How To Freeze Cooked Farro

Freezing cooked farro is easy and a great way to prepare this hearty grain for other dishes in the future.

Farro, a versatile ancient grain with a nutty flavor and chewy texture, has become a staple in my kitchen. It's not only delicious but also a nutritional powerhouse, packed with fiber, protein, and essential nutrients. If you find yourself with a surplus of this delicious grain and are wondering "can I freeze cooked farro?", I'm happy to tell you that yes, you can. And it's a great way to meal prep for the future. In this guide, I'll describe what farro is, various cooking methods, and step-by-step instructions on how to freeze cooked farro and store this wholesome grain for future use.

In This Post

• What is Farro?
• Why Freeze Cooked Farro? 
• Various Ways to Cook Farro
• How to Freeze and Store Cooked Farro
• How To Warm Frozen Farro
• Ways to Use Frozen Cooked Farro.
• Recipe
• Comments

What is Farro?

Farro is an ancient wheat grain that has been cultivated for thousands of years. It's known for its rich, nutty flavor and chewy texture. This healthy whole grain comes in different varieties, including emmer, spelt, and einkorn. (Emmer is usually what you'll find sold in grocery stores in the US.)

Farro is an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a popular choice for those seeking nutritious whole grains. It makes a delicious side dish, is super versatile and can be added to salads, soups, or casseroles. It can even be served as a main dish, as in this delicious Farro With Blistered Tomatoes and Pesto. 

Why Freeze Cooked Farro? 

There are lots of reasons!

• Great for batch cooking. When cooking on the stovetop or slow cooker, the cooking time can often be long - especially if you are making whole grain farro. Making a big batch of farro to use for future meals saves lots of time.  
• Convenience. Freezing cooked farro makes it super easy to add to your favorite recipes whenever you need it. 
• Meal prep. I love storing pre-portioned amounts of cooked farro, each in an individual plastic bag or other freezer-safe container, for meal prep. It makes it easy to pull out exactly what I need when I need it.

Various Ways to Cook Farro

Before we get into how to freeze cooked farro, let's explore different methods of cooking farro. Whether you prefer the speed of an Instant Pot, the traditional stovetop approach, or the slow and steady process of a slow cooker, cooking farro is fairly straightforward and similar to cooking rice.

Instant Pot Method

Your pressure cooker or rice cooker is a great way to make farro quickly and easily. 

• Rinse one cup of farro under cold water.
• Combine farro with water or broth in the Instant Pot.
• Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes, followed by a natural release of 7 minutes before manually venting.
• Drain any extra liquid from the farro and serve/store.
• (Click here for a full step-by-step method of cooking Instant Pot Farro.)

 Stovetop Method

• Rinse one cup of farro under cold water.
• Bring a large pot of water or broth to a boil.
• Add the rinsed farro to the boiling water, then reduce to medium heat to simmer.
• Cook for 20-30 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally to prevent the farro from sticking to the bottom.
• Drain any extra liquid from the farro and serve/store.

Slow Cooker Method

• Rinse the farro under cold water.
• Combine one cup of farro and 3 cups of water or broth in the slow cooker.
• Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until tender.
• Drain any excess water from the farro and serve/store.

(Note: There are different types of farro - whole farro, semi-pearled farro and pearled farro. Semi-pearled farro and pearled farro have part or all of the bran removed, which helps reduce some of the cook time. The instructions above assume that you are using semi-pearled or pearled farro.)

How to Freeze and Store Cooked Farro

Freezing cooked farro is a straightforward process that ensures you have a ready-to-use supply whenever you need it. It's the best way to have this nutritious grain ready when you need it, and it's a great addition to your freezer stash of quick recipes. Follow these simple steps, and you'll be able to use this delicious grain at the drop of a hat for future meals.

1. Cook the farro according to one of the methods above. Allow the cooked farro to cool to room temperature.
2. Spread the cooked farro on a baking sheet. Run a large sheet pan under cool water. Let the water run off, but do not dry the pan. This ensures the grains won't stick as they dry. Spread the cooked farro evenly in a single layer on the baking sheet to prevent clumping during freezing.

3. Freeze for 2 hours. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for approximately 2 hours or until the farro is frozen.

4. Transfer to airtight containers. Once frozen, transfer the farro to an airtight container or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.

How To Warm Frozen Farro

One of the best things about using frozen farro is that you don't need to thaw it before using it. Thawing it actually may make the texture a bit gummy. You can even toss farro into your dishes straight from the freezer. Here are a few ways to do it:

• Microwave. Simply place the farro in a microwave-safe bowl and add 1 tablespoon of water to the dish. Cover and heat in the microwave in 1-minute bursts until the farro is fully thawed and warmed. 
• Stovetop. Add the frozen farro to a medium-sized saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of water. Cover the pan and place it over low heat until warmed through. Stir the grains occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
• Cook from frozen! Depending on the dish, you can easily add the frozen grains directly to it so that they cook along with your meal. This works especially well with things like soups, skillets or stir fries. 

Ways to Use Frozen Cooked Farro.

Now that you have a stash of frozen farro, get creative with how you use it:

• In place of rice or other grains. You can substitute farro for almost any other grain such as white or brown rice, quinoa, or barley. 
• Salads. Thaw and toss frozen farro into vibrant salads for added texture and nutrients.
• Soups and stews. Stir frozen farro directly into soups and stews for a heartier, nutritious meal.
• Stir-fries. Add a nutritious twist to stir-fries by incorporating frozen farro.
• Grain bowls. Thaw and reheat the frozen farro and add it to a bowl filled with veggies, proteins and your favorite sauce for a quick dinner.
• Breakfast bowls. Start your day right by adding thawed farro to your breakfast bowl with yogurt and fruits.
• On its own. Farro is a great base for many dishes, but that doesn't mean it can't be the star of the show! Add a bit of olive oil or butter, some fresh herbs and a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese and you have a perfect light dinner or lunch in just a few minutes. 

Freezing cooked farro is a simple and effective way to extend its shelf life while maintaining its nutritional value. It's one of my favorite ways to meal prep and it makes dinner time quick and easy, without the hassle or time of preparing farro from scratch. 

If you try this method for freezing cooked farro, let me know what you think in the comments below! And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram - I'd love to see how you use your frozen farro!

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