Freeze Fruits For Smoothies have many health benefits but they can also be time-consuming to prepare (if you’re eating it right after it’s been made). The fresh fruit can quickly go bad in the fridge and can turn your smoothie into a runny, watery mess. Freezing your fresh fruits can allow you to create smoothies weeks or even months in advance.
How to Freeze Fruit and Make Better Smoothies
One thing that I’ve really been working hard on this year is having a healthier breakfast. I was always a die hard cereal girl which is totally fine, but I was missing out on a lot of nutrients that could help me have a better, more energized day. So, I started drinking green smoothies with a little protein or doing breakfast parfaits with granola (or oatmeal but summer is generally more about the smoothies.), but I quickly realized three things which is why we are doing a post on how to freeze fruit and make better smoothies.
1. I needed a little fruit in my smoothies to love them, otherwise it was too bland or bitter for me. Plus everyone needs a little fruit in their lives.
2. Making smoothies is expensive. I know a lot of people that eat the whole foods diet or are big on fresh produce swear it’s not bad, but it is expensive.
3. I like my smoothies thick like a shake and not thin like a juice.
So my solution was to start buying things on sale and freezing them because it allowed me to still incorporate fresh fruits into the smoothies, saved us money and it thickened up my shake without adding ice. I’ve compiled a list of fruits that freeze well, but the how-to is quite easy. The most important part about this, other than actually freezing is to buy fruit when it’s on sale, and buy a lot. That way you can freeze fruit at it’s cheapeast and overall save money versus buying frozen or fresh fruit that’s not on sale.
How to Freeze Fruit
Rinse the fruit well, chop into pieces and dry with paper towels. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the fruit out flat, trying to keep a little space between each piece. Now place the pan in the freezer for 3 hours or up to 1 day. Remove the fruit and place in a ziploc bag, pressing out all the air and sealing shut. Now the fruit will keep for 6-9 months.
This Is Why Smoothies Always Taste Better When You Buy Them at the Juice Bar
In the early 2000s, going to the mall to pick up a 30-ounce Strawberry Surf Rider at Jamba Juice was *the* way to stave off the hot summer days.
Today, you can find endless smoothie recipes all over the internet for daily inspiration for making this refreshingly fruity beverage at home. But admit it: Those pricey smoothies from the local juice bar always hit different. They never fail to taste a little thicker, sweeter, and creamier than the ones you make yourself, no?
This is partially due to the fact that we (of course) need some sort of viable excuse for spending $11 on a beverage, but there is certainly something different about the texture of professionally-made smoothies. After all, making the perfect smoothie depends a lot on both how and what we’re using to make them. And no, we’re not referencing the fact that your local juice bar uses a super fancy high-performance blender or that they’re whirling in elusive locally-grown organic strawberries and spirulinasuperfoodcollagenCBDmagicfairydust. Rather, if you feel that homemade smoothies simply lack the velvety texture of their store-bought counterparts, the problem might be in the way that you’re freezing your fruit at home versus the more effective method that professionals in restaurants and juice bars use.
Indeed, the texture of your frozen fruit can be *the* determining factor between a super vibrant and creamy, cohesive smoothie that tastes like summer in a cup versus a bland, icy, and mediocre-tasting drink. Follow these simple tips for prepping and freezing your fresh fruit the right way, and you’ll never have to shell out a ridiculous amount for a high-quality smoothie again.
How to freeze fruit for making smoothies at home
1. Freeze them when they’re super ripe
Overshot how much fruit you’ll need for the week and now you’re left with a heaping pile of berries that are on the brink of starting to spoil? No sweat. Catch them at their peak ripeness (read: after they’ve softened and sweetened but not before they’re begun to mold) and freeze them ASAP. This will maximize the natural sweetness of your smoothies.
2. Wash them thoroughly
It’s important to wash your fresh produce thoroughly to remove any dirt, bacteria, or harmful pesticides from its delicate skin, especially for fruits like strawberries and peaches. According to the FDA, you don’t need to use any soap or produce sprays to get the job done. Instead, rinsing fruits (and veggies) under cool running water can help remove excess dirt to help prevent any foodborne illnesses. Although, if you find that your strawberries look extremely dirty, you can soak them in a solution of water and vinegar for just a few minutes before rinsing them again.
