Kiwi is a tasty fruit, rich in vitamins and nutrients. It can quickly spoil, just like many other fruits.
The kiwi fruit is a fuzzy, brown fruit native to Southeast Asia. This fruit’s green interior is sweet and a good vitamin C. You can eat Kiwis as is or in jams and jellies. You can give fruit salads a brighter green hue by using them. some people also like to make tasty kiwi grapefruit sorbets to enjoy with friends and family.
You can freeze food and different fruits but not kiwis directly. People freeze fruit for smoothies. Due to the high moisture content in kiwis, freezing can prove difficult.
Can You Freeze Kiwi?
No, other than drying, freezing is the best way to preserve kiwis. Unlike other fruits and veggies, you can keep kiwis in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. This isn’t all! You should also know more about how to free Kiwis.
Although kiwis can still be frozen, their texture changes when thawed. The kiwifruit becomes mushy after being frozen. It is almost like mango after freezing. Because they freeze, the pieces retain some liquid. You can still use kiwis to enhance the flavor of smoothies.
How to Freeze Kiwis?
Once you have a ripe Kiwi, let’s look at the steps to freeze it.
Step 1: Wash Your Kiwi
Wash your Kiwi in cool water to get rid of bacteria and dirt. You can eliminate bacteria and fungi from your fruit by washing it before freezing or eating it.
Step 2: Peel Your Kiwi
To preserve the shape and texture of your Kiwi, it’s best to peel them before freezing. It can cause Kiwi to become mushy or unpleasant if it is defrosted with its peel.
Tip: Some people like to leave the peel on, as it helps preserve more vitamins. The skin of kiwi fruits doubles the amount of Vitamin C and Fiber you get. You can leave it on if you don’t mind eating kiwi skin.
Step 3: Slice Your Kiwi
Once your Kiwi has been peeled, you can begin to cut the fruit into the desired shape. This step is unnecessary, but freezing whole kiwis may take up too much space and make them mushier after thawing.
It’s fun and easy to store your Kiwi in the fridge by slicing it and placing the slices on parchment paper. Make sure your kiwi slices do not touch one another. Layer your cut kiwis together with parchment paper between.
Step 4: Give the Kiwi a little sugar.
Use 1 cup white sugar for every 4 cups of Kiwi. Sprinkle the sugar lightly over the Kiwi to cover it completely. This works because sugar-coated fruits can keep their freshness and firmness longer.
You can also choose not to add sugar. You can cover your Kiwi with sugar, but this is optional. If you want to preserve your Kiwi’s freshness, squeeze some lime or lemon juice over the kiwi slices. The lemon juice’s acidity helps keep the fruit fresh.
Step 5: Start Freezing Your Kiwi
Now you can place the parchment paper on a tray and then put it in the freezer. To ensure that they freeze completely, leave the kiwis in a freezer for 5 to 7 hours.
After your Kiwi has been frozen to the core, you can place them in a plastic bag or freezer container. To track the age of your Kiwi, make sure to mark the freezer container with the date. Enjoy your kiwis by placing them in the freezer just like you do by freezing mangoes and other delicious fruits of your liking.
How do you defrost frozen Kiwis?
You will need to take the frozen fruit from the freezer and allow it to thaw before making your kiwi-rich fruit salad or smoothie. There are many ways to defrost frozen Kiwi.
First, place the frozen Kiwi in cold water and let it sit for a while. This is because the colder water will cause heat transfer to the frozen Kiwi. Kiwi will be completely thawed after a few hours in a bowl.
You can also freeze frozen Kiwi overnight by placing it in the refrigerator. It takes many hours to freeze through refrigeration. Thawing overnight is a better option than waiting.
You don’t have to thaw the frozen Kiwi. You can use it in smoothies by simply tossing it into a blender with the other ingredients.
3 Tips to Freeze Kiwi
We’ve got three tips to help you freeze Kiwi the right way.
Do Not Eat Neat- Once frozen, the texture of your Kiwi won’t be the same. Don’t try to eat it as is. You can use it to make yogurt, smoothies, or puree it.
Do Not Freeze Kiwi Whole- Frozen whole Kiwis can make them extremely mushy, so it is best to avoid freezing them. Use one of the methods described above instead.
Prep in Advance- Before you freeze your Kiwi, do all the prep work. This includes cleaning, peeling, and dicing.
How long will Kiwi last at room temperature?
As mentioned in the previous section, keeping fruits and vegetables at room temperatures allows them to spoil naturally. They should therefore be consumed within their shelf life or preserved in another way.
Kiwis can retain their shelf stability for up to five days at the most before they start to go bad. However, this requires that certain environmental factors be considered when deciding where to keep the kiwis.
Relatively high humidity and direct sunlight will both be catalysts for developing microbial life and the inherent enzymatic activities within the Kiwi. The Kiwi’s eventual spoilage will be accelerated if it is kept near certain fruit types that release the compound ethylene as they start to spoil. Keeping the Kiwi away from other vegetables or fruits that might be stored in the cupboard or pantry is important.
Kiwis should be kept in a covered container that is not prone to moisture or odors. To extend the fruit’s shelf life, the container should be kept in the kitchen’s cool and dark corner.
How To Thaw Frozen Kiwi?
These steps will allow you to thaw frozen Kiwis.
- Place the kiwi in its original packaging and let it sit in a bowl of warm water.
- Allow the kiwi to sit in the water for about 15-20 minutes or until it becomes soft to the touch.
- Drain any excess water from the bowl after the kiwi has thawed. Enjoy!
Final Thoughts
Vitamins and nutrients are abundant in the kiwi fruit. This little fruit is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. You will probably agree to freeze them instead of throwing them away. You can also freeze kiwi fruits and keep them in the freezer for up to 12 months. This sounds incredible.
The problem is that kiwi fruits can sometimes become mushy after being thawed. Pack them tightly and eat all the slices immediately after opening the packet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is frozen Kiwi good for smoothies?
Yes! Kiwis are a great addition to smoothies. To add creaminess and thickness, you can use bananas or strawberries.
How can I freeze Kiwi in other ways?
You can also use frozen Kiwi in cold drinks such as lemonade or iced tea. For a nutritious breakfast, you can add it to yogurt and oatmeal. some people also like to make kiwi pops by freezing them and dipping them in different syrups like blue lagoon, chocolate, mixed fruit slush etc.
Can you eat the skin from a kiwi?
Although the skin of a Kiwi is edible, it cannot be easy to chew. If you prefer, you can remove the skin before freezing.
