Can You Freeze Tapioca?

Tapioca pudding is a creamy and delicious dessert option. There are many tapioca recipes out there, making it a great option to prepare at home for the family. But what’s the best way to preserve it? Can you freeze tapioca?

How to Freeze Tapioca

Tapioca pudding freezes really well, and the freezing process is super straightforward. And while freshly made tapioca is pretty hard to beat, thawing and enjoying frozen tapioca is a pretty close second.

So, no matter the recipe that you use, you can freeze tapioca pudding by following these simple steps:

1. Cool
   The first step is probably the most important. You need to leave your tapioca pudding to one side to cool completely before placing it in the freezer. If you freeze tapioca while it is still warm, it will turn into a gooey mess!
   
   You will probably need to leave your tapioca for 1-2 hours until it has cooled completely. 
2. Package
   Once cooled, place your tapioca pudding in a suitably sized container that is stain-free and clean. You should then cover the top of the pudding with plastic wrap. 
3. Refrigerate
   Add your wrapped tapioca pudding to the fridge and leave for 2-3 hours until it is completely chilled. This will help it set and will ensure it freezes well.
4. Label and Freeze
   When you’re happy that your tapioca pudding has completely chilled, remove it from the fridge and cover it with a lid. Then, write today’s date and the use-by date on the lid before placing it in the freezer.

3 Tips for Freezing Tapioca

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

Divide Into Portions
It’s absolutely possible to freeze a whole tapioca pudding, but we’d recommend dividing it into portions before placing it in the freezer. This makes defrosting the right amount of tapioca much easier and will save you from wasting your leftovers. 

Freeze Away From Foods With a Strong Odour
Because tapioca pudding contains dairy, it is likely to absorb strong odours that are present in your freezer, even when it is tightly wrapped. As such, freeze your tapioca away from the likes of onions, garlic, and fish, to ensure your tapioca doesn’t have a funny taste when you come to enjoy it.

Only Freeze Once
Even when you have thawed your tapioca pudding in the fridge, we’d only recommend freezing it once. This is because tapioca is somewhat delicate, and freezing it more than once can affect its texture and taste.

Again, if you’re worried about wastage, separate your tapioca into smaller portions before freezing it in the first place. 

How Long Can You Freeze Tapioca?

You can freeze tapioca for around three months. When you use it within this time period, you shouldn’t notice any discernible difference between previously frozen tapioca and a pudding that is fresh out of the oven.

If you leave your tapioca in the freezer for any longer than three months, the ice crystals that form might cause it to lose some of its flavour and texture, so you should try and use it within this timeframe to ensure it tastes as good as you expect!

You Can Freeze Tapioca for up to 3 Months

How Do You Defrost Tapioca?

Defrosting tapioca is just as straightforward as freezing it. When you’re ready to enjoy your tapioca pudding, transfer it from the freezer into the fridge.

You will need to leave it for several hours to defrost slowly, so you should do this the night before you plan to enjoy it.

Because the pudding contains dairy, you shouldn’t defrost tapioca at room temperature or in the microwave. 

Can You Refreeze Tapioca?

No, you should only freeze tapioca once. Freezing tapioca pudding for a second time is likely to cause it to spoil, as its texture and taste will be affected by the second freezing process.

As we mentioned above, the best way to freeze tapioca is to portion it once it has cooled, as this will make your life much easier when it comes to defrosting the required amount of tapioca at any given time.

Does Tapioca Freeze Well?

Tapioca pudding freezes really well. Just make sure you allow it time to set in the fridge before freezing it, and wrap it tightly, so it’s not affected by freezer burn.

If you follow these tips, your tapioca pudding should be good in the freezer for up to three months. 

Related FAQs

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