Rhubarb is one of those fruits that people either seem to love or hate. It is sharp, tangy and tart! Stewing rhubarb is a fantastic way to prep the fruit but can you freeze stewed rhubarb and extend its shelf life even further?
Can You Freeze Stewed Rhubarb?
Yes, you can freeze stewed rhubarb for up to 12 months. Once cooled, bag it up into portions, seal the bags and then place them into the freezer.
How To Freeze Stewed Rhubarb
To freeze stewed rhubarb, you need to stew it first. If it is stewed the right way, you will be balancing its tart flavour out with a little sweetness.
Here’s how to freeze stewed rhubarb so that it’s ready to eat anytime you need it:
- Cool
Once you have stewed your rhubarb, give it time to cool to room temperature. - Decant Into Bags
Pour the stewed rhubarb into freezer bags or airtight containers. Seal well and leave no air inside. Using a straw is a great way to remove excess air from the bag with ease. - Label and Freeze
Label the bag with the contents (it’ll look like any other stewed fruit) and then return to the freezer.
We’re always looking for the best freezing options for you. For hassle-free freezing, make sure you portion the stewed rhubarb into bowl-sized amounts.
How Long Can You Freeze Stewed Rhubarb?
A good rule of thumb for stewed rhubarb is that you can freeze it successfully and without too many problems for up to about nine months.
Some recipes mention that you can freeze it for a little longer, up to twelve months and it is likely that it is safe to do so.
But it is worth bearing in mind that the longer you leave your rhubarb in the freezer, the more chance it has to have problems like freezer burn.
Stewed rhubarb will keep for between 2 and 3 days in the fridge when kept in a covered dish or container.
How Do You Defrost Stewed Rhubarb?
How you defrost your rhubarb will depend on how you plan to use it. If you are planning on throwing a handful of stewed rhubarb into a fresh juice or smoothie then you might want to keep it frozen.
Just throw it into the blender with the rest of your ingredients and blend!
If you want to add it to a pie or crumble or even to eat as a dessert on its own and paired with custard, then you will want to defrost it.
The best way to do this is to take it out of the freezer and pop it into the fridge to defrost for several hours. If you can get it out of the freezer before you go to bed so that it has all night to thaw out before you plan to use it.
Can You Refreeze Stewed Rhubarb?
We are not huge fans of refreezing it.
Refreezing can tamper with the freshness, discolour it and make it lose its cellular moisture. Instead of reminding you of refreshing spring, refrozen rhubarb will most likely just put you off.
Defrost it just once and finish it all. You can keep it refrigerated for about a week in the fridge if consuming it immediately seems like a task.
Does Stewed Rhubarb Freeze Well?
Stewed rhubarb freezes so well that you can enjoy it tart and fresh in the middle of grey winters. Simply put, yes! It freezes very well and stays fresh for over a year. If frozen well, it will remain fresh for much longer.
Assuming you’ve not loaded it up with sugar, you can defrost it for a boost of nutrition anytime you like.
Layer it on your muesli for a fresh breakfast or make that decadent meringue cupcake a little less sinful and that much more delicious by scooping some cold stewed rhubarb on it.
Sources
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I wanted to know if I could refreeze rhubarb after making it into a crumble and cooking it.
Hey Mo! It should be perfectly fine to do so. The main issue with refreezing is the texture but you’re unlikely to care if it loses a little texture when it is in a crumble.