Yes — hummus freezes well for up to about four months. Freeze it in an airtight tub with a little space at the top (it expands as it freezes) and a thin film of olive oil over the surface. Defrost it overnight in the fridge — never on the worktop — then stir well and beat in a little oil or water to bring back its creamy texture. Use it within a day or two and don’t refreeze it.
A tub of hummus has a way of being either devoured in an evening or forgotten at the back of the fridge until it is past its best. Freezing is the answer to the second fate, and it works far better than most people expect: the chickpea-and-tahini base takes to the freezer happily, and a batch made or bought in bulk can be portioned away for lunchboxes, mezze spreads and quick dips for weeks to come. If you would rather start from scratch, our simple homemade organic hummus makes a generous batch from a jar of chickpeas — designed for exactly this, half for the table and half for the freezer.
A note on the name before we begin: hummus and houmous are one and the same — the latter is the spelling you will see on most British supermarket shelves, the former the one most of the world types into a search bar. Whichever you buy or make, it freezes in exactly the same way.
Does hummus freeze well?
It does. The blend of blitzed chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic is stable enough to freeze and thaw without spoiling, though two things change along the way: the oil tends to separate, and the texture stiffens and can turn very slightly grainy. Neither is a problem — a brisk stir and a splash of olive oil or cold water once it has thawed bring it back to its silky self. A film of oil over the top before freezing also helps protect the surface from freezer burn.
A brisk stir and a splash of olive oil bring thawed hummus back to its silky self.
How to freeze hummus
- Portion it. Spoon hummus into small airtight tubs in the amounts you actually use, so you defrost only what you need.
- Leave headspace. Fill to about a centimetre below the rim — hummus expands as it freezes and will push off a too-full lid.
- Add a film of oil. Drizzle a thin layer of olive oil over the surface to seal it against the dry freezer air.
- Seal, label and date. Press the lid on firmly and note the date. Shop-bought hummus can go into the freezer unopened, in its own tub, up to its use-by date.
- Freeze. Lay tubs flat until solid.
How to defrost hummus
Move hummus from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw overnight. The Food Standards Agency is clear that the safe way to defrost any food is in the fridge, not at room temperature, so that it never sits in the warm “danger zone” where bacteria multiply — and hummus is a moist, chilled food that belongs cold. Once it has thawed, pour off or stir through any separated liquid, beat in a little olive oil or cold water to loosen it, and taste: a fresh squeeze of lemon lifts it after its time in the freezer. Treat defrosted hummus like any fresh food, use it within a day or two, keep it covered in the fridge, and don’t refreeze it.
How long can you freeze hummus?
Around four months for the best flavour and texture. It stays safe for longer if it has remained properly frozen, but the texture dries and the bright, lemony taste dulls the longer it sits, so it is at its best used within a few months.
- Freezer life: up to about 4 months for best quality
- Pack: airtight tub, headspace, a film of olive oil on top
- Defrost: overnight in the fridge — never on the worktop
- Revive: stir well; loosen with olive oil or cold water, lift with lemon
- Then: keep chilled, use within a day or two, don’t refreeze
Best ways to use frozen hummus
Defrosted hummus is at its happiest where a little textural change goes unnoticed: spread thickly into wraps and sandwiches, spooned onto a mezze plate with warm flatbread, thinned into a salad dressing, dolloped over roasted vegetables or grain bowls, or stirred into soups for body. Keeping a few small tubs in the freezer is one of the easiest ways to have a wholesome, protein-rich snack always to hand.
More family-friendly cookery
- Simple homemade organic hummus (make a batch, freeze half)
- Can you freeze butter?
- Can you freeze cheese? Which cheeses freeze best
- Can you freeze scones?
- All our family recipes
Sources & further reading
- Food Standards Agency — How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely.
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