3. Dry, dry, and dry them again
To prevent any unwanted freezer burn and icicles from forming on your frozen fruit, make sure to dry it extremely well. Gently pat the fruit with a paper towel or clean washcloth, and remove all moisture as best as possible before attempting to freeze.
4. Prep the fruits (or vegetables) for freezing
Once your produce is clean and dry, cut each piece of fruit into smaller pieces to make blending them into a uniform and creamy smoothie a breeze (it’ll also be easier on your equipment). Having the fruit already cut up makes portioning it out for individual smoothies all that faster, too.
5. Freeze fresh pieces of fruit on a baking sheet first
So, the time has come to freeze them, but how exactly do juice bars nail it every time? Using a baking sheet, of course. This TikTok video by @nutreats demonstrates how to freeze fruit in a few easy steps for smoothie perfection.
They’re not just great for baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies: Baking sheets are the holy grail of restaurant kitchen tools and are an essential part of freezing fruit effectively at home. To do so, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable, freezer-safe silicone mat. Then, place the clean and dry fruit in a single layer and pop it in the freezer for a few hours.
By freezing the pieces of fruit in a uniform layer on a baking sheet, you’ll prevent them from becoming one giant hunk of bananas or berries that makes it nearly impossible to blend or portion out. After a few hours of “flash freezing” them, they’ll be solid enough to consolidate into a freezer-safe reusable bag without sticking to one another. The result? Perfectly ripe, sweet, and freezer burn-free pieces of fruit that are just as good as the ones your juice bar blends.
6. Don’t freeze these fruits and veggies
Although this trick works wonders for strawberries, bananas, and blueberries, some produce is better left unfrozen. Frozen watermelon, citrus slices, cucumbers, and apples tend to become mushy or oxidize quickly. Thus, sticking to freezer-resistant ingredients will help ensure that your smoothies will always meet your creamy and dreamy expectations.
Try making this brain-boosting smoothie with all of your freshly frozen fruit:
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How to Freeze Fruit
We are going to show you how to freeze fruit and enjoy fruit at rock bottom prices. Save money and buy fruit on sale and freeze it!
How to freeze fruit
This may seem like a very simple post, but if you are like me you probably never thought about freezing fruit. Freezing fruit is a nice money saver, because you can enjoy fruit at rock bottom prices later when it isn’t in season anymore.
Save money!
My favorite way to use frozen fruit is in smoothies. I personally love smoothies and you can make them very inexpensively when you stock up on fruit that their lowest prices.
Can you freeze fresh fruit?
Yes, stock up when fruit goes on sale and freeze it! For example, strawberries have been on sale at Aldi for just $.99 a pound. I stocked up.
However, we were off to head out for our vacation and I knew they would go bad while we were gone.
So… off to the freezer they went. It is a win-win. I save money and my family gets to enjoy delicious fruit.
How to freeze fruit for smoothies?
Wash and pat dry the fruit. I clean the fruit with this homemade fruit and vegetable wash. Cut up fruit as needed (I slice bananas, and cut strawberries in half).
Place fruit on a cookie sheet (I lined my cookie sheet with foil).
Place cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours.
Remove fruit from cookie sheet and place in a freezer bag and place in freezer.
Now your fruit is ready to use when you need it!
The point of freezing them on the cookie sheet is to make sure they are frozen individually. That way, you do not have to worry about them being all stuck together in the freezer bag. Next time, your fruit is starting too look bad, chop it up and toss it in your freezer.
What fruit can you freeze?
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Watermelon (You can use it to make Watermelon frosties for the kids -YUM!)
- Oranges (You peel and slice them and use in smoothies)
How to use frozen fruit:
- Fruit Smoothies
- Mini Fruit Salads -Take a few out the night before and place in the refrigerator. The next morning, you fruit is thawed and ready for breakfast.
- Watermelon frosties for the kids
- Toppings – You don’t need to buy frozen topping for your pies, cheesecakes, or angel food cake, when you already have yours in the freezer. (I like to blend up the strawberries for on top of my cheesecake. OR mix the blended strawberries with cool whip for angel food cake)
- Cool down oatmeal -You can mix in frozen fruit (like blueberries) in your oatmeal. It will not only make it delicious, but also help cool it down.
