Can you freeze beef stew.....

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-19-2010, 11:06 AM

Today dh and ds are gone all day and i mean all day... until like 1 or 2 tomorrow morning....once in a while they go gaming. So i am planning on making some beef stew and would like to make a huge batch and have enough to freeze... no pressure cooker or i would can....
I have already cleaned out the fridge and found some old apples in there that were still hard but have been in there long enough so no one would eat them... I have cut them up and put them in the dehydrater...
Dh had to go to town before he left and so i asked him to pick up some good white trim paint so i can touch up the cupboards and the walls. i think after that i will call i god......

Thanks for all your help...

**NikoSan999** · 02-19-2010, 11:17 AM

I have froze it. I've never had issues with it. Some say the potatoes get mushy or whatever but I've not found that. I've even frozen potato soup. The only issue I've found is that I need to add a little water to the thawed out soup to thin it out a touch.

**2ndGenGranola** · 02-19-2010, 11:41 AM

We freeze l/o all the time for DH's lunch.

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-19-2010, 02:17 PM

I make big batches and freeze it too. Most things like soup, stew and chili freeze well.

**dcompton** · 02-19-2010, 03:11 PM

Hmmm. My potatoes always turned mushy, and I hated that so I never freeze it. What was I doing wrong? On the other hand, I don't mind eating it for days on end, so I usually have no need to freeze it at all.

**Ceashels** · 02-19-2010, 03:12 PM

I always make a 6 qt pot of beef stew and freeze what ever we don't eat on day 1. It is so nice to just pull out a container in the morning and have the meal already made. I also add a little water when reheating it and find my potato chunks can get a little mushy so I don't add them in too often.

**Natalie's Nesters** · 02-19-2010, 03:21 PM

I freeze big batches all the time! It's a nice easy dinner when I don not feel like cooking. I do this with soups and homemade meatballs. I'm getting a pot dirty, I'll double or triple the batch.

**AnW819** · 02-20-2010, 11:21 AM

I have frozen beef stew in the fridge now for about a month...gotta pull it out soon. Thanks for reminding me!

**YankeeMom** · 02-20-2010, 11:58 AM

My potatoes turn out like sponges after being frozen

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-20-2010, 12:36 PM

I figure what is left i will have dh take with him when he goes and works on a guys computer.. The guy doesn't have a whole lot of money and doesn't eat as much as he should so dh goes up and works on his computer when he needs it and this time I am gonna send him with the leftover stew....

**Wendy99** · 02-20-2010, 12:43 PM

aww that is so thoughful of you!! I have never tried freezing the stew before, but I assume it would be fine. Just an idea if your worried about the potatoes maybe next time make 2 batches (2 separate containers) and omit the potatoes in the one batch and just add them when you have them the next time ?? I'm not sure if that would work, but you could try (even maybe boil the cubed potatoes slightly before adding them to your leftover batch)

**Grainlady** · 02-20-2010, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

Hmmm. My potatoes always turned mushy, and I hated that so I never freeze it. What was I doing wrong? On the other hand, I don't mind eating it for days on end, so I usually have no need to freeze it at all.

If you normally use large Russett potatoes, which are high in starch, try using small "B" grade red potatoes or Yukons. I think these smaller potatoes, which are also lower in starch, work better in soup/stew that is stored in the freezer. Don't over-cook the potatoes. Only cook until just tender enough to easily poke your fork into them.