Can You Freeze Orange Juice?

Need to freeze your orange juice? We know quite a few ways to do it. This is the article for orange juice lovers everywhere!

You’ve wondered it time and time again — can you freeze orange juice? The answer is yes, definitely! You can freeze orange juice any time, anywhere, and the only question you have to ask is how to do it.

Freezing orange juice is a straightforward task. Let’s dive into the intricacies of how you can freeze orange juice below:

Can You Freeze Orange Juice?

While yes, you can freeze orange juice, you may be wondering if you can freeze different types. We cover everything you need to know below:

Store-Bought Orange Juice

Yes, you can freeze store-bought orange juice. Commercialized orange juice is pasteurized, filtered, and has preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. With its longer shelf life and the way it is processed, you can definitely freeze store-bought orange juice at home.

Homemade Orange Juice

Homemade juice is a little trickier. Yes, you can freeze freshly squeezed orange juice, but it won’t last as long as store-bought orange juice does. Fresh orange juice may spoil quicker, so keep this in mind before you freeze fresh orange juice at home.

Orange Juice Concentrate

Yes, you can also freeze orange juice concentrate! However, once you thaw frozen orange juice from orange juice concentrate, you can’t exactly refreeze it back again. Thawed orange juice remains as thawed orange juice.

Orange Juice With Pulp

Yes, you can freeze orange juice with pulp! However, pulpy orange juice, once thawed, will have a different taste and texture than when you originally bought it. To avoid this kind of flaw, you can strain your orange juice first before freezing it again.

However, if this step is too much of a hassle and you’d prefer to go without it, that’s perfectly fine as well!

So, can you freeze orange juice? Yes, and no. There are certain caveats to certain situations, so just remember those before completely committing to freezing orange juice.

The Pros of Freezing Orange Juice

01 You Can Access More Health Benefits with Frozen Orange Juice

Did you know that ultra-frozen orange juice is actually the healthiest way to drink it? When scientists analyzed the cell structures of frozen orange juices, they had an increased bioaccessibility to carotenoids. Yes, it’s not just vitamin C that orange juice offers as a benefit!

Carotenoids are great for visual acuity benefits and their antioxidant properties. So, when you drink frozen juice more than fresh juice, you have more access to these benefits!

So, drink up once juice freezes. You never know how many nutrients you’re actually getting once you freeze orange juice at home!

02 Your Frozen Orange Juice Will Last Longer

Got too much orange juice at a sale, and don’t know what to do with it? Or maybe you can’t be bothered to finish a whole carton.

If you’re running out of storage space in your fridge and want to make your orange juice last longer, freezing orange juice is the right answer! Not only will it last for a long while — you’ll also save on storage in your fridge.

03 You Can Make Different Recipes from Frozen Orange Juice

Who doesn’t love a good smoothie or mocktail every now and then? When you freeze orange juice, you open yourself up to new possibilities! We’ve added some recipes you can definitely benefit from below if you like.

The Cons of Freezing Orange Juice

01 Some Manual Labor is Involved

Just like there are pros to everything, there are cons, too. When you freeze orange juice, you have to go through some work. For example, you have to transfer the extra orange juice from its original carton to plastic containers, a glass bottle, mason jar, or ice trays.

If you’re not the type to like going about the kitchen with busywork, this may be a con for you!

02 Texture and Taste May Be Affected

We’ve mentioned it before, but the taste and texture of your orange juice will be affected — especially the pulpy ones. There’ll be a grainy texture, for example, and the taste may vary. If you don’t like the change that happens when you put your orange juice to freeze in the refrigerator overnight, then freezing orange juice may not be for you.

How Long Can You Freeze Orange Juice?

Can you freeze orange juice? Yes. But how long can you freeze orange juice? Would it go bad?

The answer to the latter question is yes, up to a certain timeframe. You can freeze orange juice until these times:

• For unopened orange juice, you can store it up to a year, and six months once opened
• For freshly squeezed orange juice, you can store it up to four months
• For frozen orange juice concentrate, you can store it up to a year

If you let your orange juice go past these timeframes, you may have spoiled juice in your hands.

How to Freeze Orange Juice

Now, there are different ways that you can freeze orange juice at home. Let’s start on the following methods:

In Freezer-Safe Containers

You don’t want to let your orange juice freeze in its cardboard carton. If it does freeze there, there’s a high chance it will expand and the carton itself will burst.

