Gulab jamun is one of the most delectable desserts on the Indian sub-continent. Essentially doughnuts immersed in warm, sweet and sticky syrup… What more could you want? But whatās the best way to store them if you’ve gone a little overboard?
Can You Freeze Gulab Jamun?
Yes, you can freeze gulab jamun for up to 3 months. Once you have fried them, remove them from the heat and allow them sufficient time to cool. You should then place them in an airtight container before transferring them to the freezer.
Do Do Gulab Jamun freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Gulab Jamun? No
How to Freeze Gulab Jamun
Anyone who has enjoyed gulab jamun will tell you just how delicious they are! While theyāre best enjoyed fresh out of the pan and covered in syrup, you can freeze them for up to three months if you have made a big batch that you canāt quite get through!
Hereās what you need to do:Ā
- Cool
Once you have fried your gulab jamun, place them on a plate before adding the syrup. Leave them sitting at room temperature for an hour or so until they have cooled completely.Ā - Place in a Container
Line a Tupperware box with greaseproof paper and place the gulab jamun on top. Make sure they are well spread out and not too bunched together, as you donāt want them to clump together in the freezer.Ā - Label and Freeze
Write todayās date and the use-by date on the top of the box and place your gulab jamun in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze gulab jamun for around three months.
3 Tips for Freezing Gulab Jamun
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing gulab jamun to have the best results:
Freeze Before Adding the Syrup
One of the best things about gulab jamun is the syrup that you add to the dish after frying the dough. However, to save yourself some mess and hassle, weād recommend freezing your gulab jamun before covering them with syrup, for obvious reasons! You can always add the syrup when you come to reheat them in the future.
Serve with Ice Cream
When you reheat your gulab jamun, make sure you try them with a generous scoop of your favourite ice cream! The contrast in textures works perfectly and can help mask any textural changes that may occur during freezing.
Fry on a Low Heat
Some people fall into the trap of frying gulab jamun on a heat that is too high in the first instance. Doing so will result in dough balls that are hard inside and not fully cooked. Therefore, when youāre frying your gulab jamun, do so on a low-medium heat to ensure theyāre cooked to perfection before you set about freezing them.
How Long Can You Freeze Gulab Jamun?
You can freeze gulab jamun for around three months. While you might be tempted to leave them in the freezer for longer than this, we wouldnāt recommend doing so.
This is because the ice crystals that form during the freezing process can alter the taste and texture of the dough balls, which is far from ideal!
Providing theyāre tightly wrapped, you can store gulab jamun at room temperature for a week, while they can be kept in the fridge for up to a month. However, if you know in advance that youāre going to freeze them, get them in the freezer as soon as you can while theyāre still super fresh.
You Can Freeze Gulab Jamun for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Gulab Jamun?
When youāre ready to enjoy your gulab jamun, remove the container from the freezer and place it in the fridge. Your gulab jamun will then thaw out in a matter of hours and be ready to reheat in any way that you choose.
That being said, you can also enjoy gulab jamun at room temperature if you donāt want to reheat them. Just take the box out of the fridge and sit the dough on the countertop for an hour or so.
But donāt forget to add the syrup after you have defrosted your gulab jamun – arguably the most important ingredient in the dish!
Can You Refreeze Gulab Jamun?
We wouldnāt recommend refreezing gulab jamun. This is because the delicate dough is affected by the freezing and thawing process, and you might ruin the delectable consistency of the balls if you freeze them more than once.
However, thereās unlikely to be anything dangerous about refreezing them; we just wouldnāt recommend doing so from a taste and texture perspective.
Do Gulab Jamun Freeze Well?
While you canāt beat gulab jamun that is fresh out of the fryer and covered in syrup, these delicious Indian dough balls freeze really well.
Just make sure they have cooled sufficiently and are protected from freezer burn, and they should be good in the freezer for around three months.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing gulab jamun, then these may help:
First, you need to thaw them slowly in the fridge. Once they have defrosted, place them into a pan over a medium heat and warm through for 5 minutes or so, flipping occasionally to ensure they don’t burn to the pan.
If they’re stored in an airtight container, gulab jamun will keep for around a month in the fridge before they need to be thrown out.
