Prune juice may not be everyone’s favorite food or drink, but they are good for you and are great for making natural sweetness to a variety of pastry and oatmeal recipes. When you open a can of prune juice, it can be difficult to determine what to do with the remnants, which is probably why you’re wondering if you can freeze prune juice.
So, can you freeze prune juice? Yes, you can preserve prune juice through freezing. Prune juice can be frozen for 8 to 12 months. You can freeze it in small amounts or in larger quantities to use it for cooking or adding to recipes as needed.
Here an interesting fact comes that why we don’t call the prune juice plum juice? The reason is that prune is the dried form of plum. Plums have their own processed fresh juice. But we can’t call the prune juice plum juice.
Do Prune Juice Freeze Well?
As the prune juice contains dietary fibers, it may take some extra time to freeze than other juices. After that time, prune juice freezes well in the form of ice cubes. They freeze well and takes time for melting.
Due to the juice freezing well, you can store it for a long time. Bacteria can’t survive in this way. Without using any chemicals, you can preserve the prune juice.
How To Freeze Prune Juice?
Prune juice can be frozen through different methods. Here you will get the two useful methods for freezing prune juice.
Method 1 – Freezing Prune Juice As Ice Cubes
In this method, you can freeze prune juice in the form of ice cubes.
Step 1: Ice Tray
Grab an ice tray and clean it with water if it’s not clean. Then pour the juice into each slot. Leave a small space at the top to allow it to expand as it freezes. This will prevent it from spilling.
Step 2: Flash Freezing
Wrap a cling film over the entire tray. Then place the tray in the freezer for 8-10 hours, or leave it overnight. The process takes longer than other juices since prune juice contains fiber.
Step: Transfer To Freezer Bag
Once it’s completely frozen, remove the tray from the freezer. Immediately, transfer the ice cubes to a freezer bag. If you have a lot of prune juice cubes, use several bags as needed.
Once all the cubes are in the bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air and seal them tightly.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write down the content and date of freezing on the freezer bag. Then put it into the freezer for storage.
Method 2 – Freeze Prune Juice In Large Portions
In this method, you will get the other most popular method for keeping prune juice. You can simply store the juice in a bottle.
You can use any type of container for keeping prune juice, but make sure it’s safe for freezer usage.
Below are the steps to freezing prune juice in large portions:
Step 1: Find Containers
Find a container that is freezer-safe. If the container isn’t safe for freezer usage, it will crack when frozen. You will find yourself cleaning up the mess.
Step 2: Portion Out
Portion the prune juice into the container. When filling the container, leave about two inches of space at the top. The juice will expand as it freezes, and if you overfill the container, it may burst and create a mess.
Step 3: Seal The Container
Once the juice is in the container, grab the lid for it. Check the seal around the lid to make sure there are no damages to it. Just a small tear or crack will allow air and moisture into the container, which will destroy the prune juice.
If there are no damages, secure the lid to the container tightly. For added protection, you can wrap a plastic wrap over the top of the container before tightening the lid.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write down the content and date of freezing on the container. Then place it into the freezer for storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Prune Juice?
If you have opened a juice, and you want to preserve the leftovers, then freezing is the best option. Prune juice can be frozen for a long time period of about 10 -12 months easily.
On the other hand, if you are planning to use the juice within a week or so, you can refrigerate the juice instead. In the fridge, prune juice will last for about 10 – 12 days.
If the juice is not opened and sealed already, the juice doesn’t expire for 18-24 months, even at room temperature. The souring taste and its acidic nature keep away the bacteria.
How To Defrost Prune Juice?
If you want to defrost your prune juice, then take out the container / plastic bag/ bottle. Keep it at room temperature or overnight in the room. After melting, you can use it.
If you had frozen prune juice in the form of ice cubes, there’s no need to defrost them. Simply remove the ice cubes from the freezer and place them directly in the food while you’re making it.
Can You Refreeze Prune Juice?
The refreezing of prune juice is not recommended after the first process. The taste can be spoiled after refreezing prune juice. It’s better to use one-time frozen prune juice.
Prolonged freezing can spoil the taste and freshness, which is due to the fiber.
On the other hand, if you removed the prune juice from the freezer, and it hasn’t defrosted, you can place it back in the freezer. The texture and flavor of the juice won’t be affected.
Does Frozen Prune Juice Lose Its Flavor?
No, the frozen prune juice doesn’t lose flavor and color.
You can also store prune juice as smoothies as well. Place ice into the smoothies to make the juice less thick.
Related Questions
How long can you leave prune juice out?
Prune juice should not be left out at room temperature for too long. The longest you should keep them is a maximum of 2 hours. After that, bacteria will start to contaminate the juice, which will cause it to go bad.
Ideally, it’s best to store them in the fridge once you’re done using the prune juice.
Can you drink expired prune juice?
Once the prune juice is expired, and it’s also opened, you should not drink it. More than likely, the juice has gone bad and is contaminated with harmful bacteria. It should be discarded right away.