Whether you're prepping for a big party or you have some leftovers that you want to use for later, you must be wondering- can you freeze buffalo chicken dip?
Buffalo chicken dip is actually one of the most versatile appetizers out there, and comes together quickly using just a few simple ingredients.
In fact, you can always make a small batch and store it for later, ready for when you have some unexpected guests pop up, and you need to serve something quickly.
Well, here's answering all your pressing questions and much more.
Read to get all the insights you need about storing your buffalo chicken dip for later- in the refrigerator and the freezer, the correct way to do it, how long the dip can stay fresh and some good ways to reheat and serve it.
Jump to:
- Can I Prep the Buffalo Chicken Dip Ahead of Time?
- How Long Can the Buffalo Chicken Dip Be Stored?
- How Can I Tell if the Dip Has Gone Bad?
- Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip?
- The Correct Way to Freeze Homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip
- How to Reheat Frozen Buffalo Chicken Dip
- How to Use Up Leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip
Can I Prep the Buffalo Chicken Dip Ahead of Time?
If you're planning for a big party, this savory and cheesy dip is sure to be a total crowd pleaser. But that's not even the best part- you can actually make buffalo chicken dip ahead of time and store it for later too.
How Long Can I Let the Dip Stay Out at Room Temperature?
Even the simplest buffalo chicken dip recipe calls for the use of cream cheese, buffalo sauce and some shredded chicken as the key ingredients. These ingredients do not stay well at room temperature, and there's always a risk of spoilage.
You can let the dip stay out for up to 2 hours, no more than that.
How Long Can the Buffalo Chicken Dip Be Stored?
Your buffalo chicken dip can be stored for anywhere between 3-90 days, depending on how you store it. If you want to store the dip for a shorter span, you might want to refrigerate it.
Also Read: Can You Freeze Pico de Gallo?
If you want it to last longer, and are planning to prep it weeks ahead of time, you may want to freeze the dip.
PinHow Long Can the Dip Last in the Fridge?
When stored correctly in an airtight container, your cooked chicken dip can stay fresh for 2-3 days, if not more.
Remember that if you store chicken dip in the fridge, it might dry up a bit and get thicker than you would want it to be. To fix this, you can add a bit of milk, buttermilk or even water for that matter before you reheat the dip to help lend it a bit of extra moisture.
How Long Does Buffalo Chicken Dip Last in the Freezer?
The buffalo chicken dip can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can do this for any leftover dip that you may have, or even your batch of buffalo dip that hasn't been cooked yet.
How Can I Tell if the Dip Has Gone Bad?
There are several ways to tell if buffalo chicken dip has gone bad.
- If the texture of the dip has changed, and the dip has started to separate or appear lumpy, it might be a sign that the dip has gone bad.
- Another way to find out if the buffalo chicken dip is bad is to give it a quick smell and taste. If the dip tastes or smells off-putting, it is a clear sign it has gone bad.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip?
You sure can! Freezing the dip can help it last longer, and can help you serve it when you want to.
By freezing the creamy buffalo chicken dip, you can ensure the dip stays fresh for longer than it would, and can enjoy it when you really want to.
All you'll need to do is follow some simple instructions to ensure that it still remains the creamy and delicious dip that you want it to be.
PinCan You Refreeze the Buffalo Chicken Dip?
Freezing leftover buffalo chicken dip is one thing, and refreezing it is another.
You can, however, do both, if you do it right. Remember to first thaw the dip, cook it and serve it as you would. If you have any leftovers of the cooked buffalo chicken dip, you can first allow them to cool down completely and then transfer them to a freezer safe container before you pop them back into the freezer again.
You can also use a freezer bag if you don't have a freezer safe container. The purpose of doing this is to prevent freezer burn and maintain the texture of the dip after you've thawed it.
Does Freezing Affect the Dip?
Now that you've got your answer to the question- can you freeze buffalo chicken dip, it is time to understand if freezing changes the texture of your dip mixture in any way.
Also Read: Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
Well, truth be told, chicken dip is best made and served fresh, and freezing, thawing and reheating it can slightly affect its texture. That said, the flavors of the dip remain the same if you've stored it correctly.
The Correct Way to Freeze Homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip
To make sure you do it right, follow these tips for freezing leftover buffalo chicken dip.
- Always use an airtight container or freezer bag to store your batch of buffalo chicken dip.
- You can also store buffalo chicken dip that has been cooked earlier, that too in the same baking dish you've put it together. Just remember to cover the dish in a some cling wrap and then in a layer of aluminum foil before you freeze it.
- Another important tip you'll need to keep in mind when freezing leftover dip is to allow it to cool down completely. Doing this will ensure that there are no ice crystals that form due to freezing of the condensation.
How to Reheat Frozen Buffalo Chicken Dip
Your frozen buffalo dip can be reheated in many different ways.
You can transfer the dip in an oven-safe container and pop the dip in a preheated oven for a few minutes until the dip is bubbly and reaches its perfect, creamy consistency.
You can also place the dip in a microwave-safe bowl and reheat buffalo chicken dip for around 5-10 minutes or until the dip has a uniform consistency. If you're using the microwave, you'll need to be careful to keep stirring the dip at every 30 second interval to keep it from burning.
If you're planning to reheat a small portion of the dip, you can use the stovetop too! Simply transfer the dip into a saucepan (ideally a non stick one) and use low heat and constant stirring to get it to the right texture.
PinDo I Need to Thaw the Dip Before Reheating?
Yes, you definitely need to.
It is actually pretty easy to thaw frozen buffalo chicken dip. All you need to do is to transfer the frozen dip in the refrigerator and let it stay there overnight.
You may be tempted to reheat the dip in the microwave just as you remove it from the freezer, but I would advise against it, simply because the ingredients in the dip might separate and turn grainy when they are rapidly defrosted.
Defrosting the dip slowly, on the other hand, will help the dip stay creamy and delicious, just as it should be.
How to Use Up Leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip
There are tons of ways to serve buffalo chicken dip, whether they are leftovers or not.
The dip has the perfect balance of flavors from the cheese (usually blue cheese or cheddar cheese or cream cheese), the sour cream, the buffalo sauce, the rotisserie chicken, which makes it super versatile.
You can serve it as a dip at a party with an assortment of dippers like crackers, garlic bread, veggie sticks (think cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, celery and bell pepper strips) and even some buffalo chicken wings.
The unbeatable combination of chicken and dairy in this dip means that you can also turn this into a delicious spread for your sandwiches and wraps.
This chicken dip is a great snack to enjoy along with some tortilla chips, whole grain crackers, pretzels, pita chips or even some toasted baguette.
This dip is great served over some homemade French fries, baked potatoes, into a quesadilla or even some pizza.
