Ketchup is a popular condiment due to its many uses. It can be used for burgers, hot dogs, dipping sauces, sandwiches, and a lot of other foods. Most people will buy a bottle or two of ketchup to store at home. While it’s normal to store them at room temperature and the fridge, what about the freezer?
Can you freeze ketchup? Yes, you can freeze ketchup and it will last for a very long time. Since it’s a tomato-based product, ketchup will freeze very well, even at extremely cold temperatures. You can freeze ketchup in its original sealed bottle, an airtight container, or in an ice cube tray.
Does Ketchup Freeze Well?
Yes, ketchup freeze well due to the high content of water it has. It’s important to freeze them in a storage container that’s approved for freezer usage. The same goes for plastic bags. If using an ordinary bag or container, it will not be able to withstand the extremely cold temperature of the freezer. More than likely, the bag will tear and the container will crack when frozen.
Since ketchup is mostly water, you should not have any issues freezing it.
How To Freeze Ketchup
Freezing ketchup is quite simple and there are a couple of methods to do so. The method you use will depend on how much you’re planning to freeze.
Remember that ketchup is high in water, which means it will expand when frozen. Below are two great methods of freezing ketchup:
Freezing Ketchup in a Bottle
This is the most simple method of freezing ketchup. If you’ve bought ketchup that is sold in a bottle, you can freeze them depending on if it’s made from plastic or glass.
For a glass bottle, it’s usually not recommended to freeze the bottle as it may break during freezing. Most of the time, the glass bottle isn’t made for freezer storage unless otherwise, it says so on the bottle.
If the ketchup is in a plastic bottle, it should be fine to freeze it. The plastic is able to expand a little when it’s frozen. Just to be on the safe side of things, make sure to remove some of the ketchup from the bottle before freezing it. Doing so will allow plenty of room for the ketchup to expand when frozen.
Freezing Ketchup in Ice Trays
This method is great if you’re planning to freeze ketchup in small portions. It allows you to take just the right amount of ketchup from the freezer without having to worry about any leftovers.
Below are the steps to preparing and freezing ketchup in ice trays:
- Clean the ice tray thoroughly and make sure it’s free of dirt and debris.
- Pour the ketchup into the slots of the tray. Only fill it halfway in each slot. This will allow room for the ketchup to expand during freezing.
- Wrap the entire ice tray with a cling wrapper.
- Place the tray of ketchup into the freezer. Let it sit in the freezer for about 2-3 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, remove the ketchup from the freezer.
- Immediately transfer the cubes into an airtight container or freezer bag.
- If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air from it and seal the bag tightly.
- If you’re using an airtight container, make sure the lid doesn’t have any leaks in it. Seal the lid on the container tightly.
- Label the container or freezer bag with the date of freezing and place them into the freezer.
If you don’t have a lot of space in the freezer, you can stack the freezer bag on top of each other. Stack only 3 bags high to prevent the bottom from being damaged.
How to Defrost Frozen Ketchup?
It depends on what method you’ve used to freeze ketchup. If you freeze ketchup as ice cubes, you can simply add them to a recipe that calls for ketchup.
Otherwise, you can let them thaw at room temperature. Take the amount of frozen ketchup that you need and place it into a bowl. Make sure to keep it covered. This will prevent debris and pests from landing on the ketchup.
Leave it at room temperature for a couple of hours and it should be completely thawed.
From here, you may experience an issue with consistency. Due to content, the sauce will go towards the bottom and the water will float to the top.
If your ketchup has separated, just take a spoon and give it a good stir until all ingredients are perfectly mixed.
How Long Does Ketchup Last In The Freezer?
Ketchup that is properly stored will last up to 2 years. It could even last even longer if the temperature of the freezer is kept constant and the ketchup is left undisturbed.
Like all food that is frozen, ketchup will start to suffer freezer burn. The longer it’s kept in the freezer, the chances air will start to leak into the container and cause damage to the ketchup.
Can Frozen Ketchup Go Bad?
Frozen ketchup can go bad under 2 conditions: the ketchup is stored for a prolonged time in the freezer or it’s left to thaw for too long.
Like all other foods that are frozen, the longer that it’s being stored in the freezer, the higher the chance of it getting freezer burn. When it comes to ketchup, it’s no different.
Ketchup that is left to thaw for too long can go bad too. It’s generally safe to keep thawed ketchup in the fridge for weeks after it’s thawed. However, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Keeping the ketchup in the fridge without any covering will cause it to become hard as the moisture evaporates.
Can You Refreeze Ketchup?
Ketchup can be frozen again only if it’s been thawed in the refrigerator and it hasn’t thawed completely yet.
Ketchup is tomato-based and when it thaws, there’s a risk that it will be contaminated with bacteria. These bacteria thrive in conditions when the temperature is warm.
For that reason, it’s never a good idea to thaw ketchup at room temperature.
Also, if you’ve taken thawed ketchup and left it at room temperature for longer than 20 minutes, you should never refreeze ketchup.
Related Questions
Can you freeze the ketchup package?
It’s not recommended to freeze ketchup in a package. The package isn’t designed to be stored in the freezer. The material used is too thin and freezing it will cause the material to crack or tear.
Instead, you should transfer the ketchup in a package to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
Can you freeze homemade ketchup?
If you’ve made ketchup at home, you can freeze them. Using the same method as above to store. However, it won’t last as long as ketchup that is bought from the store as those have preservatives and additives to keep them fresh. For that reason, try to consume homemade ketchup within 2 months after freezing it.