Freezing fruit
Posted by Courth on Jun 24, 2008 · Member since Apr 2007 · 3362 posts
Okay, so recently I've developed this habit of freezing my fruit when it's to the point where it's almost rotten. Super ripe, super juicy, but I have too much other food to eat. I freeze it and have great smoothies and sorbets on the weekends. My question to you all is what fruits do and do not work to freeze? o far I've done the basic peaches, berries, etc. My mother keeps telling me not to freeze grapes because they'll go mushy and disgusting, but some people swear by frozen grapes.
So far I'm super liking the frozen fruit in the Atlanta heat. :)
Mmm, I love frozen grapes...eating them while still frozen that is. I don't know what happens when you thaw them. They are the best snack when it's hot out.
Frozen bananas make rockin' homemade "ice cream!"
I've agree, it should be OK to freeze anything if you're planning to bake with it or make smoothies, etc.
And I like frozen grapes.
Yes, frozen grapes are great. Maybe your mom means that if you thaw them, they will go mushy. But eat them frozen! They are yummy!
I think freezing almost-rotten fruit is a great way to go. I also think you'd be fine freezing anything. What's the worst that happens? You lose some rotten fruit. It's probably a good idea to cut it into chunks before you freeze it, though, so you can just pop it in your smoothie when you need it.
I have starting doing this lately - after I read this thread, and after I listened to a vegan podcast about smoothies. She (compassionate cooks woman) recommended breaking up bananas into small pieces and storing them in the freezer. Great idea!
My question is - what do you store them in? My first attempt at this failed, as all the bananas stuck together and were impossible to get out. Ditto for cantaloupe. Any suggestions?
I always cut up the fruit and spread it on a baking sheet, then pop it in the freezer until frozen. Then I transfer the individually frozen pieces to a ziplock. Works like a charm ;)b
I always cut up the fruit and spread it on a baking sheet, then pop it in the freezer until frozen. Then I transfer the individually frozen pieces to a ziplock. Works like a charm ;)b
This is what Alton Brown suggests, too ;)b
Ok awesome - and when i put it in there on a baking sheet - do I need to cover it?
Nah, I don't bother. Usually it's not in there long enough to warrant the extra effort. I typically just leave it on the tray overnight and then transfer (although I have gotten lazy and left it several days before transfering to the ziplock with no negative effect.
When I freeze my almost completely rotten bananas I just stick them in whole. They are too gross to cut up. I take them out of the freezer a few minutes before I want to use them. If I am making a smoothie I peel them and it is not so hard if they are still pretty frozen. Frozen bananas make for a nice and thick smoothie. If I am baking with them I let them sit on a plate until thawed or I put them in the microwave for a minute or two.
Mmm, I love frozen grapes...eating them while still frozen that is. I don't know what happens when you thaw them. They are the best snack when it's hot out.
My favorite snack ever!!! i could eat them all day long ;)b