The sweet taste of dragon fruit can be a delicious and refreshing treat, but it’s not always in season.
This begs the question, can you freeze dragon fruit?
Yes, you can freeze dragon fruit before it goes bad! By freezing dragon fruit you can enjoy it all year round, but it tends to become mushy, so there are certain limitations to using it once thawed.
This guide will look at why you should consider freezing, how to freeze it, and how to defrost dragon fruit when you’re ready to eat it. Let’s get started!
Is Frozen Dragon Fruit As Good As Fresh?
There is no comparison if you’re looking for fresh dragon fruit to mix into a salad or top on a dessert.
Is frozen dragon fruit tasty? Some complications can occur when freezing dragon fruit, but it can be just as tasty as fresh under the right conditions, but you will have to sacrifice the texture once thawed.
However, freezing offers many benefits that fresh doesn’t. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of freezing dragon fruit.
Why You Should Freeze Dragon Fruit
Sometimes you may find yourself with more dragon fruit than you can eat. That’s where freezing comes in! Freezing dragon fruit is an excellent way to store it for later use.
Here are some reasons why you should freeze dragon fruit:
- Dragon fruit is a nutrient-rich fruit containing various vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. Freezing dragon fruit helps retain its nutritional value
- Freezing allows you to store the fruit for later use, perfect for when the fruit is out of season or if you have too much on hand.
- Frozen dragon fruit can be quickly thawed and used in smoothies, yogurt bowls, and other recipes.
Why You Shouldn’t Freeze Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit can provide many health benefits. However, there are some reasons why you may not want to freeze dragon fruit.
- When you freeze dragon fruit, the texture and flavor can change.
- The fruit can become mushy and less flavorful after thawing.
- Additionally, freezing can cause the nutrient content of the fruit to decline over a long enough time.
For these reasons, I recommend eating dragon fruit fresh instead of freezing it if possible. But, if that’s not possible, freezing dragon fruit is still a great option!
SEE ALSO: Is Dragon Fruit Better Cold?
How To Freeze Dragon Fruit
Now that you know all about freezing fresh dragon fruit let’s see how to do it!
The best way to freeze dragon fruit is by processing the whole fruit.
- Start by washing your ripe dragon fruit. If you’re not sure how ripe your dragon fruit is, see our guide on how to tell if dragon fruit is ripe.
- Peel your dragon fruit carefully and then slice it into bite-sized pieces or dragon fruit cubes. Alternatively, you could cut in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
- While some recipes call for the skins, it’s best to discard them otherwise.
- Next, place your dragon fruit pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for about 2 hours. Make sure that the pieces are spread out and not touching. Otherwise, the frozen fruit will stick together.
- Once the dragon fruit is completely frozen, transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. We prefer putting them in freezer bags so that we can remove as much excess air as possible. That will help avoid freezer burn for longer freezing times.
- Label the container with the date and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Thawing Frozen Dragon Fruit
Because the texture of dragon fruit changes a lot after being frozen, I recommend using it for smoothies, yogurt bowls, or other recipes where it will be blended.
Thawing For Smoothies
You shouldn’t need to do much thawing for smoothies if you have a good blender. However, if your smoothie has other frozen items, you may want to let your dragon fruit thaw for a few minutes so that it’s not chunky.
Thawing For Yogurt
Adding dragon fruit to your yogurt should be thawed entirely beforehand. To thaw dragon fruit, simply place the frozen pieces in a bowl and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The pieces will mix easily.
Final Thoughts On Freezing Dragon Fruit
Keeping fresh dragon fruit in the fridge or counter can quickly lead to spoilage.
So if you’re looking to store dragon fruit for a later date, freezing is the best way to go.
Frozen dragon fruit is a great way to enjoy it any time of the year, but remember to use it in recipes where it will be blended so that you don’t mind the change in texture.
