Cherries are one of the fruits that’s popular during the summer. These fruits are great to eat fresh or to make a dessert. Also, cherries are the perfect addition to yogurts and smoothies. When it’s a cherry-picking season, you will probably be left with a lot of cherries. One way to use them up is to make cherry juice out of them. Then you’ll need to store it for later. Would freezing cherry juice be an option?
So, can you freeze cherry juice? Yes, you can freeze cherry juice. Depending on what you’ll be using them for, you can either freeze them in large portions or in smaller portions using the ice cube tray. Properly stored, cherry juice can last for up to 1 year in the freezer.
Does Cherry Juice Freeze Well?
Like most types of juice, cherry juice freeze very well. However, there’s a difference between frozen and fresh juice though. After freezing cherry juice, you may notice the taste of it is not that fresh.
When the cherry juice is frozen, ice crystals will form inside it. During the thawing process, the ingredients will separate a bit. You can use a spoon and stir the ingredients back together once it’s thawed.
However, if you’re going to use frozen cherry juice to make smoothies or use it for cooking, you won’t know the difference between frozen and fresh cherry juice.
How To Freeze Cherry Juice
When it comes to cherry juice, it’s simple and quick to freeze them. You have the option to freeze them in large portions or in small portions using the ice cube method.
Freezing Cherry Juice In Large Portions
If you’re going to use cherry juice for cooking or to make smoothies, freeze them in large portions.
Here’s how to freeze cherry juice in large portions:
Label
You’ll want to label the freezer bag first. After the bag is filled with cherry juice, it will be difficult to write on it.
Write the date of freezing on the freezer bag.
Portion
In each freezer bag, pour the juice into it. Keep a small gap at the top to allow the juice to expand when freezing.
Seal the Bag
For double added protection, you can add a second bag. This will help keep the juice from getting freezer burn and help prevent any spillage. Adding an extra bag is useful, especially when you’re freezing it for longer than 6 months.
Freezing
Place the freezer bag into the freezer for storage. Gently place them flat in the freezer until it is completely frozen. If you need space, you can stand them up.
Freezing Cherry Juice Ice Cubes
Consider using this method if you just need a small amount of cherry juice at a time. This works great for keeping a glass of water cold and used to make a small bowl of dipping sauce.
Here’s how to freeze cherry juice ice cubes:
Pour into Ice Cube Tray
Pour the cherry juice into each slot of the ice cube tray. Leave a little gap at the top of each slot. This will allow the juice to expand during freezing.
Flash Freezing
Place the tray of cherry juice into the freezer. Keep them flat to avoid the juice from running to one side.
Let it sit in the freezer for about 2-3 hours or until it’s completely frozen.
Bag Up
Once it’s completely frozen, remove the tray from the freezer. Immediately transfer the ice cubes into a freezer bag.
Seal It
Press on the bag to remove excess air from it. You can also use a straw to draw the air out from it.
After that, seal the freezer bag tightly.
Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the bag. Then place them into the freezer for storage.
Can You Freeze Canned Cherry Juice?
If you bought canned cherry juice, you probably wonder if you can freeze them. The answer to that will depend. If you are planning to freeze an unopened canned cherry juice, it’s not recommended. Doing so will cause the tin can to burst when the juice expands during freezing.
On the other hand, if the can is open, you can freeze cherry juice, but you’ll need to transfer them to an airtight container.
The process is the same as above to freeze cherry juice.
How Long Can You Freeze Cherry Juice?
Properly stored, cherry juice can last for up to 1 year in the freezer. After that time, you can still safely drink and use them, but the quality of the juice will deteriorate. After about a year, the taste of it will not be that flavorful and the ingredients will separate.
How Do You Defrost Cherry Juice?
When it comes to cherry juice, you have plenty of options to defrost them. Depending on what you’ll be using the juice for, you may not even need to defrost them at all.
If you’re planning on making smoothies, there’s no need to defrost them. Pop a couple of cherry juice ice cubes into the blender with other ingredients.
Also, to enjoy refreshing flavored water, you can add some cherry juice ice cubes from the freezer directly to the glass of water.
If you don’t need to use cherry juice right away, you can let them thaw in the fridge. Let them sit for a couple of hours, and it will completely be thawed.
Not only can you let them thaw, but you can also defrost the juice by heating them up. You can use the stovetop or microwave to do so.
Can You Refreeze Cherry Juice?
When it comes to refreezing most types of juice, you can do so only if it has not thawed completely yet. This goes the same for cherry juice.
However, once the cherry juice has thawed completely, you should not refreeze them again. Doing so will run the risk of the juice losing its taste and a chance of bacterial growth.
To prevent having to refreeze cherry juice, you should only remove the amount of juice you need from the freezer. Also, it’s a good idea to portion the juice, so you’ll need to take out what you need.
Other Questions about Cherry Juice
Can you freeze cherries?
Yes, you can freeze cherries. You’ll need to flash freeze them first on a baking tray. This will prevent the cherries from sticking to each other when it’s stored in the freezer. Then place them into a freezer bag or an airtight container, seal and label it with the date of freezing, and place them into the freezer. You can freeze fresh cherries for up to 6 months.