Can You Freeze Apricots? Guide to Preparation & Storage

Apricots are a delightful fruit that sadly doesn’t last long once they’ve been harvested. If you grow your own, or have found a bargain but, using up a glut of apricots fast enough can prove tricky. Fortunately you can freeze apricots to use later with ease, our guide will show you how to store this delicious fruit in your freezer.

A pile of apricots waiting to be frozen

Can You Freeze Apricots?

The great news is you can indeed freeze your fresh apricots ready to use at a time convenient to you. It’s also very easy to freeze fresh apricots so you’ll never have to worry about the waste again. Apricots are very good for you, boasting lots of healthy vitamins so you can keep them in the freezer for whenever that health boost is required.


How to Prepare Apricots For The Freezer

To prepare your apricot for the freezer you’ll need to wash them and either manually dry them or leave them to air dry. Once fully dry they are ready to be frozen.


Slicing Apricots Before Freezing

You can slice your apricots in half and remove the pit before freezing. This will speed up the freezing process and be easier to prepare once they’ve defrosted. They cut easily and the pit should also be simple to take out.


Top Tip – Freezing Apricots Whole?

You don’t need to slice your apricots first, instead, you can wash and dry them and pop them in a bag straight in the freezer. They don’t even need to be peeled – they freeze just as well with their skins still on. They will take longer to freeze and defrost as a whole fruit  so it’s important to bear this in mind. You’ll also need to prepare more room in the freezer for whole ones.


How Should Apricots Be Frozen?

Once you discover how simple it is to freeze apricots you’ll never put off doing it again. Having seasonal fruit to hand all year round is quite a satisfying feeling!

  • Wash and dry the apricots well.
  • You can leave the peel on if you will be using them in smoothies. You can peel them if you prefer, though.
  • Cut each apricot in half and remove the pit from each one.
  • Pop the apricot halves onto a lined tray and pop them in the freezer overnight.
  • Once they have frozen, you can tip the apricots into bags or suitable Tupperware.
  • Pop the date on them so you know how long they’ve been frozen.
  • They will last a year in the freezer.

Top Tip:

For some recipes, you can enjoy apricots straight from the freezer. They make a perfect cereal topper and can be whizzed up in a smoothie straight from frozen.


How To Defrost Apricots Before Use

The best way of defrosting your apricots is to simply take out the freezer the night before using them and pop them in the fridge. They will slowly defrost which will allow them to retain much of their shape. You can use the defrost button on the microwave but it can go mushy. Depending on the recipe you are using, this may not matter too much.


Freezing Apricots FAQ’s

Can you freeze apricot puree?

Apricot season is short so what better way to have them at your disposal than to freeze them? Apricot purée can be frozen for up to 12 months which is very useful to know. For babies, simply spoon the purée into ice cube trays for the perfect portion size. Or pour into freezer bags to use in desserts or smoothies.

Can you freeze apricot jam?

As long as the preserve is fully cooled, then there’s no reason not to freeze apricot jam. Pop the jam into bags (make sure you squeeze out any excess air) or use containers. Once frozen, the apricot jam will last 6 months in the freezer. Once you have thawed the jam ready to eat, it should be eaten within 4 weeks. Never attempt to refreeze thawed apricot jam.

Can I freeze dried apricots?

Dried apricots can be frozen and can stay in there to be used indefinitely so if you have a glut this may be useful. However, they will also keep in the fridge if they are stored correctly for up to 12 months. They are great for snacking on and super healthy too so having them in the fridge or freezer will be handy.

Can I freeze stewed apricots?

Cooked apricots only last about 4 days in the fridge so it’s helpful to know you can also freeze stewed apricots. This will help preserve their best before date and can be defrosted overnight when needed. To stop them from turning brown, you can add a small amount of lemon juice before freezing them.

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