Who doesnāt love a bowl of sweet, wobbly jelly? Kids love it, too, and itās great topped with ice cream, cream, or even fruits! Whether homemade or shop-bought, jelly is an easy dessert option to round things off after a delicious meal. But is it possible to freeze jelly?
Can You Freeze Jelly?
Yes, you can freeze jelly for up to 6 months. Transfer the jelly to an airtight freeze-safe container, seal it tight and then carefully place it into the freezer.
How to Freeze Jelly
Freezing jelly is a great way of preserving it, as it doesnāt keep very long in the fridge.
If youāve put together a homemade jelly, itās a good idea to set aside the batch you intend to freeze immediately, so you donāt need to worry about separating it.
Here are the steps you need to take to freeze jelly:
- Transfer to a Container
Transfer your jelly to a suitable, freezer-safe container. A Tupperware box is perfect. When placing your jelly in the container, make sure you leave sufficient space for any expansion to take place in the freezer. - Seal and Label
Affix the lid to the top of your container and label its contents. Write todayās date, as well as its use-by date. Remember, jelly can be frozen for around six months. - Place Carefully Into the Freezer
You need to make sure to place your jelly on a flat surface in the freezer. If it sets on a slant, you will have a lopsided mess when you come to defrost it!
Yes, you can speed up jelly setting in the freezer. However, monitor it closely to prevent total freezing. It’s best to start setting in the fridge first.
How Long Can You Freeze Jelly?
You can freeze jelly for around 6 months.Ā
If you leave jelly in the freezer any longer than this, it will lose some of its taste and result in less intense flavours.
It will also probably lose some of its desired consistency that makes jelly enjoyable, so make sure to enjoy it within this time frame.Ā
Homemade jelly has a shelf life of 1 to 3 days in the fridge, as a minimum. If made plainly with just fruit juice or water and sugar, it can last up to 5-7 days. It’s essential to store the jelly in an airtight container or cover it with cling film to prevent it from drying out.
How Do You Defrost Jelly?
The best way to defrost jelly is to remove it from the freezer the night before using it and place it in the fridge. This will give it sufficient time to thaw while preserving its desired texture.
If youāre in a rush, itās possible to put your container in the sink and thaw it with cool water. However, this can impact the appearance and setting of your jelly, so itās best to go for the fridge option, particularly if you have enough time.
It’s probably fairly obviously but don’t even attempt to use the microwave!
Can You Refreeze Jelly?
Jelly does not refreeze well, so you should only freeze it once.
If you have leftovers, call your friends over and ask them to share them with you! Refreezing jelly will diminish its taste and affect its texture, so you should try using it all at once.
If youāre concerned about portion size, freeze your jelly in small servings so you only have to thaw what you need at any given time.Ā
Does Jelly Freeze Well?
Providing it is correctly set before you freeze it, jelly freezes surprisingly well. I know, right!
Freezing jelly is an excellent way of extending its shelf life, as it doesnāt last particularly long in the fridge and canāt be kept at room temperature for obvious reasons.
So, if youāre planning to make a big batch of jelly to enjoy with your family, you can rest assured that it will freeze really well.Ā
Consider Alcohol Content
Be mindful that jelly with a high alcohol content will take much longer to set than jelly without alcohol. The same is valid for jelly that contains fruit juice, as the enzymes may be preventing the pectin from binding the jelly together.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
