Jackfruit is a tropical fruit commonly seen in Chinese and Southeast Asian markets. This fruit is characterized by its prickly green skin and musty aroma. The jackfruit happens to be the largest fruit in the world and is cumbersome to prepare. Why is it difficult to prepare? Its skin is so thick and tough that it takes a lot of elbow grease to pry the edible flesh from it. The fruit also gives off a sticky substance that sticks to anything it touches. This sticky substance is difficult to wash off.
Jackfruit pods can be eaten fresh or added to frozen desserts, rice pudding, etc. This fruit has a sweet flavor that many say is a cross between a banana and a pineapple. It also has a rubbery texture (depending on how ripe it is). The seeds are also edible. Roasting or boiling the jackfruit seeds brings out their natural sweetness.
Can you freeze jackfruit?
Can you freeze jackfruit? Jackfruit is not available all year round. However, most supermarkets will stock canned jackfruit in case you can’t get your hands on fresh jackfruit. Whether you are storing canned jackfruit or fresh jackfruit, you can freeze the fruit for future use.
If kept in the fridge, jackfruit will stay fresh for up to a week or so. However, frozen jackfruit has an unlimited shelf life. Of course, the temperature needs to be kept constant at 0° Fahrenheit to extend the shelf life of the frozen jackfruit. Otherwise, the fruit will get soaking wet after thawing. Although fruit stays fresh for a long, long time in the freezer, it’s best to consume it within a month or so. Now let’s discuss how to freeze jackfruit below:
How to freeze jackfruit?
The preparation of the fruit depends on the condition of the product before freezing. For example, a whole jackfruit requires no preparation before freezing. The thick, tough skin preserves the fruit’s integrity when frozen better than any airtight container.
Leftover jackfruit (pods still clinging to the skin) also keep well in the freezer. You only need to cover any exposed parts of the fruit, i.e. areas that are not protected by the peel. You can use aluminum foil or cling film for this. When all the exposed parts of the fruit are covered, stick the whole thing in the freezer.
As for canned jackfruit, never freeze it in its original packaging. Get a sturdy plastic container with an airtight lid and pour out the product. Leave about an inch or two for the liquids to expand as the fruit freezes. Then close the lid and write the label and storage date before putting the fruit in the freezer.
For freshly extracted jackfruit pods, get an airtight container and place the pods inside. Then close the lid, add the label and the storage date before sticking them in the freezer. Instead of rigid plastic containers, you can use durable plastic bags to store the fruit peels. Just squeeze as much air as possible before sealing the bags.
Read Also: Can you freeze ham?
How do you defrost jackfruit?
To thaw frozen fresh or canned jackfruit, simply transfer the container from the freezer to the fridge. Let the fruit thaw for an hour or two and they’re ready to use. Note that fresh jackfruit that’s been frozen won’t be as rubbery or chewy after it’s thawed. Freezing slightly changes the texture of the jackfruit.
If you want to reheat the thawed canned jackfruit, you can use the microwave. Just pour the right amount of jackfruit onto a plate and microwave for a few seconds. You can also reheat the thawed canned/preserved jackfruit in a pan and let the fruit simmer for a few minutes.
summary
Jackfruit might be unusual, but you can certainly stock up on this versatile fruit for baking and cooking. Now that you know how to freeze jackfruit, you can enjoy this fabulous tropical fruit any time of the year.