Grapefruit is one of the healthiest fruits around. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, folate, iron, and calcium. Many people enjoy grapefruit, either sliced or squeezed in juice, for breakfast. However, you can also add grapefruit to desserts and cakes.
The question is, can you freeze grapefruit and therefore have a good supply on hand? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze grapefruit and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Grapefruit
It isn’t difficult to freeze grapefruit if you follow these steps:
1. Cut the grapefruit in half and peel.
2. Scoop out the grapefruit.
Once you have got the grapefruit out, slice it into segments or cubes, whatever way you prefer to eat it. Make sure that you have removed the white pith as it isn’t pleasant to eat.
3. Flash freeze the grapefruit pieces.
Put a wax sheet on a baking tray and lay out the pieces of grapefruit on it. Make sure they aren’t touching each other so they don’t stick together when they are bagged up. Cover the tray with cling film and put it in the freezer. Freeze for around three hours until the grapefruit pieces have frozen solid.
4. Put the grapefruit pieces in an airtight container or freezer bag.
If you are using a freezer bag, make sure that you squeeze out the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn ruins the taste and texture of your food.
5. Put the container or freezer bag in the freezer.
How To Freeze Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice is a great addition to breakfast. If you are usually pushed for time in the morning, why not make a big batch of grapefruit juice, divide it into portions, and freeze it? This is the way to do it:
1. Make the grapefruit juice.
Cut the grapefruits in half and scoop out the flesh. Put it in the blender and add sugar to taste. You could add spices as well if you like such as ginger, chili, or turmeric. If you want to add other fruits such as oranges, there’s nothing stopping you. Then blend.
2. Put the juice in airtight containers.
It is a good idea to divide the juice up into portions so that you only defrost as much as you need at one time. This avoids waste. 10 ½ ounces is about right for a single serving. Leave about an inch of space at the top of the containers as the juice will expand when put in the freezer.
3. Put the containers in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Grapefruit
- Choose your grapefruits wisely. Don’t pick any that have soft spots as they will have been bruised and the flesh may already have spoiled.
- Take off the pith as it has a bitter taste.
- Flash freeze the grapefruit so that the pieces don’t stick together when they are bagged up. Then you can remove only as many as you need for the meal.
- Squeeze out the air from the freezer bag to stop freezer burn from occurring.
For How Long Can You Freeze Grapefruit?
Grapefruit has a long shelf-life in the freezer which is good news if you want to stock up. It keeps for up to one year. Grapefruit juice, however, only keeps for between three and four months in the freezer. The same goes for a grapefruit-based smoothie.
How Do You Defrost Grapefruit?
The best way to defrost grapefruit is slowly and steadily. Put the freezer bag in a bowl and put it in the fridge overnight. It will then be ready for you to have at breakfast time. Defrosting in this way helps the grapefruit retain its taste and texture. You can defrost it in the microwave but it may lose some of its texture.
Grapefruit juice should also be defrosted in the fridge. You don’t have to completely defrost it as it’s delicious when it’s partly frozen.
Can You Refreeze Grapefruit?
It is safe to refreeze grapefruit but the texture may change. When you freeze, ice crystals will form on the food. If you freeze it for a second time, the ice crystals will make the food mushy. You don’t really want to have soggy grapefruit. This is why it’s a good idea to just defrost as much as you need for one day.
You can refreeze grapefruit juice as well but be sure to put it back in the freezer as soon as possible so that it stays fresh. It is better to freeze in portion sizes so that you don’t have this problem. Anyway, defrosted grapefruit juice will last for a couple of days in the fridge so you could put it in the fridge rather than refreeze it.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Grapefruit?
As long as you buy ripe and unblemished grapefruit, it freezes well. When it is defrosted, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between fresh and frozen. The same goes for grapefruit juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing grapefruit but in case you are still curious, we have answered a couple of questions here.
Can you freeze a whole grapefruit?
We don’t recommend that you freeze a whole grapefruit. The texture may change if you don’t cut it into slices and flash freeze it. In addition, you will be freezing the pith which is unpleasant. Defrosting the grapefruit will take a long time as well.
What can I make with my defrosted grapefruit?
Try a prawn, grapefruit, and avocado salad or poached salmon with a pink grapefruit and basil sauce. If you fancy something sweet, make a grapefruit and poppy seed cake or pink grapefruit, raspberry, and mint jelly.
Can you freeze canned grapefruit?
You can freeze canned grapefruit as long as you take it out of the can. However, it has a long shelf-life so there isn’t any point in freezing it as it lasts longer in the can than in the freezer. However, if you have opened the can and not used it all, you can freeze the leftovers. If you think you are going to use the grapefruit within a couple of days, put it in the fridge. If not, put it in a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air, and put it in the freezer.
