Can You Freeze Jello?

Jello, which is called jelly in the UK, is a delicious fruit-flavored dessert enjoyed by children and adults alike. It can be eaten as it is or with cream or ice cream. In the UK, it is an integral ingredient in a trifle.

This is composed of layers of sponge, fruit, jello, custard, and cream. However, like all food, jello can go rancid quickly, especially as it has a high sugar and water content. If you make jello, it will only last for seven to ten days in the fridge.

If you have added alcohol, it will last for an even shorter amount of time. So, can you freeze jello? Yes, you can but it won’t have quite the same texture when defrosted because of the gelatin. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze jello and how to defrost it.

How To Freeze Jello

If you are making jello and want to freeze some, it is a good idea to separate a batch for freezing as it is difficult to separate the jello once it has been set. If you plan to freeze your jello, this is the way to do it:

1. Put the jello in an airtight container.

Don’t fill the container right up to the top as the jello can expand when it is frozen. 

2. Put the jello in the fridge to set.

3. Once the jello has been set, put it in the freezer.

Put a label on the container with the date and contents. Make sure that the container is flat so that the jello doesn’t end up lopsided. This is particularly important if you are freezing layered jelly.

Tips For Freezing Jelly

  1. Make sure that the jello has been completely set before you put it in the freezer. If you don’t, it won’t set in the freezer and you will end up with loose and messy jello.
  2. It is quite common to add alcohol to jello. Many people enjoy a jello shot with vodka or another spirit of their choice. However, it isn’t a good idea to freeze jello with alcohol. Alcohol doesn’t freeze in a typical freezer because it has a lower freezing temperature compared to water (See also Alcohol Percentages And Freezing). It needs a temperature of about -142 F while most freezers only work at -4 F. 
  3. Don’t freeze jello mixed with fruit juice (see also Can You Freeze Fruit Juice?). Stick to water. If the jello contains fruit juice, the enzymes will prevent the pectin from binding the jelly together.
  4. You can freeze jello in an ice cube tray. These cubes will make an attractive addition to a dinner party dessert.

For How Long Can You Freeze Jello?

You can freeze jello for around six months. After this time, it will start to lose taste and texture. The texture is never the same anyway when jello is frozen, so you don’t want to make this worse. 

How Do You Defrost Jello?

To preserve the texture as much as possible, it is best to defrost jello slowly and steadily. Take it out of the freezer the night before you want to use it and put it in the fridge. This also helps it to retain as much taste as possible.

If you forget to do this and you need the jello quickly, you can put the container in a big bowl or the sink filled with warm water. However, this can ruin the appearance of your jello so only use this option if you have to. 

Can You Refreeze Jello?

Jello isn’t the easiest thing to freeze so to freeze it twice isn’t a good idea. It will ruin the texture of the jelly. Instead, freeze the jello in meal-size portions so that you only defrost what you need for one sitting. 

Does Jello Freeze Well?

Jello probably isn’t the easiest thing to freeze but if you follow our instructions and ensure that the jello is completely set before you put it in the freezer, you should attain success. Freezing is a good way of extending the shelf life of jello. You can’t keep it at room temperature because bacteria will start to form. In addition, jello doesn’t last for long in the fridge so you will have to use it up quickly which may be difficult if you have a lot of it. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing jello but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.

Can you freeze trifle?

It’s not a good idea to freeze trifle. Trifle is composed of layers. Generally, there are sponge fingers on the bottom soaked in sherry, then a layer of jelly and fruit, a layer of custard, and then a layer of cream. Custard and cream don’t freeze well as dairy products tend to split when they are frozen. They can even become grainy in texture. In addition, alcohol doesn’t freeze well so you will probably find that the bottom layer hasn’t frozen properly.

Can you freeze jello shots?

A jello shot is a gelatin and alcohol mixture drunk as a shot. They don’t freeze particularly well because of the alcohol content.

Can you freeze jello cubes?

You can but there isn’t any point. Jello cubes have a very long shelf life, much longer than they would last in the freezer.

Can you freeze whipped jello dessert?

No, you can’t freeze whipped jello dessert successfully. This is because it contains cream and cream tends to split when you freeze it. It can become grainy as well. If you want to serve whipped jello mousse, prepare and serve it fresh.

What other desserts can I make with jello?

Try layering different flavors and colors of jello. It can be time-consuming as you have to let each layer set before adding the next layer of jello but it is a very attractive dessert. It’s a good idea to put the jello in molds to set. These can be either adult or child-themed.

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