Drinking juice made from fresh fruits is wonderful, especially on hot summer days. It tastes sweet and tangy, and it makes you feel close to the beauty of nature. When it’s cold outside, you might still want to enjoy the taste of berries, oranges, and other yummy fruits.
Keeping fruits in the freezer is a smart idea to make them last all year. You might be thinking – is it possible to make juice from frozen fruit? The answer is a big yes! If you know the right steps to take, frozen fruit can be turned into delicious juice that’s just as good as if it was made from fresh fruit.
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Choosing the Right Frozen Fruits for Juicing
Some frozen fruits are better for making juice than others. Berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are good choices because they stay in good shape after they thaw.
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are also great for juicing when they’re frozen. Tropical fruits such as mangoes, pineapples, papayas, and melons taste delicious when you juice them. Peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries can also be juiced.
However, fruits with a lot of water like watermelon and grapes don’t give much juice once they’re frozen. Tomatoes can get mushy and don’t juice well when frozen. It’s also best to avoid juicing frozen bananas and avocados because they can become too fibrous. It’s better not to use these types of fruits for your frozen fruit juice.
Thawing Frozen Fruit Correctly
If you try to juice fruits while they’re still frozen solid, it won’t go very well. You might just get a chunky, half-frozen mix that could jam your juicer. Make sure to thaw the fruits the right way before you start juicing for the best results.
- Microwave – This is the fastest way. Put the fruit in a bowl that you can use in the microwave and heat for 15-30 seconds until they’re just thawed.
- Cold Water – Put frozen fruit in ziplock bags and let them sit in cold water. Replace the water from time to time until they’re no longer icy.
- Refrigerator – Leave the frozen fruit in the fridge for a night or for 8-12 hours until they’re not frozen anymore.
- Countertop – Let the fruits sit in a sealed bag on your kitchen counter for about 1-2 hours until they’ve thawed.
But be careful not to let the fruits thaw for too long and become soggy. This can make the juice have too much pulp and not enough liquid.
How to Juice Thawed Frozen Fruits
When your fruit has thawed but is still cool, it’s ready for juicing. Here are some tips to make sure your juice turns out amazing:
- It’s best to use a strong electric juicer rather than squeezing by hand. Juicers that spin fast (like those at 65 RPM or above) are really good for this.
- Try putting in frozen fruit along with harder fresh fruits and veggies such as apples, carrots, or cucumbers. This keeps things moving smoothly in the juicer without getting stuck.
- Before you juice big fruits like pineapples, chop them into smaller pieces. This makes it easier to get more juice.
- If you want less pulp, you can strain the juice through a fine mesh or a cheesecloth.
- You can mix different types of frozen fruits to make your juice even tastier. Think about combining orange with mango or strawberry with peach.
- If some juices like those from cranberries or pomegranates are too strong, you can add some water or mix them with milder juices.
- Adding fresh herbs like mint, basil, or parsley can give your juice a fresh kick.
- Sometimes, frozen fruit can lose a bit of its sweetness after thawing, so you might want to sweeten your juice with a little honey.
Storing Juice Made from Frozen Fruit
It’s best to drink your juice right away to enjoy its fresh taste and get the most health benefits. If you need to store it, here are some tips:
- Put your juice in airtight containers like glass jars with tight lids. It’s better not to use plastic because it might add unwanted chemicals to your juice.
- Squeeze some lemon into your juice. This helps keep the juice from turning brown and losing its freshness.
- If you’re keeping the juice in the fridge for a day or two, you’ll want to shake or stir it before you drink it to mix it up again.
- If you want to keep your juice for a longer time, like 2-3 months, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Later, you can thaw these cubes and mix them into your smoothies or other drinks.
The Advantages of Frozen Fruit Juice
Drinking juice made from frozen fruits is great because you can enjoy healthy, vitamin-packed juice any time of the year. Frozen food often has more types of fruits and veggies than what’s available fresh, depending on the season. This means you can have a wider variety of drinks. With the right methods, you can turn frozen fruits into delicious juices that your whole family can enjoy.