Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip?
Can you freeze buffalo chicken dip? Some food is meant to be served at room temperature or chilled. But sometimes, we want to freeze our favorite foods as well. Find out if you can freeze Buffalo chicken dip and what precautions you need to take when freezing or reheating.
You can freeze buffalo chicken dip. Also, you can freeze it before cooking. You just need to freeze it for a short term, but this will be helpful if you don’t want to cook it right away. After freezing, you can thaw the buffalo chicken dip and cook it as usual. The original color of the crust will remain, although there may be a slight color difference.
As long as it’s not made with cream cheese, this low-fat version tastes great and is low in calories (less than half of the restaurant version), making it a great option for your upcoming party.
Can I Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip?
You can freeze buffalo chicken dip, and it will taste even better than the first time around.
Here are three simple steps:
1. Prepare the Buffalo Chicken Dip according to the recipe.
2. Place in a freezer container and seal tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
3. Freeze for up to 6 months—Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Freezing buffalo chicken dip is a great way to store it for extended periods, and the only thing you need to worry about is the thawing process. Then, when you’re ready to eat your dip again, let it sit at room temperature until it has fully thawed out, then give it a good stir and enjoy.
How Long Does Buffalo Chicken Dip Last in the Fridge
The answer to this depends on a few things:
1. What kind of dairy do you use? Dairy products like sour cream and cream cheese typically last three to five days. So if the recipe calls for these ingredients, the dip will likely last three to five days.
2. Does your dip include chicken? You should preserve your chicken in the refrigerator for one or two days after it’s cooked, but it will expire even sooner if you have chicken in your dip. That’s because mayonnaise is a perishable item, so combining it with other perishable items (like chicken) shortens its shelf life.
If you mix in sour cream and blue cheese dressing, you’ve got about 4-5 days.
And if you’re working with shredded cheese and blue cheese crumbles on top, you can leave your dip in the fridge for 6 days.
You’ll want to ensure that the dip is stored in an airtight container before putting it in the fridge with any of these concoctions.
The same goes for any perishable food mixed into your dip—it’ll only last as long as the shortest ingredient in its lifespan.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip?
If you want to do so, simply take your dip and place it in a freezer-safe container, leaving at least an inch of space around the top so that the dip can expand as it freezes. Then, cover or seal the container tightly, label it with the contents and date, and place it in the freezer.
It will keep for about six months.
If you’re freezing buffalo chicken wing dip made with cream cheese before baking, transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then follow your recipe’s baking time and temperature instructions.
How to Reheat Frozen Buffalo Chicken Dip
Using stovetop
For you to reheat frozen buffalo chicken dip, it’s best to let it thaw first. Place the dip in the refrigerator, and give it at least a few hours to thaw. Once it has thawed, you can reheat the dip in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring often.
If you want to warm up frozen buffalo chicken dip quickly, you can also place it in the oven at about 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.
In The Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen buffalo chicken dip in an oven-safe dish and bake until warmed through, about 20 minutes. Serve hot.
In The Slow Cooker
Place frozen buffalo chicken dip in the slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 2 hours or until warm, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.
In The Microwave
Transfer frozen buffalo chicken dip to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through, stirring in between each interval. It may take 1-2 minutes, depending on the microwave power level.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip with Cream Cheese?
You can freeze buffalo chicken dip with cream cheese for up to 2 months. After that, we recommend dividing the dip into single-serving portions and putting them in an airtight container or bag.
When ready to eat, just thaw the dip in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it in a double boiler over medium heat until it is steaming.
Just make sure to seal it airtight before freezing and keep it in your freezer for no longer than 3 months so that there is no risk of freezer burn.
However, it’s important to note that the cream cheese will separate when frozen, and the texture can get compromised.
Additionally, the sour cream in the dip can curdle when frozen.
What to Do with Leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo chicken dip is one of those classic appetizers that you always see at parties and family gatherings, but it can be hard to know what to do with any leftovers you might have.
If you’re just planning to store the dip in the fridge, make sure to put it in an airtight container and use it within 4 days. But instead of just popping it in the refrigerator, how about trying a few of these ideas?
1. Turn it into a meal: Heat some leftover buffalo chicken dip and turn it into a hearty soup by adding some chicken broth and veggies (you can even cook them in the same pot you used for the dip). Or mix in some shredded chicken or beef to make an easy, filling meal.
2. Re-purpose it as a topping: Use leftover buffalo chicken dip like you would taco meat or chili—as a topping for nachos, baked potatoes, rice bowls, or burritos.
3. Use it as a filling: Buffalo chicken dip makes an excellent filling for enchiladas and quesadillas. Simply spread the dip over tortillas and roll them up (or add cheese before folding your quesadilla closed).
