Apricots are a delicious fruit. They can be eaten as they are, added to yogurt or cereal, or dried to be part of a trail mix. You can make jam out of apricots, smoothies, juice, cakes, and apricot crisp bars.
You can add them to such dishes as apricot chicken, apricot beef with couscous (see also Can You Freeze Couscous?), apricot-glazed pork chops, and apricot crumble or pie. However, say you have a glut of them and don’t think that you will be able to use them all before they spoil.
Is it possible to freeze them? The answer is yes and, in this article, we will tell you how to freeze apricots and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Apricots
It is easy to freeze apricots and you can do so with or without the skins on. The method is the same.
1. Wash and dry your apricots.
It is important to wash your apricots because they are likely to have bits of debris on them. Rinse them under cold water and dry them with a paper towel. Make sure that they are completely dry before you put them in the freezer otherwise the extra moisture might make them soggy.
2. Halve the apricots.
Use a sharp knife to cut the apricots in half. Remove the pit.
3. Flash-freeze the apricots.
By flash-freezing your apricots, they won’t stick together when they are bagged up and you will be able to remove only as many as you need. Get a baking tray and line it with parchment paper. Lay out the apricot halves, making sure that they aren’t touching each other. Put the tray in the freezer and freeze the apricots for a couple of hours. By this time, they should be frozen solid.
4. Put the apricot halves in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your apricots and may even strip them of some of their nutrients. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents.
5. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Apricots
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
- Don’t freeze apricots whole as they will take much longer to defrost and will take up more room in the freezer.
- You can add frozen apricots to smoothies and juices without bothering to defrost them.
For How Long Can You Freeze Apricots?
You can freeze apricots for up to four months which is good if you have a lot of apricots and know you won’t be able to use them before they spoil.
Be careful if you are freezing apricots with the skins on as they are delicate. Therefore, it is best to flash-freeze the apricots. You then won’t have to worry about them when you put them in a freezer bag.
How Do You Defrost Apricots?
If you are making a smoothie or juice, you can just add the apricots to the blender or juicer. However, if you are going to eat them at room temperature, for example, in a salad, yogurt, or cereal, you will need to defrost them. Take the apricot pieces out of the freezer and put them in the fridge for a few hours to thaw out. If you are using them in a dish, such as apricot chicken, you can add them frozen straight into the dish although if you do this, it might be better to slice the apricots, not just halve them. However, if you prefer to defrost them first, nothing is stopping you from doing so.
Can You Refreeze Apricots?
We don’t recommend refreezing apricots. Every time items of food are frozen, ice crystals form and if you refreeze, there will be more ice crystals. This can make your apricots go mushy. If you flash-freeze your apricots, you won’t need to refreeze. You will be able to take out only as many apricot halves or slices as you need them.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Apricots?
If you follow our instructions and you flash-freeze your apricots, you will find that they freeze well and don’t stick together. However, if you put them straight into a freezer bag, the chances are high that the apricots will be difficult to separate. You then may have to remove more apricots than you need and end up throwing some away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing apricots but in case you have further questions about freezing apricots or apricots in general, we have answered a few questions here.
Apricots are low in fat but are high in vitamins A and C as well as fiber which helps you stay full. The vitamins act as antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. Apricots are also a good source of flavonoids, an antioxidant that helps to protect against inflammation and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Apricots also promote eye and skin health.
Yes, you can but you need to prepare them differently. First cook down your apricots with some sugar and then allow the mixture to cool. Once completely cool, put it in freezer bags or airtight containers. If you are using freezer bags, make sure that they are strong as you don’t want the bags to burst and leave a mess in your freezer. You now have the mixture you need to make apricot jam. You can keep it in the freezer for up to six months.
Technically you can but there isn’t much point because they last for up to 12 months in your cupboard, and even longer in the fridge. There’s no point taking up room in the freezer with them. However, if you have made a dish such as chicken with dried apricots and olives or dried apricot and lentil soup, you can freeze the dish.
