You might be wondering if you can put jello in the freezer? Well, the answer is yes. It’s just not the best idea. You see, if you store your jello in the freezer, it will become rock-hard and impossible to stir or cut. Instead of spending time trying to figure out how to make frozen jello, we recommend storing your homemade Jell-O in a cooler until ready to eat. You can also stock up on Jell-O in case of emergencies (aka: your child has a birthday party coming up or you have a new guest who loves Jell-O). While freezing some of our favorite single-serve desserts might seem inconvenient, we think it saves time and money in the long run.
Can You Put Jello In Freezer?
Yes, you can put jello in the freezer! As long as it’s a gelatin-based dessert (not fruit-flavored or custard) made with a combination of sugar, gelatin powder, and water and/or juice, freezing is actually an easy way to enjoy your favorite jello treat.
Why Can You Put Jello In Freezer?
- Jello can be frozen to increase its shelf life. Jello is a dairy-based product, and freezing it will keep bacteria from growing on it for longer periods of time. This makes the jello last longer in the fridge or cupboard, making it easier to plan ahead with snacks and meals.
- Freezing jello also allows you to make different shapes with the jello. By freezing it, you can cut out shapes and create fun snacks for kids or parties. The ability to manipulate the shape of the jello makes it more interesting than just having a solid plate of traditional jello.
- It’s also possible to mix other items into your jello before freezing it, such as fresh fruit or nuts. You can create interesting flavor combinations by adding different ingredients to the jello before freezing it.
- If you freeze jello in molds, it makes a fun and unique presentation for parties or special occasions. It’s also much easier to serve frozen jello than traditional jello since the pieces can be cut out easily without sticking or crumbling.
- Frozen jello also makes a great topping for ice cream and other cold desserts. The combination of sweet fruity flavor and creamy texture is hard to resist!
- It’s easy to freeze jello in individual portions too, which makes a great grab-and-go snack. Just pop them into your freezer and you’ll have a quick snack whenever you need one.
- You can also freeze jello with alcohol to create popular holiday treats like boozy jello shots or spiked jello desserts. These make a fun addition to any party or gathering!
How To Store Jell-O In The Freezer
Create an ice pack
A thawed Jell-O dessert will set into a spongy gel rather than a solid pudding. You can prevent this by freezing Jell-O in an ice pack. This consists of regular ice cubes wrapped in a freezer paper casing to prevent them from melting. When you put the ice pack in the Jell-O, the cubes melt slowly and the dessert remains frozen. Ice packs are available in most supermarkets and grocery stores, or you can make your own by freezing water in an ice tray. Once you’ve used the Jell-O, the ice pack can be thrown away.
Defrost
If you want to eat Jell-O out of the carton, don’t defrost it. If you want to add water to thaw it, don’t defrost it. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as Jell-O that contains liquid, gelatin, or fruit pieces. If you must defrost Jell-O, do so in the fridge overnight. We don’t recommend letting Jell-O sit at room temperature for more than a few hours. Jell-O will start to become ice cubes again and will not be as creamy.
Store in individual containers
Jell-O containers are designed to keep a single serving of Jell-O fresh. However, they don’t do well at maintaining the freshness of the dessert. The best way to store Jell-O in these containers is to put them in a freezer. This isn’t necessary, but it helps to maintain the quality of the Jell-O. Make sure that your Jell-O containers are not touching any other food. This will prevent contamination and extend the shelf life of each dessert.
Use a cake stand or other support
Putting Jell-O in a container can cause it to stick. An easy way to avoid this is to use a cake stand or other support. Ideally, this will be a wooden one so that it doesn’t ruin the tablecloth. Use a small spoon or paring knife to easily remove the Jell-O from the container and transfer it to the cake stand. You can also use a rubber spatula, though this won’t be as easy to use.
Use your own head space
If you have a lot of Jell-O in your freezer, you can use what’s known as your “head space.” This is the amount of air that’s in your freezer that’s greater than what is needed for the food inside to stay fresh. You can calculate how much space your freezer has by filling a large bowl with water and putting it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, measure the height of the bowl. The height is the amount of space between the water in your freezer and the bowl of water that’s in the freezer. If your freezer has less space than the bowl of water, you can use what’s known as your “head space” to extend the shelf life of your Jell-O.
Store with dry ingredients
There are a few things that you can store with Jell-O that will protect the dessert from bacteria. These include:
Don’t store with syrup
There is a potential for bacteria in syrups. They contain a mix of glucose and fructose, which can be fermented by microbes. Keep your Jell-O and other dry ingredients away from syrups to keep each item separate and protect the quality of each.
What’s The Difference Between Jello And Instant Pudding?
- The most significant difference between Jello and Instant Pudding is their texture. Jello is a type of gelatin dessert that has a thick, jelly-like consistency. On the other hand, instant pudding has a creamy and smooth texture.
- The ingredients used in each product are also different. Jello requires unflavored gelatin powder, sugar, and any type of flavoring or coloring that is desired. Instant pudding requires milk, a pudding mix of some kind (such as cornstarch, gelatin powder, or other similar ingredients), and sometimes sugar.
- Nutrition-wise, Jello has fewer calories than instant pudding since it contains no dairy products and is often artificially sweetened. Additionally, Jello does not contain any cholesterol or saturated fat like instant pudding does.
- The preparation of the two desserts also differs greatly. To make Jello, you need to mix the gelatin powder and sugar with boiling water and then stir in cold water before pouring it into a mold or tray. Instant pudding is much simpler, as it just requires the ingredients to be combined and then stirred until the desired consistency is reached.
- The time needed for each dessert to set also differs. Jello typically needs about 2 hours in a refrigerator before it sets completely, while Instant Pudding can take up to 5 minutes after being placed in the fridge.
Tips For Storing Jello In The Fridge
1. Store jello in an airtight container:
Jello should be stored in a tightly sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
2. Store jello away from strong odors:
When storing jello, make sure there are no other foods nearby with strong odors, as this could cause the jello to absorb the scent.
3. Don’t store jello in the freezer:
While it may seem like a good idea, freezing jello can cause it to become too hard or rubbery when thawed.
4. Keep jello in the fridge for no longer than 5 days:
It is best to use up any leftovers within five days to ensure that the jello stays fresh and flavorful.
5. Add a layer of plastic wrap:
Before sealing up the container, add an extra layer of plastic wrap on top of the jello for added protection from other odors in the fridge. This will also help keep it from drying out or losing its flavor.
6. Keep jello away from heat:
Heat can cause the jello to melt, so make sure that it is stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat. Following these tips will help you store your jello safely and keep it as fresh as possible.
The Final Word
Whether you’re making your own or buying it, there are a few things you can do to keep your Jell-O fresher for longer. Keep your Jell-O covered when you’re not using it. This will keep air from getting to it, which will help keep it fresher. – Always use your jell-o right away. If it’s been sitting out for more than an hour, it’s probably time to eat something else. – Don’t let your Jell-O sit out for too long. If it’s been out for more than a couple of hours, it’s probably ready to eat. We hope you never have to put jello in the freezer again!
