Rice Krispie treats, made with butter, rice cereal, and marshmallows, are a classic snack enjoyed by both children and adults. There are various variants of this delectable dessert that contain chocolate, sprinkles, cookies, and crushed sweets. When you cook a batch at home, you often go beyond and wind up with dozens left over. Because they have a limited shelf life, you must either consume them all or store them in a way that allows them to survive longer.
So, can Rice Krispie treats be frozen? Yes, you can freeze Rice Krispie treats even if they contain melting marshmallows – the freezing process is unaffected. Both homemade and store-bought Rice Krispies can be frozen.
Freezing Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are not only wonderfully tasty, but they are also quite simple to freeze. You would not expect these delicious snacks’ ingredients to freeze well, but you’d be pleasantly surprised! Rice Krispies cereal, a traditional cereal prepared with crisped rice and a lot of sugar that has been a household name in the US for years, is the base for Rice Krispie treats.
Butter and marshmallows are additional components that can both be frozen for a brief period of time. You can modify the recipe to include more ingredients or buy premade chocolate Rice Krispie treats at the shop. In either case, freezing them is not a concern because another item that preserves well in cold storage is chocolate. The
How To Freeze Rice Krispie Treats
You can simply freeze both handmade and store-bought Rice Krispie treats, albeit the process is slightly different for each product. Here are the simplest and most effective methods for freezing Rice Krispie treats.
Freezing Homemade Rice Krispie Treats
What you need to do is as follows:
Let your batch of Rice Krispie treats cool entirely after you’ve finished making them.
Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut them into the appropriate shape once they have cooled.
Each Rice Krispie treat should be thoroughly covered with cling wrap to prevent moisture from penetrating and freshness from evaporating.
Put the individually wrapped snacks in a container or freezer bag.
To reduce the chance of freezer burn, if you’re using a bag, be sure to let as much air out as you can. Make sure the container is well-sealed if you’re using one.
Put the date on the bag or container so you can
Flash-Freezing Homemade Rice Krispie Treats
The freezing procedure described above is called flash-freezing. What you’ll need to accomplish is as follows: Allow the Rice Krispie treats to cool before wrapping them in wax paper. Wrap the whole thing or split it into smaller pieces to wrap separately. Place the wrapped goodies in the freezer for 1-2 hours, or until completely frozen.
When the goodies are totally frozen, wrap them in cling wrap and place them in a freezer bag or container. Again, if you’re using a bag, make sure to get rid of as much air as possible to reduce the danger of freezer burn. If you’re going to use a container, be sure it’s well-sealed.
Freezing Store-Bought Rice Krispie Treats
It’s just as simple to freeze homemade Rice Krispie Treats as it is to freeze store-bought ones. They can be frozen without any special preparation if they are still in their original packaging and have not been opened. After opening the treat package, place each treat back into its own piece of cling wrap. After you’ve wrapped them, put them in a freezer bag and press out all the air before you seal it. Make sure to date the freezer bag and keep it flat in the freezer.
How Long Do Rice Krispie Treats Last In The Freezer?
If the packaging hasn’t been harmed or compromised in any way, store-bought Rice Krispie treats can last up to several days at room temperature after the best-by date indicated on the container. If you have created Rice Krispie treats at home, they only last around two days when kept at room temperature and sealed in an airtight container. As direct sources of heat, light, and humidity will hasten the deterioration process, you must keep them away from all of these.
Rice Krispie treats will begin to spoil as soon as the butter goes bad because it is one of the primary ingredients. When it comes to homemade Rice Krispie treats and unwrapped store-bought goodies, refrigeration is a fantastic way to keep them fresh. They should last for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Depending on how well they have been stored and the other materials required to prepare them, the overall duration will vary.
It is advisable to keep them in an airtight container if you want them to keep as long as possible in the refrigerator. This will assist in keeping out moisture and bacteria, both of which can hasten the spoilage of the sweets.
The best option is to freeze them if you want to keep them for even longer. Rice Krispie treats can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months if they are handled carefully and stored according to the aforementioned recommendations.
But keep in mind that if frozen for too long, the rice cereal may lose its crunch and the quality of the sweets may suffer. The ideal time to consume them is therefore within a month.
Factors To Consider When Freezing Rice Krispie Treats
Because Rice Krispie treats freeze well, you can prepare a large quantity and freeze it for later use. If you make the goodies at home, use the best ingredients you can find for the greatest results. The quality of the ingredients has a significant impact on how well the treats freeze and thaw. Using low-quality rice cereal, for example, will make the snacks gritty or soggy, affecting both the taste and quality.
The manner in which you store them will also have a significant impact on how they turn out. The treats will keep for up to 6 months if they are well-sealed and kept at the proper temperature in the optimum storage conditions. You can either freeze the entire plate of Rice Krispie treats or freeze each piece separately. Both ways are effective, and you may select which one is best for you based on how you want to use the treats later.
