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Can you juice frozen fruit? This is a fundamental question especially for people who freeze fruits that are likely to go out of season to enjoy them offseason.
This article answers the question and discusses the nutritional value of frozen fruit, as well as the process of juicing them.
In this post:
Can You Juice Frozen Fruits?
You can juice frozen fruits. They are still very nutritious and are great for your body. In addition, they tend to be cheaper than fresh fruits.
However, you must make sure to defrost/thaw the fruits before juicing. This ensures they produce the maximum amount of juice.
After thawing, make sure to juice the fruits at the earliest possible opportunity. It helps avoid having the fruits go bad before juicing due to bacterial activity.
Nutrition Value of Frozen Fruit Juice
Fresh fruit juice is always preferable because they have the highest value of nutrients and the best flavor. However, it may not be possible to access fresh fruit. That is why most people opt to juice frozen fruits.
While the carbohydrate, fat, fiber, and protein content of frozen fruit are maintained, the nutritional value relatively lower depending on the length of the storage period. The longer the storage period, the more the nutrients in the fruits are degraded.
For instance, Vitamin C degrades rapidly during freezing, and Vitamin B is lost during the blanching process that is carried out before the fruits are frozen. Some fruits such as apples are also frozen without their skins therefore getting rid of polyphenolic compounds.
It is therefore advisable to get frozen fruit that has spent the least time in the freezer, for more nutrients because then, they will match up to the nutritional value of fresh fruit and its juice.
How to Juice Frozen Fruit
Photo: healthyfood.com
1. Thaw the frozen fruit
You can do this in the refrigerator or under cool running water for 30-45 minutes. Ensure the fruit is fully thawed to avoid damaging your juicer and so as to extract the maximum amount of juice from them.
2. Place in the juicer
Once the fruit is fully thawed, start the juicing process immediately to prevent the fruits from going bad.
3. Keep the juice refrigerated
Any juice that is not consumed immediately should be kept under refrigeration, below 41° F (5° C) as recommended by the FDA. This will ensure bacteria and other microorganisms do not infest the juice and cause food-borne diseases.
It is recommended that you consume the juice within 3-5 days because it does not contain any preservatives to allow it longer shelf life.
The Best Juicer for Frozen Fruit
The best juicer to use on frozen fruit is the masticating type. This is because it squeezes most of the juice from the fruit, leaving any pulp behind. This eliminates insoluble fiber from your juice, and it is a good thing because then, you will be at a lower risk of bloating.
This contrasts with centrifugal juicers that cut the fruit into small pieces and make juice out of them but includes the pulp in the juice. It may also not get as much juice out of the frozen fruit, as the masticating juicer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you should consider buying and juicing frozen fruit; because much as some nutrients are lost in the processing and during prolonged freezing periods, the fruit is still nutritious.
Use a masticating juicer for this process because it produces more juice from the fruit and eliminates pulp from it, reducing the risk of bloating after juice consumption.
Reference