Tomato juice is the main ingredient in a Bloody Mary or a liquid to boost the content of a great marinara. If you find yourself using a lot of it over time, you might feel that there’s some benefit in bulk buying it. But, how do you then store it?
Can You Freeze Tomato Juice?
Yes, you can freeze tomato juice for up to 3 months. Add the tomato juice to an airtight container, only filling the container to four-fifths full. Then, seal the container, and place it into your freezer.
Do Does Tomato Juice freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Tomato Juice? Yes
How to Freeze Tomato Juice
Before you go ahead and toss a whole carton of tomato juice into the freezer, there are a few steps you ought to follow to freeze it with success:
- Fix Consistency: Ensure that the consistency of the juice is as you like it or a little thinner. This is because when water-heavy food is frozen, some of the water can evaporate during the freezing and thawing process.
- Find Container: Stackable containers are typically best for this since you’ll be able to save a little space in your freezer rather than using cylindrical containers that will use the space inefficiently.
- Portion Out: Add the tomato juice to your chosen containers, being sure to fill them to a maximum of four-fifths full. This will allow for some expansion.
- Remove Bubbles: When the containers are filled, we’d suggest tapping them on the counter a few times to eliminate air bubbles. Bubbles within the liquid will condense and, eventually, freeze.
- Seal: When the containers are filled and tapped, they can be sealed. Check that it’s sealed entirely and all the way around by inverting it, and see if there are any spills. This will allow you to make sure that there is no entry point for frost or freezer burn.
- Freeze: When sealed, place the containers in your freezer ensuring you have added clear labels to the top of the containers.
3 Tips for Freezing Tomato Juice
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing tomato juice to have the best results:
Allow for Expansion
Tomato juice, a liquid that’s mostly water, will expand as it freezes. You need to ensure that there’s at least an inch of headroom between the surface of the liquid and the lid of the container.
Consider Their Placement in the Freezer
The placement of the tomato juice changes depending on its consistency. If you’re freezing something with chunks of tomato in it, store the juice in the centre of the freezer. For a smoother liquid, however, we recommend storing the containers against the walls of the freezer.
Keep Flat
Storing the containers flat prevents the liquid line from being directly against the seam of a container. This prevents leakages, so we’d advise against storing containers where the liquid is pressing against a seam!
How Long Can You Freeze Tomato Juice?
You can freeze tomato juice in your freezer for around 3 months without any noticeable degradation in quality over time.
Beyond 3 months, it is likely to remain safe to consume but the flavour will slowly weaken over time.
Once opened, tomato juice should be consumed within 3 days when stored in a bottle or carton with a tight-fitting lid.
How Do You Defrost Tomato Juice?
The easiest way to defrost tomato juice is to sit it in your fridge overnight, where it will revert to a liquid, and you can use it as you please.
We would advise against trying to speed this process up – especially using heat! This can completely ruin the texture and flavour.
Can You Refreeze Tomato Juice?
Yes, you can refreeze tomato juice, as it doesn’t contain meat or poultry, and no solids in it will sustain damage from repeated freezing.
There is a minor risk that some flavours will degrade after countless refreezing processes but it won’t be hugely noticeable.
Does Tomato Juice Freeze Well?
Yes, tomato juice does freeze well – there is no noticeable degradation over time in the freezer.
Some premium tomato juice might actually split a little in the freezer. This separation can be fixed fairly quickly with a vigorous stir or a quick pulse in a blender.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing tomato juice or juice in general, then these may help:
No, it’s not a good idea to freeze completely Bloody Marys as the alcohol content won’t freeze solid. You can freeze leftover mix, however, into ice cubes which can be added to future Bloody Marys without diluting the flavour.
This is not a good idea. Tomato juice will expand as it freezes. If the jars are overfilled then this can lead to them cracking. You’ll end up with tomato juice and glass all over your freezer!
