Can You Freeze Jello? (Does Freezing Ruin it?)
Have you thought about what the outcome would be when you freeze jello? By the way, can you even freeze jello?
If you were wondering what the result would be when you put jello in the freezer, you’re not alone. Excitingly, we have done some digging and came up with the answer.
Jello is a favorite dessert for children and most adults. It is easier to produce at home, though most people prefer buying from the grocery. You can make this dessert by combining a few ingredients: water, gelatin, sweeteners, and coloring.
Now, let’s tackle the questions about jello storage.
Can You Put Jello in the Freezer?
Yes, you can put jello in the freezer, but it is not the right decision. Jello is a dessert; thus, storing it in the freezer should help extend its shelf life. But please, don’t put jello in the freezer. Why? You won’t like the outcome. Don’t forget that a bond holding the dessert together creates the gel-like structure that jello lovers fancy.
When you freeze jello, you’ll alter the chemical bond. This bond is only slightly affected when you freeze jello for a short period. But when you store in the freezer for an extended period you have succeeded in reducing your jello’s shelf-life.
So, the bottom line is, technically, you can store jello in the freezer, but it is not advisable. You won’t like the outcome.
Do You Put Jello in the Fridge or Freezer?
You can put jello in the fridge or freezer. But the freezer isn’t the best place to keep jello for a long period for good reasons. When you store jello for long in the freezer, the bond holding it together will be affected.
When this happens, the jello’s structure will likely crumble. So, the freezer isn’t the right place to store jello, especially for an extended period.
The ideal place to keep jello is in the fridge. There, it can stay fresh for several days.
Can You Put Jello in the Freezer To Make it Set Faster?
You can put jello in the freezer to make it set faster, but don’t leave it there for too long. To make it set quicker, leave jello in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Allowing the jello to remain in the freezer for more than 20 minutes will ruin the dessert. So, timing is very important when you put jello in the freezer. Keep an eye on it while in the freezer throughout.
How Long Does It Take Jello To Set in the Freezer?
It will take 15 to 20 minutes for one layer of jello to set in the freezer. You can add the second layer to create a layered dessert.
In the refrigerator, most jello could take about 2 to 4 hours to set. So, the freezer is the ideal place to make your jello set in quickly.
Does Freezing Jello Ruin It?
Yes, freezing jello will ruin it, especially when you leave it in the freezer for long. That is why it is advisable to refrigerate the dessert. It won’t be ruined this way. When you freeze jello for an extended period, it will lose its “gelling power.”
Don’t forget that gelatin is what binds the dessert together. So, when you store the jello in the freezer for an extended period and allow it to freeze, its structure will crumble.
In other words, your jello would become watery and lose its appeal. If you want to freeze jello, don’t let it spend more than 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer before transferring it to the fridge.
In the fridge, jello can stay fresh and retain its “gelling power” for several days.
How Long Does Jello Last?
Note that an unopened box of jello will last indefinitely. In other words, jello bought from the grocery store will remain fresh if you don’t tamper with the packaging. Homemade jello will only last for a week. And the sooner you consume it, the better.
Now, here is something you need to know. Jello’s shelf life depends on several factors. These include packaging, type, thickening agent, and storage method.
Now, you already know you cannot freeze jello for long. You can only freeze it for 15 to 20 minutes to set it faster.
The ideal way to store this giggly dessert is to put it in the fridge. Whether homemade or store-bought, you can keep jello in your refrigerator. Just ensure you store it in a covered container.
Jello can last 7 to 10 days when stored in the refrigerator. However, note that the dessert’s flavor may deteriorate gradually. So, the earlier you consume it, the better. By the way, what’s the point of storing it for a week or more?
Can You Unfreeze Jello?
Yes, you can unfreeze jello, but understand that it doesn’t freeze as hard as an ice cube. You may also not fancy the outcome when jello is allowed to freeze completely.
Once frozen, jello loses its bond. So, it is not a wise decision to freeze the dessert. When you thaw, the jello will become a soupy mess since the bond binding it together has been weakened.
So, if you want your jello to maintain its structure and consistency, avoid freezing it. Unfreezing frozen jello will produce an undesirable outcome.
How To Make Jello Set Faster?
Jello is a lovely dessert, but it isn’t the quickest to make. You have to wait for a whole four hours for it to set.
Most people don’t have the patience to wait for a dessert for four hours. If you’re one of such persons, use the techniques to make the jello set faster.
1: Use instant jello
Four hours is a long time to wait for Jell-O to set. Get the instant jello variety if you are impatient and want to get your dessert ready on time.
As the name implies, you can make jello fast with instant variety. But note that you still have to wait 30 minutes for the dessert to set.
2: Pour dessert into a chilled container
This procedure is time-consuming, but you won’t spend close to 4 hours. It is also simple. Just put a container in the freezer for about an hour. The idea is to get the container chilled.
After an hour, pour the jello into the container and wait for it to set. It should set in like an hour or two. If it doesn’t, then wait until it sets in fully.
3: Freeze the jello
Many people use this procedure to get their jellos to set. And indeed, it is an effective technique, but one has to be very careful.
Don’t leave the jello in the freezer for too long. 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer is enough time to get the dessert set in.
The danger of leaving jello for an extended period in the freezer is the gelatin. When it’s frozen, this dessert can lose its binding power. When this happens, the jello will become watery.
You don’t want to eat watery jello; no one wants such. So, ensure you don’t let your dessert stay too long in the freezer.
4: Use the ice cube procedure
This procedure centers on using ice cubes on a plate of water. It is a simple procedure which can get your jello to set quickly.
Look at the back of the jello package. You’ll find “Speed-set” instruction. This instruction details how to get the jello to set quickly, and it’s a wise choice for people who don’t want to wait four hours for the jello to set.
Now, here’s how the procedure goes.
- Get a large bowl and pour the quantity of jello powder you want into it.
- Pour some hot water into the bowl.
- Next, instead of water, put some ice cubes in the bowl.
- Now, stir for about 3 to 5 minutes, gently.
- Check the bowl carefully for ice cubes. And remove ice cubes that haven’t melted.
- The next step is to transfer the bowl of jello to the refrigerator. Here, it would set in about an hour or less.
5: Use smaller containers
When most people make jello, they don’t mind sending it to the refrigerator in the same bowl they mixed the dessert’s ingredients. There is nothing wrong with doing so, anyway.
However, if you want your jelly to set faster, consider putting them in smaller containers after production. You can try muffin pans.
Conclusion: Can you freeze jello?
Technically, it is possible to freeze jello. But then, it is not advisable, and the reasons are simple. Allowing jello to stay in the freezer for an extended period to the point where it freezes will produce undesirable outcomes when thawed.
When you thaw the frozen jello, it will become a watery mess. Why? The gelatin, a chemical bond keeping the structure and consistency of the dessert, had been weakened.
However, you can put the dessert in the freezer to set faster. But ensure it doesn’t stay there for more than 20 minutes.
