Can You Freeze Jackfruit?

How to Freeze Jackfruit

The hardest part of freezing jackfruit is the prep. This won’t be a problem if you buy it pre-prepared or tinned but if you buy your jackfruit whole then make sure it is peeled and chopped properly before freezing, whether you choose to freeze it cooked or raw.

How to Freeze Raw Jackfruit

If you’re unsure how you’ll use jackfruit in future then freezing it raw can give you a little more freedom in future when you defrost it: 

1. Chop
   Chop up your jackfruit and get it ready for freezing.
2. Flash Freeze
   Grab a baking tray and add a sheet of parchment paper to stop the fruit from sticking to the tray. Put the jackfruit onto the tray. Only add it in a single layer and try and avoid too much of the fruit touching. Lay the baking sheet with the fruit flat in the freezer and allow it to freeze for two to three hours.
3. Bag Up
   Once the chunks of jackfruit are frozen you can transfer them from the baking sheet into a freezer bag.
4. Seal
   Seal the bag tightly and label it with the date and contents.
5. Freeze
   Pop it back into the freezer.

How to Freeze Cooked Jackfruit

If you’re going to use it cooked then freezing it cooked can save you a lot of time in future: 

1. Cook
   Prepare and chop your jackfruit then cook it using your favourite method.
2. Cool
   Allow the jackfruit to cool completely.
3. Flash Freeze
   When the jackfruit is cool pop it onto a baking tray with parchment paper. Avoid the fruit touching each other. You want the jackfruit to freeze in separate people and not clumped together in a lump. Put the baking tray and jackfruit into the freezer for a couple of hours.
4. Bag Up
   When the jackfruit has frozen you can remove it from the freezer. Prepare a freezer bag by labelling it with the date and contents and then put the jackfruit into it.
5. Freeze
   Seal the bag tightly and squeeze out as much air as possible then put the bag in the freezer.

How to Freeze Tinned Jackfruit

Tinned jackfruit has the benefit of being prepared for you. Bear in mind that tinned jackfruit will last for a long time in the cupboard so this method should only be used if you have an opened tin. Don’t open a tin specifically for freezing: 

1. Drain
   Drain the jackfruit from the juice.
2. Dry
   Allow the jackfruit to dry for a while before freezing.
3. Flash Freeze
   You will need to double freeze the jackfruit to ensure it doesn’t get damaged in the freezer. To do this you need a baking tray and some parchment paper. Lay a sheet of parchment paper onto the baking tray and lay out the tinned fruit on top in a single layer. Put this into the freezer for two to three hours.
4. Bag Up
   When the jackfruit is frozen transfer it from the baking tray and into a freezer bag.
5. Freeze
   Seal the freezer bag and label it with the contents and the date before popping it back into the freezer.

How to Freeze Jackfruit Burgers

You can also freeze jackfruit that has been cooked into recipes such as jackfruit burgers. These are delicious burgers with a tropical twist – perfect for BBQs and summer parties.

To freeze the burgers, you need to pop them into freezer bags. If you are freezing more than one jackfruit burger you can pop squares of parchment paper in between each burger to make them easier to grab out when you need.

Seal the bag of jackfruit burgers and add a label with the date and contents. You should be able to freeze jackfruit cooked into meals and recipes for up to a month.

3 Tips for Freezing Jackfruit

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

• Consider Timeframe – When it comes to freezing jackfruit the first tip is to make sure you only buy and freeze the amount you can eat within a month. Even frozen jackfruit doesn’t have a hugely long shelf life and it will go to waste if you buy too much.
• Airtight is the Secret – The secret to freezing any fruit successfully is keeping it airtight. You can ensure all the air is squeezed out of the bags by using a straw. Pop a straw into the bag of jackfruit and suck out the excess air before sealing.
• Try in Smoothies – Finding uses for your frozen jackfruit is important. You are unlikely to be able to eat it raw as you may have done before freezing. The fruit will have changed in texture. However, it is perfect to add to your baking and cooking and perfect for smoothies.

How Long Can You Freeze Jackfruit?

Jackfruit doesn’t keep for a super long time even in the freezer. So no matter what method you have frozen your jackfruit using, or if it is cooked into a meal or raw you should use it up within a month of freezing.

You Can Freeze Jackfruit for up to 1 Month

How Do You Defrost Jackfruit?

For many recipes and uses, you won’t need to defrost the jackfruit at all. You can snack on icy jackfruit for a delicious treat or throw a few chunks into a smoothie and blend. You may also be able to add it into your recipes frozen. Throw it into stews or mix it into your baking.

If you do need to thaw it out then the best method is to pop it into the fridge. Put it into a bowl first to stop the liquid from making a mess in the fridge.

Can You Refreeze Jackfruit?

No, we would not recommend that you refreeze jackfruit. The texture and quality will have changed and it is unlikely to survive well if you tried to freeze it again.

Does Jackfruit Freeze Well?

Jackfruit isn’t a food that freezes well. This doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious but it does mean you have to know how you will be using it. You can pop it into stews and recipes and you can even make delicious sauces.

So don’t let that jackfruit go to waste. Freeze it to use at a later date.

Related FAQs

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

Can You Freeze Jackfruit Curry?

Jackfruit curry can be frozen easily. You just need to portion the curry out into containers or bags then seal before freezing. We would advise using bags as plastic containers will stain easily from the spices in the curry. 

Can You Freeze Jackfruit Pulled Pork?

One of the main qualities of jackfruit is its ability to replicate the texture of meat – more especially the texture of pulled pork. A hugely popular vegan dish is jackfruit pulled pork. But can it be frozen?

You can freeze it much like other cooked dishes. Portion into thick, good-quality freezer bags, seal and freeze. Make sure you freeze it in portions so it is easy to thaw the amount you need at a given time.