Can Frozen Fruit Go Bad? | Best ways to freeze your fruits

Yes, frozen fruit can go bad. However, if frozen properly, they can last up to 18 months before going bad. 

You are told as a kid always to eat fruits because they’re healthy and good for us. They say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Good fruits are rich in fiber and vitamins. And then you fall in love with mangoes, but as we all know, they have seasons, and this is where things get tough.

You now have a favorite fruit you want to eat throughout the year. After doing your research, you discovered that you could preserve your fruits by freezing them. Amazing, right? You can get your favorite fruits and freeze them to enjoy anytime.

You open your freezer one day, and something smells spoilt. Everything seems fine except the brownish spots on your lovely mangoes. Sorry, hon. Everything gets spoilt, even frozen fruits.

How Long Does Frozen Fruit Last

Frozen fruit has no exact lifespan because it can degrade over time depending on how you store it. Food experts generally agree that if you keep your fruits in the freezer section of your refrigerator, they will last longer than fruits stored in the door or crisper drawer.

Frozen berries have a shorter lifespan than other products because they’re delicate and can be damaged easily during freezing. Strawberries are the most fragile and are best consumed within one year of purchase.

Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are better bets for long-term storage. They’ll last up to two years in the freezer if properly packaged and stored in an airtight container with moisture-absorbing material such as paper towels or newspaper between layers of berries.

You may also want to place a layer or two of plastic wrap directly on top of the berries before closing the container lid tightly, so there’s less air circulation around them.

How do you tell if Frozen Fruit has Gone Bad?

• Bad smell

You can check if your frozen food has gone bad by smelling it first before opening up the packaging. If there is a foul odor from inside, something went wrong during storage, and it is no longer safe to eat! You’ll know immediately if there is something wrong with your food by smelling it.

• Dryness and cracking skin.

These two warning signs indicate that the fruit may be past its prime. If the skin is dry and cracked, it’s probably best to get rid of it because it might contain harmful bacteria like salmonella or listeria.

• Discoloration

if you discover that your frozen berries are turning yellow or brown, throw them away. The yellow color is generated through oxidation processes that occur when food is exposed to air, light, or heat over an extended period.

• Mold growth

If mold appears on your berries or if there are any brown or black spots on them, they are bad. Throw them out!

Some other things to look out for:

• Your bag or container is leaking

When foods start going bad, they release juices that can cause them to leak through their packaging containers. If you can see wet spots on top of any of your frozen fruits, it’s time to throw them away. This is a sign that they are contaminated by bacteria and other germs that could make you sick if you eat them.

• Taste

Yeah, you read right. Eating a little piece of fruit won’t cause your body any harm. Pick up a sample piece of fruit and try eating it. If it tastes sour or bitter, that’s a sign that it’s past its prime and should be tossed out immediately!

This is one of the surest ways to tell if a frozen fruit has gone bad.

How to Freeze Fruits properly.

Fruit freezes well, but you must be careful to handle the fruit properly to get good results. The best way to freeze fruit is to use a vacuum sealer. These appliances use a pump to remove air from the bag, preventing freezer burn and other damage that can occur when air comes into contact with the food.

Vacuum sealers also create an airtight seal that keeps moisture from getting into the bag and causing water damage. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, you can freeze fruit successfully using plastic freezer bags.

Step 1: Wash

Wash the fruit thoroughly before freezing it. This will help prevent mold growth after it thaws and make it easier to store in bulk if you plan to use it later.

Step 2: Decide what shape you will be freezing in

There are three shapes to store frozen fruits:

• Whole

Whole fruits can be frozen, but they may lose their shape and texture when thawed.

• Chopped/Sliced

Sliced fruits like strawberries and blueberries can be frozen individually on a cookie sheet until solid before being placed into an airtight container or baggie. This method will produce individual servings that can be thawed quickly and easily.

• Puree

Pureeing your favorite fruits allows you access to various flavors anytime during the year. You will also not need to use up all of your fresh produce at once!

If you are like me, you will like the fruit sliced/chopped. If possible, you can chop the fruit into pieces no bigger than 1-inch square or cube. This will make it easier to thaw out later on when cooking or baking with them. You can also leave larger chunks intact if they’re going into smoothies or cocktails, as they’ll blend up easily without pre-chopping beforehand.

Step 3: Freeze

You can use a variety of containers for freezing fruit — plastic bags, plastic containers with lids, or freezer boxes. When using plastic bags, seal them tightly so they don’t leak when frozen. If you’re using freezer boxes with removable dividers inside, place the fruit in individual compartments so you can easily remove what you need later.

It’s best not to pack too much fruit into each container. You should leave at least 1/2 inch of space between pieces, so they don’t freeze together in a big clump. Also, remember that smaller pieces will freeze faster than large ones. If possible, keep small pieces separate from larger ones so you won’t have to wait as long for them all to freeze before storing them together again.

FAQ

How long do canned fruits last?

Canned fruits last for about two years when stored at room temperature and one year stored in the refrigerator. You should always drain canned fruit before eating because liquid from the jar can cause molding or other issues in the future.

How long does it take to freeze fruits?

The freezing time for most fruits is about an hour. Fruits with high water content, such as melons and berries, must be frozen longer than other fruits and vegetables. They are more likely to form large ice crystals if not properly frozen. Ice crystals cause freezer burn, which looks like brown or black spots on the surface of the food.