil over the top of the hummus. Don’t use too much, because you don’t want super oily dip when you thaw it back out! This is a great trick to prevent moisture loss when freezing hummus, especially since olive oil is already an ingredient, so it won’t throw your flavor off!
- Freeze Up to 4 Months: Hummus can be frozen for up to four months. However, the less time it spends in the freezer the better, since prolonged freezing can have negative effects on flavor and texture. Plus, who could freeze hummus for that long without pulling it out and eating it?
- Prepare to Thaw: The day before you want to eat it, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator. It takes at least a few hours to thaw until it’s ready to eat – and it can take longer depending on how much is frozen in the container, which is why you shouldn’t freeze hummus in large batches.
- Stir it Up: Once the dip has thawed, stir it up! Freezing hummus can separate the oils and solids, so a good stir will help to restore texture and homogenous taste.
“Can I freeze hummus?” This common question is easily answered: Follow these simple steps and your next hummus freeze will be a breeze! With minimal effort and a simple understanding of errors to avoid, you can freeze hummus store bought without worry – and come back to a treat as tasty as the one you left.