- Blueberry Muffins
- Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- Ice cream topping
Do you know of any other fruit that freezes nicely? I hope that this inspires you to think outside the box on new ways to save money!
Freezing fruit for smoothies is a favorite around here!
Grab some freezer bags and get started freezing fruits and vegetables. We even sneak in some spinach in our smoothies and the kids never notice.
Stock up on fresh fruits when they on sale and freeze them to save money. Fruits can be frozen very easily. Start today!
Money Saving tip:
Buy fruit when it is on sale and in season and freeze it! Make sure you download our free What’s in Season? Calendar of Fruits and Vegetables in Season printable that will show you when you will find produce at its lowest price.
That is the best way to save money next time you are stocking the freezer with fruit.
I have learned over the years that shopping and cooking based on sales really helps our grocery budget. It adds up over time and makes a big difference in our budget.
It helps keep the grocery budget reasonable and feed a large family. By shopping when things are on sale I save money on groceries and it really helps our budget. Saving money and feeding a big family can be accomplished.
I cut our grocery bill by 50% off by following these 8 Tips for for Saving Money on Groceries by Menu Planning! You will be so glad you bought lots of yummy fruit on sale. We love to stock to freeze fruit and enjoy all year!
How To Freeze Fresh Fruit
With Spring in full swing, and Summer just around the corner, fresh, seasonal fruit is showing up at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and even some home gardens – unless of course, you live all the way up here in Canada and have only recently transplanted your garden {sigh}… At any rate, fresh fruit is one of my favorite things of life. The variety of colors, shapes, and sizes is always so amazing to me!
The only thing I love more than fruit itself, is stocking up on fresh, seasonal fruit when it goes on sale – or better yet, gathering a huge harvest from our home garden. I love stocking up on our pantry staples too, but unlike those, you can’t just throw your fruit in the fridge indefinitely and expect it to be there (in it’s original form, anyway) when you finally get around to using it.
Freezing fruit makes whipping up homemade smoothies so much easier! Since everything is cut up and frozen beforehand, there’s really no prep work involved – and who doesn’t love that? You can also use frozen fruits in your waffle batter, muffins, as toppings for oatmeal or yogurt, or even homemade fruit roll-ups! Gahhh, I’m so excited about that last one – I’ll be making some later this week, so stay tuned for that recipe!
All you have to do is wash, peel and cut up your fruit as you normally would. Then, line the fruit pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and pop them in the freezer until frozen – around 1 or 2 hours. Make sure the fruit pieces are not touching each other so they don’t freeze together and create a giant, frozen, fruity mass.
Once frozen, remove them from the cookie sheet, and store in some sort of freezer-safe container – either freezer bags or tupperware works great. I use some old plastic butter and yogurt tubs. *I know we’re supposed to be phasing plastic out of our kitchens, but I have so much lying around from our pre-green days, that I figured it would be best to reuse them in fairly safe ways like this, before sending them to the recycling bin.
Here are some extra tips to follow:
- This works for a good number of your everyday fruits: berries, pineapples, watermelon, bananas, apples, peaches, etc.
- Fruits will keep in the freezer anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on how often you open your freezer.
- Apples and pears should be cored, peeled and sliced, and tossed with lemon juice or cider vinegar to prevent browning.
- Peaches and plums should be peeled and pitted, and either sliced or cut into wedges.
- Bananas can either be sliced, or frozen whole with the peel on – the peel will brown, but the inside will stay yellow.
- Lemons can be cut into slices or wedges. If frozen whole, they will be very mushy after they’re thawed. You can also just juice them, freeze the juice in ice trays, then transfer the cubes to freezer bags. Even the zest can be put into freezer bags, and just break off a piece when you need it. (That’s also what I do with minced garlic!)
Another area of freezing fruit, which I’ve yet to venture into, is packing them in syrup or sugar. This is supposed to be good for when you want to use the fruits in cooking. I found a good resource with more information on this here.
So, do you usually freeze fresh fruit or do you buy the pre-frozen packages? How do you use your frozen fruit, and what other tips can you offer? I’d love to hear from you!