Coconut water is a healthy drink, packed full of vitamins and minerals. It makes a great change from tap or bottled plain water. You can either buy a coconut and crack it open to get the water out, or you can buy a carton of coconut water.
However, it doesn’t last long. If you buy a carton of coconut water, it will only be good for 24 hours after opening. Chances are that you won’t finish it within this time frame, so what do you do? It would be a pity to throw it away. Well, there is a solution. You can freeze it, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze coconut water and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Coconut Water
Unfortunately, coconut water does lose some of its sweetness when it is frozen but if you use it in smoothies or other drinks, it won’t matter so much. It can also be used in dishes such as soup, curry, or rice.
If you buy a carton of coconut water and don’t open it, you can put the carton straight in the freezer. However, if you open it, you need to take out the coconut water and freeze it using one of the methods detailed below. If you have a fresh coconut and extract the water from it, you should also use one of the methods below.
How To Freeze Coconut Water In a Freezer Bag
1. Pour the coconut water into the freezer bag.
Squeeze all the air out of the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. This will ruin the taste and texture of your coconut water. Don’t fill the bag right up to the top as the coconut water will expand in the freezer and the bag may burst. Put a label on the bag with the contents and the date frozen.
2. Freeze.
Lay the bag down flat in the freezer so that the liquid spreads evenly.
How To Freeze Coconut Water In An Ice Cube Tray
1. Pour the coconut water into the slots of an ice cube tray.
Don’t fill the slots right up to the top as the coconut water will expand in the freezer. Put the tray in the freezer and freeze for around two to three hours.
2. Put the ice cubes in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out the air from the bag to prevent freezer burn. Put a label on the bag with the contents and the date frozen.
3. Freeze.
You will now be able to take out only as many cubes as you need for your drink, smoothie, or dish.
Tips For Freezing Coconut Water
- Make sure that your coconut water is still fresh before freezing it. Remember that an opened carton will only last for 24 hours even if kept in the fridge. It is best to freeze it as soon as you know how much you want to use before freezing.
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
- It is best to freeze coconut water as cubes unless you plan to use a lot of it in one go. With cubes, you can just take out a couple. Add them to smoothies or use them instead of ice cubes in a coconut-based drink such as coconut rum and coke.
- If you are using a fresh coconut, freeze the flesh as well. Slice or shred the flesh and put it in freezer bags. Divide into meal-size portions so that you only defrost as much as you need. They can be added to a trail mix or you can put them into smoothies. You can also make them into coconut milk.
For How Long Can You Freeze Coconut Water?
You can freeze coconut water for up to two months. The sooner you defrost it, the better the taste will be. After two months, the coconut water will probably lose all its sweetness.
Remember to freeze your coconut water as soon as possible after opening the carton or cracking the shell of a fresh coconut. If you don’t, it will start to spoil, and freezing won’t restore its quality.
How Do You Defrost Coconut Water?
You can take the coconut water out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature until it has thawed out. However, if you prefer it to be really cold, defrost it in the fridge.
If you have frozen the coconut water as cubes, you don’t need to defrost them. You can add them straight to the dish, smoothie, or drink. If you put them into a hot dish, they will dissolve in no time.
Can You Refreeze Coconut Water?
As we have said, coconut water loses some of its sweetness when it is frozen. If you refreeze it, it will lose even more of the sweet flavor, so we don’t recommend that you refreeze it. This is why it is so much better to freeze coconut water in an ice cube tray so that you can remove only as many cubes as you need. If you freeze coconut water in a freezer bag you might end up with more than you need. As it spoils so quickly, you will probably end up throwing some away which is a waste.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Coconut Water?
Coconut water freezes pretty well (see also Can You Freeze Coconut?) although it does lose some sweetness. This isn’t a problem if you plan to use it in a dish or drink. Freezing is a great way to store coconut water because it doesn’t keep for long in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing coconut water but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
What sort of smoothies can I make with my defrosted coconut water?
Try whizzing coconut water with mango, banana, and strawberries. Another delicious smoothie is coconut water, orange, pineapple, banana, and chia seeds.
What hot dishes can I make with my defrosted coconut water?
Try making coconut rice, coconut and prawn soup, braised chicken in coconut water, or add it to a Thai curry.
What is the difference between coconut water and coconut milk?
Coconut water is a naturally occurring liquid inside the coconut, while coconut milk is produced by crushing the flesh of the coconut. Coconut water is low in fats and carbs, while coconut milk is high in both.
What is the freezing point of coconut water?
The freezing point of coconut water is lower than that of water. It’s 27 F compared to 32 F for water. It takes a bit longer to freeze coconut water than it does water.
