SaurabhOrange juice has been part of every healthy breakfast for as long as I can remember! Apart from that, you can also consume it during any part of the day as the fruit juice’s sweetness, sourness, and tanginess stand out!
There was a time when one could enjoy oranges only on Christmas. But now, you can pick them up at any grocery store, either fresh as fruit or as juice. However, like most perishables, oranges (and their juice) can get stale if you don’t consume them for long.
So, the question is can you freeze orange juice? Yes, you can certainly freeze orange juice safely to preserve it for longer but this might slightly change its texture and consistency.
If you want to prevent these changes, you need to ensure that it is done the right way. To make things easier for you, I have compiled a step-by-step guide. So, read on!
How to Freeze Orange Juice?
You can freeze orange juice, but it’s necessary to do it the right way, in a certain order. If not, the quality will get compromised and you might not enjoy the juice later.
Therefore, follow this step-by-step guide carefully to make the most out of your orange juice.
1. Use a container of your choice
This depends on your needs and how you plan on using the juice. You can choose between an ice cube tray, a carton, a mason jar, an airtight container, or a freezer bag. Make sure they’re all freezer safe.
2. Label and then freeze
Label your container(s) if you wish to, and then place them in the freezer.
3. Store it right
For instance, if you use an ice cube tray, transfer these cubes into a freezer bag. Make sure the frozen juice isn’t exposed to air to ensure that it doesn’t get oxidized. Once frozen, it can last you for months.
Additional Tips to Freeze Orange Juice
If you’re still confused, given below are a few additional tips to help you freeze and use orange juice easily.
- If you can’t wait for the refrigerator to thaw your frozen juice, you can defrost it in your microwave. However, keep in mind that you can’t refreeze it after this. Also, once thawed, shake vigorously before use.
- When filling your container, make sure you leave some space on top for the juice to expand while it freezes. If you plan on freezing an unopened carton, I suggest you open the carton and pour a few ounces into another container before you freeze the carton.
- If you plan on using a mason jar, too, make sure that you leave around 2 inches to let your juice freely expand.
- Make sure that you freeze the juice in the lowest part of your freezer. Also, keep in mind that additives like sugar can delay the freezing process.
- Check your juice for an odd flavor or odor before freezing. Freezing can’t spoil the juice, but if you find any odd appearance or mold after thawing, it is most probable that the juice was bad before freezing. In such cases, it’s best to throw the juice away.
Can You Freeze Orange Juice to Make Lollies?
For most of us, orange lollies or popsicles like we call them, are our go-to summer refreshments. The very thought of these lollies takes us down memory lane.
Now, to those new, orange lollies are essentially frozen orange juice on a stick!
You can freeze orange juice to make lollies, provided you have the suitable mold. Keep in mind that you can modify the juice according to your taste.
For example, you can add or reduce sugar based on whether or not you have a sweet tooth. Or you can even squeeze some lemon to add a tangy or sour taste.
Can You Freeze Orange Juice in a Plastic Container?
Plastic containers are the most common and economical way of storage. You can freeze orange juice in plastic containers but do so with care and precaution.
Many plastic containers in the market aren’t reusable, and these shouldn’t be kept in the freezer. Hence, ignoring this can lead to the container exploding or the juice leaking out.
So, to minimize such risks, make sure you leave some space on top to let the juice expand freely and prevent oxidation.
Moreover, if you freeze very often, I recommend switching to BPA-free plastic containers in the longer run. This will keep your flavors intact while preventing unwanted chemicals from leaching into the juice, too.
How Do You Thaw Frozen Orange Juice?
Once frozen and stored, it is important to thaw the frozen juice before use. If not, it can become a hindrance to your juice’s texture. Or even worse, it can give you a bad case of brain freeze!
You can thaw it in the refrigerator. If you want to do this, transfer the frozen juice the previous night. The process takes overnight if it’s a larger container, however, ice cubes get thawed in just about 2 hours.
This is a long process, but it is the safest of ways as well. However, if you wish to speed up the process, you can immerse the container in lukewarm water.
Can Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Be Frozen?
You can freeze freshly squeezed orange juice. However, it has some prerequisites that are essential to follow.
The sugar and pulp present in the juice make it hard to freeze it with a consistent texture. This could also lead the juice to spoil once you thaw it. So, you need to strain out multiple times before freezing.
If there’s any pulp in the juice while freezing, the pulp settles in the bottom. This will make the bottom layer of ice very flaky and steal away all the flavor.
Once thawed, too, this kind of frozen juice can go bad quickly!
Related Questions
Can you freeze orange juice from concentrate?
Yes, you can freeze orange juice from its concentrate. Now, you can freeze both homemade and store-bought orange juice concentrates to enhance their shelf-life.
Concentrates last around a week when refrigerated. However, when you freeze them in the right way, they last for over a year! Thus, freezing orange juice concentrates is a great way to preserve it as long as you wish to.
Can you freeze orange juice with pulp?
Yes, you can freeze orange juice with pulp, but it won’t last very long. Moreover, after thawing, the contents become very dry and grainy. This might not be the best for your tastebuds.
So, if you like your juice pulpy and thick, I recommend that you drink it fresh, without freezing. Or, if it doesn’t sound too favorable, you should try straining your juice before you freeze it.
At what temperature does orange juice freeze?
Orange juice freezes at a temperature lower than that of water.
To be precise, the purest of orange juices (without any pulp or additives) freezes at 15°F or -10°C. With the addition of pulp or additives; the freezing point decreases as well.
Hence, I suggest you turn down the temperature of your freezer if you want the orange juice to freeze well. If not, it can take unusually long to freeze the right way.
Can you freeze fresh oranges?
You can freeze fresh oranges. Depending on how you wish to use the oranges after freezing them, there are several ways in which you can do this.
For instance, you can freeze them after peeling them or leaving them unpeeled. You can also slice them before freezing or even freeze them as a whole.
Regardless, make sure you freeze them in a freezer-safe bag after removing all the air. Once frozen, the oranges can last fresh for over a year.
