How to Put Hot Spaghetti Sauce in the Freezer (How Long to Let it Cool)

If you have whipped up some delicious spaghetti sauce, but you have more than you immediately need, you can simply pop it into your freezer for easy use another time. However, there are a couple of tips that you should consider prior to putting your sauce in the freezer.

To put spaghetti sauce in the freezer allow it to cool on your bench until it stops steaming. Move it to a well sealed container like a Pyrex dish, plastic container or stainless steel container. Fill the container leaving at least 1/2 an inch gap to allow for expansion. Then move the container into the freezer. Label it with the date and type of food.

This article will explore the best ways to get your leftover spaghetti sauce into your freezer so that you can use it for up to six months. Find out how to freeze the sauce and the pasta together and check out two delicious homemade spaghetti sauce recipes, one with meat and one without.

Getting the Sauce Into Your Freezer

When you have hot spaghetti sauce that you need to put into your freezer, you should avoid letting it sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. This can risk harmful bacterial growth which could make you quite sick.

It is also not a good idea to put warm or hot spaghetti sauce directly into your freezer, as it can reduce the internal temperature of your freezer, which could make it warmer than it should be.

You need to cool your sauce off just enough that you can pop it into the freezer for storage. Below are two methods for cooling your spaghetti sauce to between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point it can be placed into your freezer.

Counter to Fridge to Freezer

One way you can get your hot spaghetti sauce cooled off safely is by letting it sit on your countertop for a short period of time until it stops steaming. Next, if you have not already put your sauce into a container, do so before putting the cooled spaghetti sauce in your fridge for around 2 hours to reduce the temperature further.

Your spaghetti sauce should now be at a temperature between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can be safely placed into your freezer for storage.

This technique is slightly time consuming and involves multiple steps, so if you would like a simpler and faster method, you may prefer the next one that is detailed.

To learn more about freezing spaghetti sauce in the glass container, check out my article here: Can You Freeze Glass Jars of Spaghetti Sauce? | What to Do Instead

Ice Water to Freezer

This method that you can use to quickly cool off your spaghetti sauce. This process uses a large bowl filled with ice water.

Pour your sauce into a sealed container, and submerge the sauce into the ice water. You can move the container around to help speed up the cooling process.

Once the spaghetti sauce is between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can move it into your freezer.

Best containers for freezing spaghetti sauce

When it comes to the container you decide to use for storing your spaghetti sauce in the freezer, you can choose freezer safe glass containers like Pyrex, plastic or even metal containers.

You can also use a resealable freezer bag for storing your sauce.

How to Defrost Spaghetti Sauce Safely

When it is time to defrost your frozen spaghetti sauce there are three great ways. These include using your fridge, cold water, and a microwave.

Keep in mind that you should avoid thawing out your spaghetti sauce at room temperature as harmful bacteria can potentially appear in the sauce if you do.

1. Fridge

This is the most time-consuming method for thawing out your sauce, but it is also the safest. You simply just need to leave your sauce in the fridge overnight or in the early morning if you need to use it by dinner time.

2. Cold Water 

If you find yourself pressed for time, you can use this method to defrost your spaghetti sauce in about two hours. You can place the sauce in a bowl or sink filled with cold water, and it will eventually thaw out.

3. Microwave

Although using this particular method should be a last resort, you can always utilize a microwave to thaw out your frozen spaghetti sauce. It can take a total of about 10 minutes to defrost, but make sure that you check on it every couple of minutes.

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (with ground beef)

To make a delicious homemade sauce, you will need a handful of ingredients. Check them out below:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup dried basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper

First, add a bit of salt and pepper to the ground beef, and cook it with the onion in a pan over the stove. After it has finished browning, drain the grease from the meat.

Next, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, sugar, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Mix up the ingredients, and bring the mixture to a boil.

At this point, you can add the water, combine it with the other ingredients, and let the mixture simmer for about a half hour. Once it has finished cooking, you can sprinkle the chopped basil leaves on top.

Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

This simple yet delicious meatless spaghetti sauce recipe requires the following ingredients:

• 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

The first step is to sauté the onion with the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the onion has become soft, add the minced garlic to the pan, and cook it for around 30 seconds.

Next, add the crushed and diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, sugar, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Then, get the mixture to a point where it is barely simmering.

Let the sauce simmer for about 25 minutes, or until it has reached the desired thickness, while crushing up the tomatoes.