Can you freeze prune juice in ice cube trays?

Prune juice is a popular beverage that offers many health benefits. It is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Some people enjoy drinking prune juice straight, while others like to dilute it or use it in recipes. A common question that arises is whether you can freeze prune juice in ice cube trays.

Benefits of Freezing Prune Juice in Ice Cube Trays

There are a few potential benefits to freezing prune juice in ice cube trays:

• Portion control – Freezing prune juice in ice cube trays allows you to easily portion out servings. Each ice cube can be popped out and added to water, smoothies, oatmeal, etc.
• Convenience – Having frozen prune juice cubes ready to go makes it easy to quickly add a serving of prune juice whenever needed.
• Preservation – Freezing can help extend the shelf life of opened prune juice by preventing spoilage.
• Versatility – Frozen prune juice cubes can be used in both savory cooking recipes and sweet smoothies or juices.
• Flavor – Some people prefer the more concentrated flavor of frozen prune juice cubes compared to regular strength juice.

Overall, freezing prune juice in ice cube trays can provide convenience, easy portioning, enhanced flavor, and extended shelf life.

Steps to Freeze Prune Juice in Ice Cube Trays

Freezing prune juice in ice cube trays is a simple process:

1. Purchase prune juice and ice cube trays – Any brand of 100% prune juice will work. Silicon ice cube trays release frozen cubes the easiest.
2. Pour the prune juice into clean ice cube trays – Fill each compartment in the tray with prune juice to the fill line.
3. Place trays in the freezer – Arrange trays flat on a shelf in the freezer. Freeze until juice cubes are completely solid, usually overnight.
4. Pop out frozen prune juice cubes – Once fully frozen, remove trays from freezer. Twist tray to release cubes or run under warm water for a few seconds.
5. Store cubes in a sealed container or ziplock bag – Transfer frozen prune juice cubes to an airtight container. Store in freezer.
6. Add to recipes or drinks as desired – Drop a frozen prune juice cube into water, smoothies, oatmeal etc. for a concentrated boost of flavor and nutrients.

Make sure to label the storage container holding the frozen cubes so you know what they are when checking your freezer.

Do’s and Don’ts of Freezing Prune Juice

Here are some best practices to follow when freezing prune juice in ice cube trays:

Do:

• Use 100% prune juice – Avoid juice blends which may separate when frozen.
• Leave headspace in tray compartments – Juice will expand slightly when frozen.
• Work quickly – Limit time juice sits at room temperature before freezing.
• Use silicon trays – Silicon releases cubes the easiest.
• Store cubes in airtight containers – Prevents freezer burn.
• Label storage containers – Identify contents and date frozen.

Don’t:

• Overfill tray compartments – Can cause juice to overflow when frozen.
• Freeze glass trays – Could crack or shatter when removing frozen cubes.
• Store cubes too long – Prune juice cubes are best used within 4-6 months for optimal quality.

Ideal Uses for Frozen Prune Juice Cubes

Here are some of the top ways to use frozen prune juice cubes:

Beverages

• Water – Add a cube to enhance flavor and nutrition of plain water.
• Smoothies – Blend into fruit or vegetable smoothies.
• Juices – Mix into fresh juices for added sweetness and benefits.
• Coffee/tea – Use instead of sugar to sweeten hot beverages.
• Milk – Drop in milk for a tasty twist.
• Hot chocolate – Melt into hot cocoa for a mocha flavor.

Breakfasts

• Oatmeal – Stir into oats while cooking for natural sweetness.
• Yogurt – Mix into plain yogurt for a smooth, tangy treat.
• Pancakes – Blend into batter to add flavor and moisture.
• Waffles – Fold into waffle mix for a sweet, purple batter.
• Muffins – Incorporate into muffin recipes in place of other liquids.

Desserts and Baked Goods

• Ice cream – Blend into ice cream base before churning or swirl into finished ice cream.
• Sorbet – Puree cubes into sorbet for creamy texture and prune flavor.
• Puddings – Mix into chocolate, vanilla or other pudding recipes.
• Cakes – Fold into cake batter before baking for added moisture.
• Cookies – Add to cookie doughs for chewy texture.

Savory Dishes

• Marinades – Blend into marinades for meat or sauces for an umami boost.
• Stir fries – Toss frozen cubes right into stir fries for quick flavor.
• Chili – Stir into hearty beef or turkey chili.
• BBQ sauce – Puree cubes into homemade or store-bought sauce.
• Meatballs – Mix into ground meat before forming into meatballs.

Nutrition Facts of Frozen Prune Juice Cubes

Freezing prune juice into cubes does not significantly impact its nutritional value. Prune juice is packed with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Here is the nutrition information for a 1/2 cup (4oz) frozen prune juice cube:

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	137
Total Fat	0g
Sodium	2mg
Potassium	707mg
Total Carbs	34g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	24g
Protein	1g
Vitamin A	1045IU
Vitamin C	0.5mg
Calcium	14mg
Iron	0.5mg

As you can see, prune juice cubes provide a substantial amount of potassium, vitamin A, and antioxidants in each serving.

Possible Downsides to Freezing Prune Juice

While freezing prune juice in ice cube trays can be very useful, there are a couple potential downsides to consider:

• Dilution – The frozen cubes will melt when added to recipes or beverages, diluting flavors and nutrition density slightly.
• Texture changes – The thawed juice may have a different mouthfeel compared to fresh juice straight from the bottle.
• Risk of freezer burn – Cubes stored too long may get freezer burnt and develop an unpleasant taste.
• Not suitable for all recipes – Some baked goods and delicate dishes may turn out best using liquid prune juice.

Most of these issues can be minimized by using the frozen cubes soon after preparing them and storing in an airtight container. Overall the benefits seem to outweigh potential downsides for most uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do frozen prune juice cubes last?

Properly stored frozen prune juice cubes will maintain quality for approximately 4-6 months. After that point, freezer burn and absorption of off-flavors become more likely. Date your cubes when you make them and try to use within 6 months.

Can you refreeze thawed prune juice cubes?

It is not recommended to refreeze thawed prune juice cubes. Refreezing can lead to degradation of texture, flavor, and nutrition. The thawed juice is best used immediately as a liquid.

What size ice cube trays should you use?

Standard 1-1.5oz ice cube trays work well for freezing prune juice into conveniently sized cubes. You can also use smaller trays for miniature cubes or larger trays for bigger cubes.

Does the prune juice need to be diluted before freezing?

No, 100% prune juice freezes well undiluted in ice cube trays. There is no need to dilute it with water beforehand.

Can you substitute prune juice for other liquids when freezing?

Prune juice can be used in place of water, milk, or other liquids called for when freezing things like fruit purees in ice cube trays. Its natural sweetness and moisture makes it a nice substitute.

The Bottom Line

Freezing prune juice in ice cube trays is an easy way to portion control servings, boost nutrition in foods and drinks, and conveniently use up leftover juice. The frozen cubes can be popped out and incorporated into both sweet and savory dishes for a flavor and nutrition boost. Just be sure to store the frozen cubes properly in an airtight container and use within 4-6 months for best quality and taste.

So go ahead and try this simple trick for preserving prune juice. Having a stash of frozen prune juice cubes can be a handy way to utilize this healthy beverage in new ways.