Do you have half a liter of orange juice left over after breakfast and know that you won’t use it up in the next few days? Instead of throwing it away and wasting the valuable vitamins, it’s better to freeze the juice. With the right technique, you will not only preserve the taste, but also most of the nutrients for later use.
Freeze juice: The right method
Juice is easy to freeze and remains edible for a surprisingly long time – up to 12 months if stored correctly. Before you put the juice in the freezer, you should place it in a suitable container decant. Do not use glass containers, as they can easily crack due to the expansion of the freezing juice. Airtight plastic containers or special freezer bags are more suitable.
Remember to use about a quarter of the container leave freeso that the juice can expand unhindered during freezing. Most of the nutrients, especially vitamins C and A, are largely preserved during freezing. Only the consistency may change slightly – especially in freshly squeezed juices with fruit pulp, which often settles to the bottom after thawing. Stirring briefly before enjoying solves this problem and restores the original taste for the most part.
Practical tips for optimum durability
There are a few clever tricks for even better results when freezing juice. The following is particularly practical Portioning into ice cube molds or small freezer containers. This allows you to take out exactly the amount you need for your smoothie, dessert or as a refreshing addition to drinks – without having to defrost the entire supply.
For juices with pulp, additional straining before freezing is recommended to minimize changes in consistency after defrosting. Don’t forget to label each container with the freezing date so that you can keep track. Juice remains in the freezer compartment up to one year but for the best taste you should consume it within the first six months.
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How do freezing and thawing affect nutrients?
Freezing is an excellent method of preserving the valuable ingredients in juices. Due to the rapid freezing process, the Oxidation of vitamins is largely prevented. Nevertheless, the freshness and intensity of flavor may decrease slightly after prolonged deep-freeze storage, although the juice still remains nutritionally valuable.
Checklist: Freezing juice in 5 simple steps
- Choose suitable plastic containers or freezer bags
- Fill containers only 3/4 full (due to expansion)
- For juices with pulp, sieve beforehand if necessary
- Label with date
- Store at -18°C (optimally up to six months)
This article was partly produced with the help of a machine and carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.