4 Kits, Rice Separate -- Answer Above the Fold
Chop once, 4 kits, freeze flat. $14.80 for 16 servings (~$0.93 each), thaw 12h, simmer 15 min to 165FF. Rice never in same bag -- separate.
| Kit | Veg per kit | Liquid per kit | Freeze | Cook after thaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 cup frozen veg + carrot 1/2 inch + onion 1/4 | 3/4 cup broth + 1/2 can diced tomatoes | Flat quart 1 inch, rice separate small bag | Dump thawed + 1/2 cup water 15 min |
| 2 | Same + Italian | Same + bay leaf | Flat | Same 15 min |
| 3 | Same + extra carrots kid less onion | Same + tomato paste 2 tbsp | Flat | Same |
| 4 | Same + 1 can extra tomatoes | 3/4 cup broth | Flat | Same, carrots 1/2 inch holds 15 min not 1/4 inch |
Above-the-fold answer: Veg + tomatoes + broth in quart, rice par-cooked 10 min in separate small bag, both flat 1 inch. Thaw both 12h, simmer kit 15 min, fold in rice off heat.
What I Actually Tested -- Mushy Rice, Crystals, Thaw
- Price: Frozen veg $2.58 + diced tomatoes $2.38 + carrots $0.60 + onions $1.78 + broth $1.19 + rice $0.60 = $14.80 for 16 servings. Photo Sep 9.
- Rice mushy: Rice frozen in soup liquid went gummy paste after reheat -- starchy paste photo Sep 9 vs rice separate fluffy separate grains. Now separate always.
- Crystals 8 weeks: Single quart 3 weeks light rim ice, 8 weeks 1/2 inch rim dry edge needed 2 tbsp broth to loosen. Plastic pressed on surface + bag no crystals 8 weeks -- winner, photo.
- Thaw: Flat 1 inch 38FF at 12h flexible; ball 2 inch 28FF icy coin needed 24h.
Kits -- Short Lists
- Dice 2 onions, slice 3 carrots 1/2 inch (not 1/4 thin which went mushy after freeze 15 min), open 2 cans diced tomatoes.
- Per quart: 1 cup frozen veg straight from bag + carrots + onion + 1/2 can tomatoes + 3/4 cup broth + Italian 1 tsp. Straw air out, flat 1 inch.
- Par-cook 1.5 cups rice with 2.25 cups broth 10 min covered, divide into 4 small flat bags -- label
rice | Sep 9 | separate. - Tape both:
veg soup kit # | Sep 9 | 15 min | 160FFand matching rice bag. Sheet pan 3h then upright.
Why These Amounts
- Carrots 1/2 inch: 1/4 inch thin went soft mush after freeze-thaw 15 min; 1/2 inch held bite.
- 3/4 cup broth per kit: Enough to simmer without diluting -- 1 cup was thin soup needed reduction 5 min extra.
- Rice separate: 1.5 cups dry → 4.5 cups cooked split per kit ~1 cup each -- enough to stir in off heat.
Storage
- Fridge: Thawed kit 24h max. Cooked 4 days 40FF.
- Freezer: Flat 1 inch, straw, double-wrap, 3 months 0FF, FIFO. See how to freeze without freezer burn.
- Reheat: Simmer thawed kit 15 min to 165FF, fold in rice off heat.
September 9, 2026 Verification
Re-made 1 kit Sep 9 to re-photograph mushy vs separate rice -- updated photos Sep 9 with ruler 1 inch and tape 9/09.
Tested Sep 7-9, 2026 rice separate vs mixed + crystal. Original photos -- my 4 flat kits Sep 9, ruler 1 inch, rice bags separate, crystal rims, receipt Sep 9.
