Nothing tastes better than an ice-cold kiwi and banana smoothie! You might buy fresh kiwis and juice a few in the blender, but then you wonder what you should do with the leftover kiwi. Can you freeze kiwi?
You can freeze kiwi, diced, sliced, or whole. Since kiwis contain high acidity, they hold their structure quite well in the freezer. And as a bonus, freezing fruits like kiwi really brings out their sweetness!
In this article, I will give you a short tutorial on how to freeze kiwi, tell you how long kiwi can stay in the freezer, and explain how to know when your kiwi is ripe enough to freeze. Keep reading.
It’s Best To Freeze Kiwi Once It’s Ripe Only
Before we get to how to freeze kiwi, it’s important to know that for best results you’ll only want to freeze kiwi when it is at its ripest. While freezing kiwi before it’s ripe is not a problem, kiwi will not continue to ripen once it’s frozen and thawed.
If you prefer using unripe fruits in your smoothie for a dash of sour, you can go ahead and freeze as you like. Although, if you prefer ripe kiwi in your smoothie, I’d recommend waiting until the fruit is mature first before freezing it.
You can test your kiwi by gently pressing against the skin—if it dents in, that means it’s ready to be eaten or frozen. Don’t press too hard on your kiwi, for doing so can squish the fruit’s flesh and leave it soggy and mushy.
The ideal way to ripen a kiwi quickly is to place it in a paper bag along with an apple or a banana. You can start the freezing process as soon as you have your ripe kiwi.
How To Freeze Kiwi in 5 Easy Steps
Now that you have a ripe kiwi, let’s get down to the steps you’ll need to follow to freeze it.
Note: You can easily cut down on your future prep time by preparing your kiwi as part of the freezing process. Follow the steps below to freeze your kiwi and save them for those rushed morning routines.
You’ll need the following equipment:
Sharp knife
Peeler
Parchment paper
Permanent marker
Freezer bags or containers
Step 1: Wash Your Kiwi
Start by washing your kiwi under cool running water to eliminate excess dirt and bacteria. By cleaning your fruit before eating or freezing it, you effectively remove bacteria and fungi, which can easily multiply during the storage process.
Step 2: Peel Your Kiwi
It’s ideal to peel your kiwi before freezing to sustain the shape and texture of the fruit. Defrosting your kiwi with its peel can make it mushy and unpleasant; optimal preservation is key to a good kiwi!
Tip: Some people prefer to leave the peel on as it can help your kiwi preserve more vitamins. Consuming kiwi skin doubles your intake of vitamin C and Fiber. So, if you don’t mind eating kiwi peel you can leave it on.
Step 3: Slice Your Kiwi
After peeling your kiwi, you can start slicing the fruit into the preferred shape. Although this step is unnecessary, freezing whole kiwis can take up a lot of space and leave them extra mushy after thawing.
A fun and easy way to store your kiwi in the freezer is to slice it and then place the slices on parchment paper; be sure that your kiwi slices don’t touch each other. You can layer your cut kiwis on top of each other with parchment paper in between.
Step 4: Cover the Kiwi With a Bit of Sugar
For every 4 cups of kiwi, use 1 cup of white sugar. Lightly sprinkle the sugar over the kiwi so that it covers it completely. This method works well because sugar-coated fruit can retain its freshness and firmness for longer periods.
If you prefer not to add any additional sugar, that’s okay too! Covering your kiwi in sugar is an optional step, but if you worry about preserving your kiwi’s freshness, you can squeeze some lemon or lime juice over your kiwi slices. The acid in the lemon juice helps to keep the fruit fresh.
Step 5: Start Freezing Your Kiwi
You can now place your parchment paper on a tray and put it in the freezer. Leave the kiwis in the freezer for at least 5 to 7 hours to ensure they are frozen completely.
Once your kiwi is frozen all the way through, you can put them in a freezer bag or plastic container without worrying that they’ll stick to each other. Remember to mark your kiwi freezer container with the date to track how old the kiwis are easy. Place your kiwis in the freezer and enjoy!
Can You Freeze Kiwi Whole?
Freezing a whole kiwi might sound like a more straightforward solution than peeling and slicing, but it has its downside.
You can freeze a whole kiwi as it does not impact the flavor of the fruit. However, freezing a whole kiwi will affect the texture. Also, take note that freezing a whole kiwi can take up a lot of space, and once you decide to eat it, it takes much longer to thaw.
Freezing your fruit will make it a little mushy after thawing them, but the flavor remains the same and is ideal for smoothies and other dishes such as cold fruit salads.
How Long Can Kiwi Stay in the Freezer?
Now that you have frozen your kiwi, you might be wondering whether there is an expiration date on kiwis stored in the freezer.
Kiwi can stay in the freezer for 10 to 12 months before losing the quality of its flavor. However, the fruit will remain edible for 15 months. Just make sure to properly prepare the fruit before freezing it to prevent any molding or bacteria growth.
Checking up on your kiwis once a month can help you prevent any spoilage or mold growth from happening, but generally, kiwis will last quite a long time in the freezer if prepared right.
Check Your Kiwi’s Smell and Appearance To Determine if It’s Spoiled
Knowing when to throw out kiwi fruit is highly important for preventing stomach bugs and other foodborne illnesses.
The easiest way to tell whether or not your kiwi has expired is by using sight and smell. Look for any crystalized parts on the fruit or a pale/dull appearance. The Ice around the fruit might also change color, so look for any cloudy or odd-colored ice around your kiwi.
Check out this video to learn how to freeze kiwis.
What Are the Benefits of Freezing Kiwi?
The benefits of freezing kiwi are as follows:
You can more easily incorporate the vitamin-packed fruit into your daily diet without the downside of short shelf life.
You can cut down on your smoothie preparation time by simply freezing your kiwi and other fruits ahead of time.
Besides, you can also use frozen kiwi as a cold snack on hot days. Furthermore, kiwis are good for, and often well-liked by kids. So it’s a perfect natural treat!
Freezing kiwi also saves you money. Think about all the times you had to throw out a spoiled kiwi; that is money down the drain! So by freezing your ripe kiwis, you are preventing any spoilage, hence saving money.
Here’s a neat trick for scooping a kiwi out with a spoon.
Can You Freeze Kiwi – Summary
Now you know that you can freeze kiwi. Freezing is an effective and easy way to extend the shelf life of your kiwi. You can quickly freeze and store your kiwi for up to 12 months by following the correct procedure. Your kiwi will still be safe for consumption for 15 months. However, the quality of the fruit may decrease.
Always make sure to properly wash, peel and slice your kiwi before freezing to prevent any molding or bacteria growth.
Freezing kiwis makes it easier to incorporate them into your diet. Go ahead and use frozen kiwis for your smoothies and cold fruit salads. Having frozen kiwi on hand is a delicious way to save time and money.
