Watermelon juice is a summertime favorite. It’s especially good as a refreshing smoothie or as a healthy drink. If you enjoy using watermelon juice often, you may wonder if you can freeze them.
So, can you freeze watermelon juice? Yes, you can freeze watermelon juice. You can either freeze them in large portions or make watermelon juice ice cubes to add to drinks. Properly stored, watermelon juice will last for 4-8 weeks in the freezer.
Does Watermelon Juice Freeze Well?
Not only can you freeze watermelon, but you can freeze watermelon juice as well. The juice freezes very well, which is due to its high water content. After it’s thawed, there will be a slight change in flavor and texture if you’re going to drink the juice.
On the other hand, if you’re going to use them to make smoothies, you won’t notice any changes.
How To Freeze Watermelon Juice
When it comes to watermelon, the freezing process is straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of time. You can either freeze the watermelon juice in large portions or in small portions using the ice cube method.
Free Large Portion of Watermelon Juice
If you’re going to use a lot of watermelon juice to make drinks or for cooking, this is the method you should use. Below are the steps to freezing watermelon juice in large portions:
Step 1: Airtight Containers
Get the containers out and clean them thoroughly. Make sure the container is designed for freezer usage. A normal container will not be able to withstand the cold temperature and may break.
If you’re planning to use a freezer bag, I would highly not recommend it. While it will freeze fine, it may break when stored in the freezer, especially if you have a lot of other food stored as well.
Step 2: Portion Out
Pour the watermelon juice into the airtight containers. Leave about an inch of space at the top of the container. This will allow the juice to expand during freezing. If you don’t leave any space, the juice may burst out of the containers and make a mess in the freezer.
Step 3: Seal
Check the seal around the lid for damages. Seals are usually made from rubber and they will deteriorate over time. If there are any damages, replace the seal or get a new lid.
Then secure the lid to the container tightly.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, label it with the date of freezing and contents. Then place them into the freezer.
Freezing Watermelon Juice Ice Cubes
Another method to freezing watermelon juice is as an ice cube. This makes it great for making smoothies or in recipes that require just a small amount of watermelon.
Below are the steps to freezing watermelon juice in ice cubes:
Step 1: Preparation
Blend the watermelon as you would. Avoid using the seeds in the juice.
Step 2: Ice Cube Tray
Once the watermelon is blended, pour them into each slot of the ice cube tray.
Make sure to leave a small room at the top of each slot. This will allow the juice to expand and not overflow and make a mess.
Step 3: Flash Freezing
Wrap the ice cube tray with plastic wrap and place them into the freezer. Let it sit in the freezer for about 2-3 hours to freeze.
Step 4: Place in Freezer Bag
Once it’s completely frozen, remove the juice from the freezer. Immediately transfer the watermelon juice cubes to a freezer bag.
Then press on the bag to remove any excess air before sealing it.
Step 5: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the freezer bag. This will help you keep track of when the juice was frozen and when to use it by. Then place the bag of watermelon juice cubes into the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Watermelon Juice?
Like many other juices, watermelon juice doesn’t last very long in the freezer. Properly stored, watermelon juice will last for about 4 to 8 weeks.
After that time, the juice will still be safe to eat, but the quality of it will decrease. If you try to drink the watermelon juice, it will taste bland.
However, if you’re going to use watermelon juice to make smoothies, especially if it’s going to be mixed with other fruits, it won’t be an issue.
How Do You Defrost Watermelon Juice?
To defrost watermelon juice, you can place them into a bowl and put it into the fridge. Let it sit for a couple of hours to thaw.
However, if you froze watermelon ice cubes, you won’t need to defrost them at all. If you’re going to make smoothies, just pop out the amount of ice cubes you need and place them directly into the blender.
You can also add watermelon juice cubes to flavor your water and keep it cool too. This makes an excellent drink during the summer.
Can You Refreeze Watermelon Juice?
When it comes to watermelon juice, you should not refreeze it. When the juice goes through the freezing process more than once, it will deteriorate in quality.
After it’s thawed the first time, the watermelon juice will become a bit watery and lose some of its flavors.
Once you freeze it again, it will lose its flavor even more.
Therefore, once the watermelon juice is thawed, it’s best to try to use them all.
To avoid ending up having to refreeze the juice, portion the watermelon juice. That way, you will only need to remove what you need and not have any leftovers.
Other Questions about Watermelon Juice
Can you add water to watermelon juice?
No, you should not add water to the watermelon juice. Doing so will cause the juice to become diluted and taste watery.
Can you freeze watermelon juice for smoothies?
For smoothies, the ice cube method works the best. All you need to do is pop a couple of cubes of watermelon juice and place them directly into the blender with other ingredients.