A typical breakfast drink and often packed full of vitamin C, fresh orange juice is a tasty drink many of us enjoy. There is one problem with it though and that’s how quickly it goes off. So, how can you store it for the long term?
Can You Freeze Orange Juice?
Yes, you can freeze orange juice for up to 10 months. When freezing orange juice, you can leave it in cartons, or you can portion it out into smaller containers before popping it in the freezer.
Does Orange Juice Freeze Well? Sometimes
Can You Refreeze Orange Juice? No
How to Freeze Orange Juice
You have a couple of options when it comes to freezing your orange juice and how you do it will depend on whether you have a lot of juice leftover or only a little.
You might even have unopened juice to freeze before it’s best before date passes. Let’s take a look at the methods you can use:
How to Freeze Leftover Orange Juice
This method is the most common because most people need to freeze orange juice because they have a lot of leftovers.
- Strain
If your orange juice has pulp then it is worth straining it before freezing to avoid the grainy texture when you thaw it out.
- Transfer to Containers
You will need to transfer the orange juice into a container that is suitable for freezing liquids. You will need to choose one with a tight lid. Pour the orange into the container. Make sure you leave a gap at the top to allow the juice to expand as it freezes.
- Seal
Seal the orange juice tightly. The last thing you want is orange juice leaking out all over your freezer!
- Label
Label it with the date and contents.
- Freeze
Pop it into the freezer, making sure you keep the container upright and flat while it freezes.
You can buy orange juice from the store and it is absolutely fine to freeze it. This includes Tropicana orange juice. Just be aware that it is unlikely that brands would recommend you freeze in the cartons or bottles the juice comes in.
Yes, you can freeze orange juice in the carton it came in. However, this does mean you’ll need to defrost the whole carton. If you don’t think you’ll use the whole carton then consider freezing it in portions.
How to Freeze Unopened Orange Juice
If you have bought some bargain orange juice but can’t use it before the use-by date then you may be able to freeze it in the carton it came in.
Cardboard can be frozen but you do need to be aware that orange juice does expand when it freezes and if the carton is too full then it may burst from its packaging.
To avoid this, you could pop it into a container or put it in a freezer bag or two.
If the carton splits while freezing then you will need to defrost and use it straight away or throw the carton away.
Yes, any liquid, especially those that contain some level of water, will expand when frozen. This is why you need to leave a small air gap in any containers that you freeze orange juice in.
Open Unopened Cartons
If you want to freeze a full carton of juice that you’ve just bought, then a quick way to do this is to open it and pour it around an inch of the contents before sealing it back up and popping it into the freezer. This gives it room to expand.
How to Freeze Orange Juice Ice Cubes
Orange juice ice cubes are a fantastic way to use up orange juice. It’s easy to do and is a great option for smoothies, juices or even to pop a cube or two into some sparkly water for a citrus treat.
- Pour Into Ice Cubes
Grab your ice cube tray and pour the orange juice into each section. You do need to leave a gap at the top of each section to allow for the juice to expand as it freezes. - Freeze
Put the ice cube tray into the freezer. Make sure it is flat and won’t spill. Allow the orange juice to freeze for several hours. - Pop Cubes Into a Bag
Take the ice cube tray out of the freezer and transfer the orange ice cubes into a freezer bag. - Refreeze
Label the bag with the date, seal the bag tightly and pop it back into the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Orange Juice?
As if it couldn’t get any better, orange juice also freezes for a really long time safely! As long as you have kept it airtight and removed the pulp before freezing then you should be able to freeze it for between 8 and 12 months.
Plenty of time to make the most of all those ‘buy one get one free’ offers at the supermarket!
Orange juice can last for around 1 week in the fridge or up until the use-by date on the carton, whichever comes sooner.
How Do You Defrost Orange Juice?
The best way to thaw out your frozen orange juice is in the fridge. You just need to take it out of the freezer and pop the container into the fridge and allow it to defrost for several hours. It is best to defrost overnight so make sure you plan ahead!
There is no natural way to speed up this process without spoiling the juice.
Another way to use your frozen orange juice is to not defrost it at all! If you have chosen to freeze the juice in ice cube form for juices then you don’t need to defrost it at all.
Just pop a few orange ice cubes into your juice or smoothie and blend. This makes the juice or smoothie wonderfully creamy in texture plus this is the easiest way to use your frozen orange juice.
Can You Refreeze Orange Juice?
Orange juice is one of those drinks that does spoil easily so although it can be frozen for a long time you shouldn’t try and refreeze it once it has defrosted. It just isn’t worth the risk.
This is why I always recommend considering your normal portion sizes and then freezing them in portions of this size. If you know you’ll drink 2 glasses then freeze it in portions of around 400ml, for example.
Does Orange Juice Freeze Well?
How well the orange juice freezes depends entirely on the type of juice it is and how well you freeze it.
Pulpy juice really doesn’t freeze well as the liquid and pulpy bits tend to crystalise, and you end up with juice that is grainy and a little odd in texture.
Smooth orange juice freezes fairly well and you should notice a minimal change in the juice and it should still be an enjoyable drink.
Sources
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Can you freeze Tropicana Orange Juice in its waxed, cardboard container?
This may seem obvious, but have you checked the packaging?