Jackfruit comes from the jackfruit tree that grows in southern Aisa, Africa, and South America. Through social media, people have become more aware of the jackfruits’ presence in western countries, especially for their sweet taste and meat substitute properties.
Freezing fruit of any kind allows you to stock up on a fruit and keep your supply fresh for a longer time. Because of the size and texture of jackfruit, it is valid to wonder if it can be frozen for keeping fresh.
You can freeze jackfruit. However, unless you are using varikka jackfruit, the texture will be very altered. Thawed jackfruit can become very squishy and lose its firm texture.
Freezing Jackfruit
If you have a whole jackfruit, it is safe to put the whole thing in the freezer. The rind is a perfect covering to keep the fruit fresh while freezing. Though, it is highly recommended to use a deep freezer as whole jackfruits are very big.
Still Attached to Their Pods
Jackfruit still in their pods and attached to the rind don’t need a lot of work done to them.
- Step 1: Wrap all the exposed parts of the fruit in cling-wrap or aluminum foil. Makes sure it is air-tight.
- Step 2: Place in the freezer and try not to have it get squished.
Freshly Extracted Jackfruit
You can freeze freshly extracted jackfruit as you would with other kinds of fruits.
- Step 1: Make sure that the core has been completely removed. If you see any white, take your knife and carefully remove it. You can also remove the seed from each pod.
- Step 2: Put a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place each piece of jackfruit (you can cut the pods into smaller pieces if you want) onto the baking sheet. Don’t overlap them.
- Step 3: Place the baking sheet into the freezer for about an hour. This will freeze them enough so that they won’t stick to each other once moved to a different container.
- Step 4: Take the jackfruit out of the freezer and place it into either a freezer bag or an air-tight container. With the bag, remove as much air as possible.
- Step 5: Label the container with the date and place it back into the freezer.
It is important to note that when preparing your jackfruit you should use a knife you don’t particularly care about. Jackfruit contains latex in its core and that can cause damage to your knife. Also, if you are allergic to latex, then buy already prepared jackfruit to avoid this latex.
How Long Does Jackfruit Last?
In the fridge, prepared jackfruit lasts about a week. If you freeze jackfruit, it will last a whole month. Thawed jackfruit should be used right away and should not be refrozen. From the freezer, only take out what you need so that the rest can continue to last.
Thawing Jackfruit
Thawing jackfruit is really simple. Just take how much jackfruit you want to use out of your freezer and place it into the fridge. Then, wait a few hours (this will depend on how much you are thawing) and then you’ll be good to go.
The Problem with Thawing
Thawing jackfruit does change the texture of the fruit. First, there are two kinds of jackfruit: soft and firm. Even if you freeze the firm kind of jackfruit, once thawing it will have a soft-fruit texture. Freezing soft fruit will make it even softer. Either way, thawed jackfruit can still be enjoyed.
It’s best to freeze varikka jackfruit as keeps its texture better. But you can really freeze any kind of jackfruit you have.
Pre-Packaged Frozen Jackfruit
If you don’t want to go through the work of preparing and freezing a jackfruit, then you have the ability to buy a bag of frozen jackfruit. Many stores have them with the frozen fruits section, though you will have more luck buying at a whole-foods shop or a local shop.
You can also buy frozen jackfruit online. There are several websites that sell high-quality jackfruit already frozen for you. With these, you can’t guarantee how the jackfruit will act when thawed, but it’s still a good option to have.
On these packages, they will give you proper care and thawing instructions to follow.
Final Thoughts
Jackfruit has many nutritional benefits, making it a great addition to many people’s diets. Not only are they great to eat fresh, but they can be frozen for longer keeping. In the freezer, jackfruit will be good for around a month.
Jackfruit can be frozen both in its rind and separated in pods. Make sure that all the exposed parts of the fruit are covered by plastic, foil, or in an air-tight container.
When thawed, the texture of the jackfruit will be softer, but that doesn’t make it bad to eat. Many people enjoy a softer jackfruit, and it can be used in several ways. From eating the fruit by itself or using jackfruit as a pulled-meat substitute, jackfruit can give many things.
Jackfruit has latex in it and so people with latex allergies should prepare the rind and possibly fruit.
Overall, enjoy this tasty fruit!
