Can You Freeze Prune Juice?

How to Freeze Prune Juice

You have a couple of options when it comes to freezing prune juice, and how you choose to freeze it will depend on how you plan to use it. Many people find it handy to freeze it in smaller portions because they can measure out the precise amount needed for any recipe.

How to Freeze Prune Juice In Larger Portions

If you know you’ll use large portions of prune juice each and every time, then use this approach: 

1. Find Containers
   You will need freezer-safe containers – one container for each portion of prune juice you plan to freeze. These will need to have lids that fit tightly too.
2. Portion Out
   Pour a portion of prune juice into each container. Leave a gap of about two inches at the top of the container. The prune juice will expand a little as it freezes, and if you overfill the containers, it might burst out and make a mess.
3. Seal
   Pop the lids onto the containers and put each container into a freezer bag. The freezer bag helps protect the freezer from making a mess if the juice spills.
4. Freeze
   Label the bag with the date and contents, and then pop the prune juice into the freezer to freeze until you need it. Make sure you keep the containers upright until the juice has fully frozen.

How to Freeze Prune Juice Ice Cubes

If you only want a shot of prune juice in your smoothies, for example, then freezing it in ice cubes can be hugely beneficial: 

1. Prepare Ice Cube Trays
   Grab some ice cube trays. If you don’t have enough or you would like slightly larger portions of prune juice, you can use silicone cupcake trays.
2. Pour Prune Juice
   Pour the prune juice into each section on the tray. Make sure you leave a gap to allow the prune juice to expand as it freezes.
3. Freeze
   Pop the trays into the freezer, making sure to keep them flat. Leave them there for a few hours until the prune juice has completely frozen.
4. Bag Up
   When the juice has frozen, you can take the trays out of the freezer. Tap the trays to get the cubes out of the tray and then put them into a freezer bag.
5. Label and Seal
   Label the bag with the name of the contents and the date and seal the bag tightly.
6. Freeze
   Put the bag into the freezer until you need some prune juice.

Now, whenever you need some prune juice, you can grab out the perfect number of cubes for the recipe.

3 Tips for Freezing Prune Juice

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing prune juice to have the best results:

• Try Freezing in Cupcake Trays – Ice cubes can be the perfect size of portion for many uses including juices and smoothies. However, you may find you need slightly larger portions. If so, then you can use muffin or cupcake trays instead. For best results, use silicone trays as these make it much easier for you to pop them out of the tray, and these types of trays tend to be freezer safe.
• Keep It Airtight – Keeping your prune juice sealed and airtight is important to ensure your prune juice stays tasting fresh. Squeeze out any excess air from freezer bags and make sure any containers you use have lids that are airtight and won’t let any air in or any of the liquid out.
• Write Clear Labels – Once frozen, prune juice can look like other fruit juice in the fridge. It can even look like red wine or gravy! So make sure you write a clear label, so it’s easy to see what is prune juice. 

How Long Can You Freeze Prune Juice?

How long you can freeze your prune juice successfully will depend largely on how well it has frozen. If it has been kept well protected from the air, you can keep it in the freezer for up to twelve months.

If in doubt, use up the prune juice within eight months, as this will ensure it still tastes as fresh and delicious as possible.

You Can Freeze Prune Juice for up to 12 Months

How Do You Defrost Prune Juice?

If you are using your prune juice in smoothies or juices for an extra healthy kick, then you don’t need to worry about defrosting it at all. Pop a few cubes into your blender and blend them in while still frozen.

Not only will it add flavour and nutrition, but it will add a lovely cool, creamy texture.

If you do need to thaw out the prune juice, you can do so easily by taking the container out of the freezer and popping it into the fridge to thaw out overnight. Put the container or ice cubes into a bowl first so that there are no spills in the freezer.

Can You Refreeze Prune Juice?

We would not recommend that you refreeze the prune juice. Freezing and thawing can degrade the food, and even though it will be fine to do this once, it may not taste as good if you do it multiple times.

There is also a chance the prune juice spoils while it is out of the freezer, and you could end up freeing spoiled prune juice that you won’t be able to use.

Does Prune Juice Freeze Well?

Prune juice does freeze well, and you shouldn’t even notice any difference at all between fresh and frozen prune juice. It is perfect for juices, smoothies, baking and many recipes. It may not taste quite as good if you want to drink the prune juice as a drink, but it will be safe if you need to.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing prune juice or prunes in general, then these may help:

How Long Can You Leave Prune Juice Out?

Prune juice should not be left out for long. 2 hours at room temperature would be the longest time you would want to leave prune juice out. Ideally, you need to refrigerate it much sooner than this, however. 

Can You Drink Expired Prune Juice?

We would avoid drinking expired prune juice if it has been opened. If it has not been opened and was suitable for storing in the cupboard, then it may be safe to consume after the expiration date.