You can freeze the entire tray if you intend to defrost and consume it all at once. If you intend to use small quantities each time and over a period of time, we recommend freezing them individually so that they are easy to defrost and use.
Individual pieces will also take up significantly less space than a large slab of Rice Krispie treats. They are also extremely easy to use and pack for your child’s school lunch. If you refreeze the treats after thawing them, the taste, texture, and general quality will suffer significantly.
How To Make Rice Krispie Treats At Home
Rice Krispie treats are incredibly simple to make at home. It is a straightforward dish that both children and adults adore. You may either make the traditional plain Rice Krispie treats or create a creative variant by adding delicious ingredients. There are several ways to elevate them, including by including vanilla, chocolate, sprinkles, and more.
Typically, Rice Krispie treats are spread out on a pan and then cut into squares or rectangles. As an alternative, you can mold the mixture with your hands in order to produce your own distinctive and preferred shapes. After they have cooled down, you can cut them with cookie cutters if that sounds like too much labor.
Ingredients
- Rice Krispie cereal
- Butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Any desired additional ingredients (ex. chocolate chips, sprinkles, or M&M’s)
Instructions
1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows.
2. Continue to stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.
3. Pour in the crispy rice cereal – if using any other ingredients, now is the time to add them.
4. Toss all of the ingredients together with an oiled spatula to thoroughly coat the cereal.
5. Spread the mixture in a uniform layer on an oiled baking pan (sprayed with cooking oil) with a spatula.
6. Firmly press it down with the spatula or wax or parchment paper.
7. Set aside to cool completely.
8. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut it into squares or rectangles.
9. Serve immediately or save for later.
Tips For Making Rice Krispie Treats At Home
The most common problem when preparing Rice Krispie treats at home is that they get hard. Here are a few pointers to keep your Rice Krispie treats from becoming too hard: Do not turn up the heat on the stove. Unless you want rock-hard treats, melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat.
Avoid overcooking the marshmallows and butter. Remove the marshmallows from the flame as soon as they have melted. They will get hard if you continue to boil them.
Avoid over-stirring the mixture once you’ve added the rice cereal. If you keep stirring, a lot of the cereal will shatter and become dense when distributed in the baking pan. Avoid packing the batter into the baking pan too tightly. Pressing too tightly will result in compact treats rather than the gooey and light nibbles you desire. Store them correctly, away from direct heat, sunlight, and humidity.
Can You Freeze Chocolate-Covered Rice Krispie Treats?
Doesn’t chocolate make everything better? If you appreciate chocolate, you can add melted chocolate to the top of your Rice Krispie treats to further enhance the delectable flavor of the rice cereal, marshmallows, butter, and chocolate. Yum! All you have to do to make chocolate-covered Rice Krispie treats is spread the rice cereal mixture in a baking dish and drizzle some melted chocolate on top.
Before cutting the Rice Krispie treats into the desired form, allow the chocolate to cool and firm. Before pouring the final layer of melted chocolate on top, you can freeze chocolate-covered Rice Krispie treats.
Slice and remove the Rice Krispie treats from the pan after they have cooled. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months by wrapping them snugly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe bag.When you’re ready to use them, defrost them and top the sweets with melted chocolate before serving.
How To Tell If Rice Krispie Treats Have Gone Bad
Preservatives are added to store-bought Rice Krispie treats to extend their shelf life. They have a best-by date and can last for a long time if left unopened and in their original packaging. Homemade Rice Krispie treats, on the other hand, have no preservatives and, because they contain butter, which can become rancid if left at room temperature for too long, they can spoil considerably faster.
Because Rice Krispie treats do not contain much moisture, they do not generate a detectable stench as they begin to spoil. As a result, visually inspecting and feeling the texture of your Rice Krispie treats is the easiest way to detect if they’ve gone bad.
Discolored patches, hairy growth, and the presence of mold are all evident indicators of ruined Rice Krispie treats. If you see any of these, the Rice Krispie treats should be avoided. Storing Rice Krispie treats for an extended period of time may change their taste and texture, causing them to become stale or very mushy to the touch.
This does not mean that the sweets are no longer edible; they can still be consumed, but their quality will be much diminished. Rice Krispie treats, on the other hand, may become subject to freezer burn if frozen incorrectly or for an extended period of time, affecting the texture and flavor of the sweets.
Related Questions
Now that you know all about Rice Krispie treats and how to freeze them, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have!
How do you thaw frozen Rice Krispie treats?
Rice Krispie treats may be quickly and easily defrosted. Remove them from the freezer, then leave them at room temperature for about an hour. Once they have fully defrosted, you can consume them.
How do you use leftover Rice Krispie treats?
There are numerous ways to repurpose leftover Rice Krispie treats. You may eat them as a quick dessert, add them to other recipes like brownies, crumble them over ice cream, or layer them on a cake with chocolate icing.