Instead, a freezer-safe plastic container or freezer-safe glass containers are ideal. For a plastic container, we recommend getting the Soup Freezer Container with Twist Top Lids. It’s airtight, microwave-safe, and BPA-free!

If you prefer a glass freezer-safe container, the GlassWell 18-Piece Food Containers will keep your orange juice at their optimal shelf life. They’re also BPA-free and made with recyclable glass!

In Ice Cube Trays

Tired of your regular ice cubes? It’s time to try frozen orange juice cubes instead! Simply pour juice in ice cube trays.

You can divide your orange juice into small portions and small cubes. You can definitely use these ice cubes to add to smoothies or in your regular, unfrozen orange juice to make the taste more vibrant.

Okay, it’s time to make ice cubes — how exactly do we do it?

To make the perfect frozen orange juice cubes, we recommend having fun with it! You could go for a standard ice cube tray like Rubbermaid’s. If you have a lot of store-bought orange juice to make into frozen cubes, the ARTLEO 55 Mini-Nugget Tray may be more ideal.

However, if you want different shapes and sizes, there are other ice cube trays to suit you! The ICEDIVER ice cube trays transform your ice cubes into circles, while this KooMall ice cube tray makes sure you make a statement rose piece with your ice, too. You don’t have to make just OJ cubes — they can be in whatever shape you like.

After you pour juice in ice cube trays and they have frozen, you can add it to your orange juice or use them to flavor water.

In Freezer Bags

Do you prefer to keep your freezing – and your head space – quite simple? If you’re not in the head space to deal with too much about you orange juice, it’s okay. So, no need to complicate things. Buy a freezer bag or two instead.

Seal the bag tightly before putting it in the freezer.

We recommend these Ziploc Freezer Bags for all the leftover juice you might have. It’s easy to use and is designed to keep your leftover orange juice from freezer burn. Store orange juice in these freezer-safe containers — they’re safe to use in the microwave, too!

In Mason Jars

Orange juice stored in a mason jar is stylish and convenient! Use the Paksh Novelty Mason Jars to freeze and defrost orange juice. Leave at least one inch of empty space when pouring orange juice into the container before freezing it.

How to Thaw Orange Juice

Can you freeze orange juice? Yup. But how can you thaw frozen orange juice? We have two methods for your successfully frozen orange juice below:

With a Refrigerator

One of the easiest and most common ways to defrost your orange juice — and other juices, while you’re at it — is leaving it in the fridge to defrost overnight. Just remove the container from the freezer and place it in the fridge then!

With a Microwave

If you dislike waiting to defrost and drink your orange juice, you can use the microwave, too. Just make sure your chosen containers are microwave-safe, whether you’re using freezer bags, orange ice cubes, or mason jars! Hit the defrost setting and drink when you wish.

Thawed juice lasts for two to three days, so make sure to consume it before then. You can also get store-bought orange juice once more to freeze after it’s all been consumed.

Frozen Orange Juice Recipes

It’s great to buy orange juice just to drink it straight from the carton, but there are also some recipes you can make with it! We have two below:

Making an Orange Julius

What You Need:

• Frozen orange juice concentrate
• Milk
• Sugar
• Vanilla
• Ice cubes

Step 1: Combine the Ingredients Together

Combine the orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, and vanilla into a blender. Use the high speed while blending until it’s all smooth.

Step 2: Add Ice Cubes

After you’ve finished pouring orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, and vanilla and blending them together, you can add ice cubes. You can also add frozen orange juice cubes if you prefer! Blend it together.

Step 3: Serve Immediately

It’s perfect for a refreshing afternoon drink! Serve it with your favorite snacks or baked goods.

Making an Orange Smoothie

What You Need:

• Frozen orange juice
• Frozen mango
• Medium banana
• Almond milk
• Vanilla extract
• Ice cubes

Step 1: Blend Ingredients Together

Blend the frozen orange juice, mango, banana, almond milk, and vanilla extract together. Use high speed until everything is smooth.

Step 2: Add Ice Cubes

Add ice cubes and blend again until smooth. If you’d like, you can orange juice ice cubes instead to sharpen the orange flavor!

Step 3: Serve Immediately

Serve with chopped up banana slices on top. It’s the perfect drink for a hot day!

So, the answer to “Can you freeze orange juice?” is a definite yes, and we have recipes, guides, and tips for you, too!

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