If everyone in your house eats jello, you’ll find yourself making it in large quantities and then looking for a way to preserve it. It begs the question, can you freeze jello?
Well, the answer is yes. You can freeze jello, but you should be ready for slight consequences afterward.
The jiggly treat is not just a snack. Jello makes great salads, pies, and cakes. During summer, the demand for jello in the house peaks, and you most likely need more than you already have.
How do you meet these demands without having to make jello daily? If you have freezing jello in mind, then there are some things Millenora wants you to know about freezing jello.
What is jello?
Jello refers to gelatin desserts and puddings made by Kraft Heinz. It is a wobbly, wiggly, or jiggly (whichever way you like to describe its texture and consistency) fruit-flavored gel children and adults love to eat as a snack.
Moreover, jello is also used as a base and filling for cakes and pies, as an ingredient in fruit salad, and as a topping for yogurt, whipped cream, and fruits.
This gelatin dessert comes in a variety of flavors and colors. The most popular varieties you’ll find are strawberry, raspberry lemon, and chocolate flavors.
Jello contains gelatin compounds, polymers, and colloids, which gives it its firmness and wiggly texture. While it looks like pure junk, eating gelatin is good for the body.
It contains proteins and antioxidants that can help improve bone & skin health and the digestive system.
On the flip side, jello is high in sugar which can be bad for your health. Therefore, you should enjoy this dessert with caution.
Can you freeze jello?
Yes, you can freeze jello, but there will be some losses.
As mentioned earlier, gelatin desserts are made of polymer and colloids, which have a great impact on the aftermath of freezing jello. In reality, freezing jello leaves you with almost a wasted effort.
The polymers and colloids that give jello its lovely texture don’t do well with cold temperatures. When they become cold, they separate or break down.
Moreover, jello contains a good percentage of water which will give you a watery mess when it thaws. It ends up looking and tasting soft, clumpy, rubbery, and unpalatable.
In essence, freezing is not always the way to go when you want to preserve jello, except you don’t have a choice.
Can you freeze jello shots?
Although it’s not advisable, you can freeze jello shots to preserve them for a few weeks (your best bet at quality).
Jello shots are made with alcohol and alcohol doesn’t freeze. Alcohol freezes at -97°F, and most freezers don’t go below -20°F.
No matter how long you leave the jello shots in the freezer, they never get frozen unless you make certain changes to your freezer. The best way to preserve jello shots is to refrigerate them and use them within 3-5 days.
When freezing becomes your only option, freeze jello shots in small portions you can pop and use at once. But you should keep in mind that the shots become soggy or mushy when they thaw.
Can you freeze jello pudding?
Unlike regular jello, you can freeze jello pudding cups.
Frozen jello pudding cups look and taste like ice cream. They can stay frozen for months, and you can always serve them as a midday snack for your kids.
Can you freeze jello salad?
You can freeze jello salad if you want to eat it frozen. Not to worry, the salad will soften as you eat it.
Frozen jello salad has the creamy texture and taste of ice cream. Make sure you eat it within 30 minutes of taking it out of the freezer, while it’s still refreshing.
Can you freeze jello to make popsicles?
Yes. Jello Popsicles are one of the healthiest you can get because they do not contain sugar. Moreover, they are an inexpensive treat to make for your kids during the holidays.
In addition, you can mix bite-size fruits into the jello mix before you freeze them into popsicles.
Can you freeze jello cake?
Yes, you can. Jello cake will keep frozen for up to a month.
Jello cake is probably everyone’s treat. The cake graces your palate with a spongy and rubbery feeling.
When you’re ready to serve it, leave it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Serve the next morning with whipped cream and bits of fruit.
In addition, you can also freeze jello cheesecake to keep it for up to a month. However, you shouldn’t freeze the cheesecake with the toppings.
Freeze the cake with the baking pan. When it is frozen, take it out of the pan and wrap it in plastic wrap, and double-proof it with a freezer bag.
When you are ready to eat the cake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and serve it with toppings.
Can you freeze jello jigglers?
Although jello jigglers are firmer than jello, you shouldn’t freeze jello jigglers. Just like jello, they do not solidify and will lose their jiggly texture when frozen.
How to freeze jello
- If you must freeze jello, make jello popsicles instead
- Get a popsicle mold or silicone muffin tray
- Afterward, pour the jello into each cup and allow it to set in the freezer. This should take about 2-3 hours only
- When the jello has set, stick an ice cream stick into each cup
- Thereafter, take out the jello popsicles. Gather them into an airtight container or freezer bag
- Then, freeze
How to use frozen jello
If you have frozen jello at hand and you’re wondering what good it’ll be, eat it frozen, make jello popsicles or add it to a punch bowl.
But, you can salvage frozen jello if you don’t want to make any of these. Follow these steps to fix frozen jello:
- Dissolve the gelatin powder in water (the quantity of gelatin powder you use should be relative to the quantity of frozen jello you’re looking to save)
- Warm up the thawed and clumpy jello in a saucepan over low heat. Do not allow it to boil
- Thereafter, stir in the dissolved gelatin mixture
- Stir it until you have a uniform mix
- Afterward, turn off the heat, and leave it to cool
- Refrigerate the cooled jello
- You should, however, keep in mind that you may not have excellent jello. The result of this depends on how clumpy the thawed jello was. But, the process can help prevent waste
How long can you freeze jello?
Do not keep jello in the freezer for more than 25-30 minutes. But, if you want to keep it longer, it should not go beyond a few days.
The longer you keep jello in the freezer, the more of its texture you’re likely to lose.
Pros of freezing jello
If you’ll take the risk of freezing jello, here are some benefits you may enjoy if you freeze it properly:
- Freezing jello helps to keep it longer than the day you made it
- Frozen jello can be eaten as a refreshing snack
Cons of freezing jello
- Freezing jello alters the wiggly texture
- Frozen jello will turn watery when it thaws
- Also, thawed jello will end up clumpy and less appetizing
FAQs
Can you use the freezer to make jello set faster?
Yes, you can. Freeze jello for 20-30 minutes to make it set faster. It shouldn’t go beyond this time, otherwise, it won’t freeze evenly. It’ll also affect the texture of the jello.
How long does jello last?
Outside the refrigerator, jello can last up to a week. If you refrigerate jello, it can last seven to ten days.
Freezing jello is the way to preserve it for months. But it is not the best preservation method.
Does jello go bad?
Yes, jello can go bad.
When jello goes off, it changes color, texture, smell, and taste. If you detect any deviations in your wiggly treat, discard it.
What is the best way to preserve jello?
The refrigerator is the best place to store prepared jello. If it is unprepared jello, store it in the pantry or cupboards.
Conclusion
You can freeze almost anything, but freezing is not great for everything. And jello is one of those foods that don’t fare well with freezing.
Frozen jello may be refreshing, but it’ll feel rather rubbery in your mouth. Moreover, it will leave you with a less appetizing treat after a while.
If you want to preserve jello, flash freeze it for 20-30 minutes until it sets, and keep it in the refrigerator.
It may not keep for as long as freezing it will, but you’ll still have its wiggly texture. However, if freezing is your only option, consume all of it once you’ve thawed it.
Thanks for reading.
Read more articles on the shelf life and preservation methods of foods and drinks on Millenora.
