Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?

Quick Answer : Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?

Cranberry sauce freezes well, so you can freeze cranberry sauce to extend its lifespan considerably. However, the primary issue with freezing cranberry sauce is contending with freezer burn. The solution is to wrap the sauce well when preparing it for freezing. It prevents exposure to air and moisture and thus, helps preserve the cranberry sauce better. So, if you have massive leftovers after Christmas or Thanksgiving, you know what to do with them. The answer is simple. Freeze it.

How Do You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?

The heartening aspect of freezing cranberry sauce is that it is simple to freeze. Generally, the procedure of freezing homemade, store-bought, and leftover cranberry sauce is similar. So let us go through these processes to understand how to freeze cranberry sauce.

Freeze Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Homemade cranberry sauce would be hot as you remove it from the stovetop. Therefore, the first step is cooling the sauce to room temperature. Cooling the sauce is essential because we never recommend freezing anything hot. The condensation effect can result in ice crystal formation that can dilute the sauce and make it slushy. Besides, the hot sauce can affect other foods freezing in the freezing by altering temperature levels drastically.

Cool the cranberry sauce to room temperature.
Scoop the sauce into consumable portions in appropriately-sized zip lock bags or airtight plastic containers. You can also freeze the entire batch together. But, we advise distributing the sauce into smaller packets for convenience.
Gently press the ziplock bags to squeeze the residual air out of the bags. Using a vacuum sealer can prove helpful under such circumstances.
Seal the bags properly. The objective is to remove air and prevent further air and moisture seepage into the bags that can cause freezer burn and spoil the sauce.
Note the freezing date carefully on the packets before freezing the sauce. It can help monitor its freezing correctly.

Freezing Store-Bought Cranberry Sauce

Freezing store-bought cranberry sauce should not be a problem. However, please note that the store-bought sauce has additional preservatives that help the sauce stay longer at room temperature without spoiling.

We do not recommend freezing the store-bought cranberry sauce in bottles or their original packing. Bottles can crack during the freezing process. Mason jars can be sturdier but can occupy more space in the freezer. So, transferring the cranberry sauce to freezer-safe zip lock bags or airtight plastic containers is desirable.

The remaining part of the freezing process is the same as described above for freezing homemade sauce. Please ensure to pack the sauce well without exposing any portion to the cool air inside the freezer. Freezer burn can spoil the sauce and make it unpalatable.

Secondly, store-bought cranberry sauce tends to lose its texture and become watery. Though it does not affect its taste, watery cranberry sauce can look unappealing.

Freezing Leftover Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce leftovers have a smaller shelf life because they can get contaminated with other food. However, you can freeze the leftovers if you do not wish to discard them. Please remove the traces of other food that could have stuck to the sauce. Pack the residual sauce in a freezer-safe bag and seal it after removing excess air. Note the date and slide the bag into the freezer for freezing. Please note to consume the frozen leftover sauce quickly as it has a higher chance of getting spoilt.

How Long Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce And Maintain Its Freshness?

The frozen cranberry sauce can remain well for three months without compromising its texture or taste. However, we advise consuming the sauce within this period as it can degrade quickly if frozen for extended periods.

How Long Can Cranberry Sauce Remain In The Refrigerator?

Cranberry sauce can remain fresh for two weeks in the refrigerator. So, if you are confident about consuming the cranberry sauce within two weeks, you need not freeze it. But, freezing it is the correct option if you wish to preserve it for extended periods.

How Do You Defrost The Frozen Cranberry Sauce?

Defrosting the frozen cranberry sauce is not a significant issue. You can transfer the sauce from the freezer to the fridge and let it defrost naturally. However, the process can take around six to eight hours. So, we suggest transferring the sauce overnight if you wish to consume it the following morning. However, the smaller packets do not take long to defrost. Therefore, freezing the cranberry sauce in consumable portions makes it more convenient.

If you do not have much time on your hands, you can defrost the frozen sauce at room temperature by placing the packet inside a water bowl. We advise changing the water regularly to expedite the defrosting process. This method is considerably quicker than the traditional refrigerator frosting model.

Can You Refreeze Cranberry Sauce?

Technically, it is possible to refreeze cranberry sauce if you had initially defrosted it in the fridge and not exposed it to room temperature for extended periods. However, we never recommend refreezing the sauce because it can lose its texture and become diluter. That explains why we suggested apportioning the sauce into smaller packets when freezing it. It saves the sauce from wastage.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Juice?

You can freeze cranberry juice in the freezer and consume it later. They can last for a year if you freeze them correctly.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Relish?

It is possible to freeze cranberry relish in the freezer for two to three months.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Cheese?

There should not be any problems freezing cranberry cheese because it freezes well.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Salad?

You can make cranberry salad in advance and freeze it for later consumption.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Jelly?

Cranberry jellies or jams can be frozen and maintained fresh for six to eight months in the freezer.