4. Make more buffalo chicken: Double the recipe and freeze it in small portions to have buffalo chicken dip whenever you want.
5. Make buffalo chicken nachos: Instead of putting your leftover dip on tortilla chips and eating it plain, put your dip onto nachos with all the traditional toppings: lettuce (if you must), cheese (if you’re into that sort of thing), tomatoes (we know they’re good for us), and sour cream (because sour cream is life). Then eat those nachos with your leftover dip as if they were a meal.
6. Use up your leftover dip by making a buffalo chicken sandwich: Put the buffalo chicken dip on bread, and add some cheese.
How Far in Advance Can You Make Buffalo Chicken Dip
You can make buffalo chicken dip in advance, but I don’t recommend it.
The reason is that the cream cheese and ranch dressing will start to separate from the rest of the dish and make a watery mess. You can certainly make the ingredients ahead of time, though, so if you’re hoping to prep for a big gathering or family dinner, I suggest assembling it all in one bowl when you’re ready to serve it.
First, let’s talk about how long different components can be stored:
- Canned chicken: at least 2 years if unopened (and ideally 3 years if unopened); after opening, use within 3-4 days
- Ranch dressing: at least 2 years if unopened (and ideally 3 years if unopened); after opening, use within 14 days
- Buffalo sauce: at least 2 years if unopened (and ideally 3 years if unopened); after opening, use within 4 months
- Cream cheese: at least 2 years if unopened (and ideally 3 years if unopened); after opening, use within 5 weeks
However, if you want to make buffalo chicken dip for a party, you can make it up to a day in advance and keep it in the fridge. It will taste better if you can give it a few hours before serving, but if you need to eat it right away, that’s fine too.
If you’re not going to eat the dip within 24 hours of making it, freeze it instead and defrost it at least two hours before eating.
Can I Make Buffalo Chicken Dip the Night Before
It’s possible to make buffalo chicken dip the night before. It’s a great idea to do so; it’ll give all the ingredients a chance to get acquainted and shine together.
You can make buffalo chicken dip the night before and refrigerate it to eat the next day. You can reheat it on a stovetop or in an oven.
However, to keep the recipe as fresh as possible, don’t cook it until the morning of your party. Instead, simply mix all the ingredients and store them in an airtight container overnight. Then pop it in the oven for 30 minutes before serving.
In general, it is highly encouraged that you make it the night before so that the flavors can meld.
How to Defrost Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo chicken dip is used at parties, sporting events, and other get-togethers. But when you don’t have plenty of time or forget to plan, it can be difficult to defrost buffalo chicken dip quickly without breaking food safety rules or eating it undercooked.
If you have time but don’t have enough time to defrost buffalo chicken dip in the refrigerator, use this method:
1. Remove all packaging from the buffalo chicken dip.
2. Place the buffalo chicken dip in a freezer bag and seal it tightly.
3. Place the bag of buffalo chicken dip into a bowl of water that’s just barely warm to the touch. Don’t let any of the water get inside your bag—this is why the seal must be nice and tight!
4. Let your buffalo chicken dip defrost for 30 minutes at room temperature, checking on it every 10 minutes to make sure it’s not thawing too quickly or rapidly heating up outside.
However, If your dip was in the freezer for less than 24 hours, you can put it in the fridge and leave it there overnight. The chances are good that it’ll be thawed out and ready to go by morning. It also works if your dip has been frozen for a few days. Just make sure to leave enough time to thaw completely before serving.
If neither of those options works for you, or if your dip was in the freezer for longer than three days, you’ll need to take another route. First, don’t put your dip container directly into warm water: It could change the texture of your dip and cause ice crystals to form.
Instead, use a saucepan or bowl full of hot water and place your container inside that instead. Make sure no part of the container touches any part of the pan or bowl itself—only water should surround it.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip After Cooking
You can freeze buffalo chicken dip after cooking it. It is one of the easiest dishes to freeze. Just make sure the dip has cooled to room temperature before you put it in a container and follow these steps:
1. Choose a freezer-safe container large enough to hold your dip. If you don’t have one on hand, use a freezer bag instead.
2. Seal the container or bag tightly, then place it in your freezer.
3. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight when you’re ready to eat it. The defrosted dip should last for up to 3 days in the fridge, but don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Conclusion
After answering the question, can you freeze buffalo chicken dip? You will need to know that the best way to freeze buffalo chicken dip (or any other large-batch, hot or cold party dish) is to prepare it in smaller batches.
Whether you are preparing a fresh batch or flash freezing some leftover dip, defrosting it will maintain the texture and flavor of the dish.Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip.
