Pineapple is a tropical fruit that has a sweet taste and high content of water. Some people will extract the juice from the pineapple to make their favorite drink or use them in cooking. If you’ve bought a carton of pineapple juice or make them yourself at home, you often have only 2-3 days to use them before it goes bad. Can you freeze pineapple juice to keep them fresh longer?
Can you freeze pineapple juice? Yes, you can freeze pineapple juice, whether it’s freshly squeezed at home, from a tin can, or from a carton. You can either freeze the juice in large portions or in ice cubes. Properly stored, pineapple juice will last for up to a year in the freezer.
Does Pineapple Juice Freeze Well?
Like most other juice, pineapple juice freeze very well. You may notice a slight change in the texture and taste when it thaws though.
If you’re going to drink the juice fresh, simply use a spoon to stir it to mix the ingredients back together.
If you’re using pineapple juice for cooking or making a drink, you won’t be able to tell the difference between frozen and fresh juice.
How To Freeze Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice is easy and quick to freeze. You don’t need a lot of time preparing them.
When it comes to freezing pineapple juice, there are a couple of different methods you can try.
Below are the methods with instructions for freezing pineapple juice:
Freezing Large Portion Of Pineapple Juice
If you love to drink pineapple juice or use it often, you should freeze the juice in large portions. Below are the steps in detail to freezing the juice in large portions:
Storage Containers
Use an airtight container that’s safe for freezer usage. You can either use a plastic or glass container. Both work very well and will withstand the freezing temperature.
Avoid using freezer bags. For juice in large portions, it could cause the bag to tear.
Portion Out
Pour the pineapple juice into the containers. Make sure to leave about an inch of space at top of each container. The juice will expand during freezing, and if you don’t leave some space, the juice may leak out of the container and cause a mess.
Seal
Squeeze out the air from the bag with your hand. You can also use a straw to draw the air out. Then seal the freezer bag tightly.
Label and Freeze
With a marker, write down the date of freezing. Then place them into the freezer.
Freezing Pineapple Juice In Cubes
Freezing pineapple juice in ice cubes is a great method for small uses of the juice.
If making smoothies or ice for a glass of water, pop a few ice cubes into them. This will give the drink a cool and refreshing pineapple flavor.
Besides, you can give soups and curries an additional pineapple flavor by adding some ice cubes to the dish while it’s cooking.
Below are the steps to freezing pineapple juice ice cubes:
Ice Cube Tray
Grab an ice cube tray and clean it thoroughly first. Then pour a little pineapple juice into each slot. Leave a little gap at the top of each slot to allow the juice to expand during freezing.
Flash Freezing
Cover the tray with a layer of cling film. Then place the tray into the freezer. Flash freeze the juice for about 1-2 hours or until it’s completely frozen.
Bag Up
Once the pineapple juice is frozen, remove the tray from the freezer. Immediately transfer the ice cubes to a freezer bag.
Seal
Press on the bag to remove any excess air from it. Also, you can use a straw to draw the air out of the bag. Then seal the bag tightly.
Label and Freeze
Write down the date of freezing on the bag. Then place the bag of pineapple juice ice cubes into the freezer.
Can You Freeze Canned Pineapple Juice?
Yes, you can freeze canned pineapple juice. However, it’s recommended that you do not freeze the entire can. Doing so will result in the can breaking during freezing. This is caused by the juice expanding when it’s frozen.
If it’s not open yet, you’re better off storing them in the pantry or fridge. The can is sealed tight and will preserve the pineapple juice for a long time.
If you’ve opened the can and have some leftovers, you’ll need to transfer them to an airtight container. Keep about an inch of space at the top of the container to allow the juice to expand. Secure the lid to the container and place it into the freezer.
Freezing canned pineapple juice will last for up to 1 year. You’ll want to use it much sooner for the best quality.
How Long Can You Freeze Pineapple Juice?
If the pineapple juice is properly stored, it will last for about 8 to 12 months. This means storing the juice in an airtight container with a constant temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
After that time, it’s still safe to drink pineapple juice, but the quality of it will deteriorate. You may find the juice isn’t very refreshing and a bit bland.
How Do You Defrost Pineapple Juice?
It depends on what you’ll be using pineapple juice for. If it’s going to be used to make a smoothies drink, you don’t need to defrost it at all. Simply take them out from the freezer and place them directly into the blender with other ingredients if you like.
For cooking, defrosting isn’t needed as well. If you made pineapple juice ice cubes, simply remove them from the freezer and add them to your cooking.
If you want to enjoy fresh pineapple juice, you can thaw them in the fridge. Remove the juice from the freezer, place them into a bowl and let it sit in the fridge for about 3-4 hours. Once it’s thawed, the ingredients may separate a bit. Just use a spoon and give it a quick stir.
Can You Refreeze Pineapple Juice?
Refreezing pineapple juice is not recommended. Freezing them a second time will cause the texture and taste of the juice to degrade.
Once the pineapple juice is frozen again, the texture will start to break up. When you thaw the juice, you’ll notice that the ingredients in the juice have separated. This will result in the juice being bland.
Other Questions about Pineapple Juice
Can you freeze pineapple juice for smoothies?
If you’re making smoothies, pineapple juice works perfectly. Just take some cubes of pineapple juice from the freezer and place it directly into the blender with other ingredients. You’ll get a refreshing taste while keeping the smoothie cold.