I recently purchased a whole case of pomegranates, and it's getting hard to stand after doing 10 in a day, so can I safely freeze them whole to preserve the quality of the fruit?
Fruit – Can you freeze whole pomegranates to save them
freezingfruit
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I have a whole freezer full of jalapenos - so yes, you definitely can.
They definitely retain their heat just fine.
They keep their texture better if you do 2 things:
Use a vacuum sealer and take out all the air - to reduce freezer burn. Because of this, I recommend you freeze them in batches.
Blanche them for 2-3 minutes in boiling water and then drop them in freezing water. From what I've read, this destroys a particular enzyme that helps not break the pepper down further. I've done this and not done this - and doing it definitely helps on the texture.
They should be good for a little over a year in a vacuum sealed bag - as far as the texture goes. They should never go bad otherwise.
Cos and Sobachatina - bring up another good point: freezing fast and effectively. You can try AB's method that Cos points out, but I do what Sobachatina does. Freeze on a single layer on a tray in the freezer. They freeze quicker and better than dumping them in a bag.
According to this page:
Whole fruits can be stored for a month in a cool, dry area, or refrigerated up to two months. The seed pips can be frozen in an airtight bag up to one year. Fresh juice should be refrigerated and used within two to three days.
In my experience in a very dry climate (Colorado) after a couple weeks the skins become desiccated and very hard—you need to saw through them with a serrated knife—but the seeds are still mostly unaffected. They will shrink somewhat, but still remain unspoiled and flavorful.
However, if you refrigerate them, ensure that you do not let them get too cold. According to this page:
[…] exposure to temperatures below 5°C (41°F) during storage and transport for longer than 4 weeks is a major cause of deterioration […]
The minimum safe storage temperature is 5°C (41°F) for up to 8 weeks, if decay is not a problem. For longer storage, the temperature should be at 7°C (45°F) to avoid chilling injury, but decay […] and weight loss may become a limitation.
Sorry that the photo is not better quality.
Best Answer
You cannot freeze them whole; the large fruit pod will turn into a disgusting mush when you thaw it.
You can, however, freeze the pips quite well, and they are the part you eat anyway.