Can You Freeze Breadfruit?

Breadfruit is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry and jackfruit family believed to originate in New Guinea, the Maluku Islands, and the Philippines. There is also an African Breadfruit.

It is so versatile and it can be candied, pickled, mashed, sautéed, roasted, and fried. But, if you end up with leftover breadfruit, what can you do with it? And how should you store it?

How to Freeze Breadfruit

Breadfruit has so many health benefits and is often used for medicinal purposes as well as a delicious addition to many Asian or Pacific inspired dishes. 

If you are looking to freeze any leftover breadfruit, follow the steps below to ensure it is done correctly;

1. Cook Breadfruit
   Cook, steam or fry your breadfruit or add it into a dish where the breadfruit is going to be cooked through in some form. 
2. Allow to Cool
   It is essential that you allow your breadfruit or breadfruit dish to cool fully before you freeze it. Placing anything warm into a freezer will cause the temperature to drop and could affect other foods. 
3. Grab a Tray
   If you are freezing just pieces of breadfruit, lay them out on a lined baking tray.
4. Flash Freeze
   Slide the tray into the freezer and flash freeze for a couple of hours.
5. Bag or Contain
   You can now put the frozen pieces of breadfruit into ziplock bags or containers. If you have made a dish with breadfruit, you can also spoon this into bags or containers. 
6. Freeze
   Place the bags or containers into the freezer and store for between 3-6 months. 

3 Tips for Freezing Breadfruit

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

Avoid Freezing It Raw
If frozen raw, the breadfruit can take on a sappy like flavour when thawed so it is always best to freeze cooked breadfruit. 

Steaming is Best
Steaming deactivates the enzymes in breadfruit which would otherwise digest important antioxidants and nutrients as the fresh fruit ages. 

Freezing is Beneficial
Low storage temperature further slows down the breakdown of nutrients in food, and that is why freezing breadfruit after steaming is great as it locks in nutrients. 

How Long Can You Freeze Breadfruit?

Breadfruit on its own can be frozen for between 3 and 6 months. If you have got cooked breadfruit as part of a dish, then this may be shorter as it depends on the other ingredients you have included in that dish.

Always label when you froze the breadfruit or dish so that you can have a clear idea of how long it has been in the freezer.  

You Can Freeze Breadfruit for up to 6 Months

How Do You Defrost Breadfruit?

Whether you have frozen breadfruit on its own or as part of a dish, the best way to defrost it is in the fridge.

Remove the container or slices of breadfruit from the freezer and place it into the fridge. Allow to thaw overnight to ensure it is fully thawed through and then, if using individual pieces of breadfruit, they can then be added to any dish. 

Can You Refreeze Breadfruit?

Ideally not as the texture of the breadfruit may start to deteriorate in texture, causing it to go quite spongy and unpleasant to eat.

It is best to use it up sooner rather than later, so once you have some breadfruit in your freezer, start planning some meals that could use it in creative ways.

Does Breadfruit Freeze Well?

Yes, breadfruit will freeze well but it must be cooked before you freeze it for it to maintain a nice flavour. You can make delicious and nutritious meals using breadfruit that can then be frozen and used later on.

It will last for a few months in the freezer and will not lose any texture or flavour within this time, so definitely consider using the freezer to preserve your breadfruit!

Related FAQs

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