Can You Freeze Apple Cider?

While it’s definitely not for everyone, apple cider is a delicious drink best enjoyed warm. It’s the perfect non-alcoholic beverage to have or serve during those chilly winter months.

However, now there’s a problem. You’ve got way too much cider to drink, and not enough mouths to drink it. While oftentimes there’s never enough apple cider to go around, sometimes you may find yourself with a big batch of leftovers.

So, what can you do? Certainly not throw it out. While it’s usually considered a festive drink, you can have it any time. Because liquids lend themselves well to freezing, you absolutely can freeze apple cider to have later.

But, just because you can freeze it, doesn’t mean there aren’t things you should keep in mind.

How to freeze apple cider

Freezing apple cider is quite easy, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. Follow this short guide to avoid any problems.

  • Step 1 – Let your cider cool off, either on the counter or in the refrigerator. If you place it into the freezer hot, you can cause some damage to the other food stuff in your freezer. EVen potentially thawing out what’s close by.
  • Step 2 – Transfer your apple cider to a freezer-safe container once it’s thoroughly chilled. Do not use glass for this, as freezing glass could cause the container to shatter. Be sure to use either an airtight container, or leave a bit of space in there for the cider to expand when it freezes. Otherwise, it could bust the container or overflow into the freezer.
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And really, that’s it! You don’t need much prep to do this, but there are a few safety concerns to keep in mind. You definitely don’t want glass shards in your freezer. It could be difficult to tell what’s ice and what’s glass.

How to thaw frozen apple cider

There are a few different ways to thaw out frozen apple cider, this list will go over them. You can decide for yourself and your time allotments which is best for you.

The fridge

While this method is definitely gonna take the longest time, it’s the best method to use. 

Thawing apple cider in the refrigerator will do it nice and slow, giving you the least amount of risk regarding the change of taste and texture. 

The counter

Leaving your apple cider to thaw on the counter at room temperature is a great idea, if you don’t quite have the time to let it thaw in the fridge – or you’re craving that cider a little bit sooner.

Because apple cider doesn’t need to be refrigerated, it’s 100% safe to leave it out at room temperature to thaw. Unless you added something with dairy, like milk or cream. In which case, it’s best to skip this method entirely to avoid some nasty bacteria growth or spoilage.

The microwave

Popping your frozen cider into the microwave for a minute or two is definitely gonna be the quickest way, and the best method to use when you’re super impatient and absolutely must have that cider immediately.

Just remove the lid, set it gently on top without sealing it, and set it to defrost. Leave it in there for about 2 minutes. If it’s still frozen a bit when you open the door, keep nuking it like this in 30 second increments until thawed.

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Leaving the lid on, but not closed properly, will keep the cider from overflowing and making a mess out of your microwave.

After it’s totally liquid, you then can heat it up on normal settings til it’s hot and ready to serve.

And a quick tip – stir it in the microwave while it’s defrosting. It’ll help spread the heat around and thaw a bit faster.

How long does apple cider keep frozen?

Luckily, apple cider – being a liquid – will keep its highest quality taste and texture for quite awhile in the freezer. Quality remains perfect for 8-12 months, however you can store it even longer than that safely.

Any apple cider that’s kept at 0 degrees fahrenheit will keep indefinitely.

Apple cider that was thawed using the microwave should be consumed immediately – it doesn’t keep longer than a day or so.

Final thoughts

Apple cider is a festive and extremely tasty winter time beverage that has a lot of uses and versatility. If you find yourself with way too much, and are wondering if you can freeze it, hopefully this brief guide gives you all the information you need about it.

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