Durian is the most divisive fruit of all time: You either love it or you hate it. For those who like to eat durian, there’s nothing better than fresh, ripe fruit straight from the tree. But what if you want to keep them fresh to eat later? Would freezing durian be an option?
Can You Freeze Durian?
You can freeze durian and it’s a great way to preserve them for a long period of time. It’s best to wait until the fruit is riped before freezing them. Then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and seal them tight. Properly stored, durian will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 year.
Can You Freeze the Whole Durian?
Yes, you can freeze durian as a whole fruit. However, it’s not the most practical way of preserving the fruit. Durian is a large fruit and it will take up a lot of space in your freezer.
If you want to preserve some durian, consider cutting the fruit into smaller pieces and freezing them individually. This way, you’ll save on space and be able to thaw just one or two pieces at a time.
How To Freeze Durian
The freezing process does not alter the flavor of durian, and it will keep indefinitely if stored properly. This is useful if you have a large number of durians you want to preserve or if you want to try freezing fresh durian.
Before freezing the durian, it’s a good idea to let it ripen first. This will help preserve the sweet taste and texture of the fruit.
Step 1: Rinse your durians under cool running water.
Step 2: Slice the durian open lengthwise with a sharp knife. Cut off any stem at the bottom of the fruit.
Step 3: Slice each half of the fruit into quarters lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
Step 4: Place the seeded fruit into freezer bags or plastic containers. If you’re using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air before sealing it.
Step 5: Label the bag or container with the date of freezing and place it in the freezer.
How Long Does Durian Last In the Freezer?
You can store durian in the freezer for up to a year. The texture will not be affected by freezing.
After about a year, the durian will start to slowly deteriorate in quality. It will start to lose most of its flavors and the texture of the fruit will become soggy when it thaws.
How To Defrost Durian
When it comes to defrosting durian, you have several options:
Thawing in the refrigerator: Place your durian in a plastic bag and place it in the fridge. There’s no need to thaw it on the counter first; this method works best for large amounts of fruit.
Thawing at room temperature: Take the frozen durian out of the freezer and let it sit on a plate or cutting board until it has softened considerably (about 20 minutes). This method is good for small amounts of fruit and won’t work well if you have a lot of ice crystals clinging to your fruit.
Thawing in hot water: If you have some time on your hands, submerge a bowl full of water with the durian inside of it into a pot over medium heat until thawed (about an hour). This method works better than trying the microwave because microwaves often leave parts icy while others are still frozen—not ideal if you’re looking forward to eating your beloved durian!
Can You Refreeze Durian?
Yes, you can refreeze durian. However, it’s not recommended because it will affect the texture and taste of the fruit.
When frozen, ice crystals will form on the durian. As you thaw them, it will break down the fruit and make it soft.
When you freeze the durian again, the ice crystals will affect the texture of the fruit greatly. After it’s thawed for the second time, you will notice the durian will be soggy and lose most of its sweet taste.
If you need to store durian after it’s thawed, you can keep them in the fridge. Keeping durian in the fridge will keep them fresh for a couple of days.
Does Durian Freeze Well?
Durian is a fruit that freezes quite well. This is due to the high sugar content of the fruit. Once the fruit has ripened, it will become sweet and this is the best time to freeze them if you want to store them for many months.
Properly stored in an airtight container or freezer bag, the flavor will stay intact.
What Can You Do With Frozen Durian?
Frozen durian is a great way to enjoy durian without having to worry about the smell or mess. But what can you do with it?
Eat it as a dessert
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, frozen durians are perfect for that. You can simply take one out of the freezer, slice it up and eat it plain. The taste will be slightly different from fresh durians, but you should still get the same creamy texture and sweet flavor.
Make ice cream or sorbet out of it
If you have an ice cream maker, you can use your frozen durian to make ice cream or sorbet. Just blend the frozen durian with some milk (or other dairy product), sugar, and any other ingredients like vanilla extract or chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into a container, place in the freezer, and wait until firm enough to scoop out into balls or scoops.
Use as topping on cakes and pastries
If you have leftover cake batter from making muffins or cupcakes, you can use frozen durian as one of the ingredients. You can mix it with the batter or use durian as a topping. Whichever way you choose, you’ll have a sweet and tasty treat.
Conclusion
Durian can be frozen and it’s a great way to preserve them until you’re ready to eat them. Keep them stored in an airtight container or freezer and the fruit will last for a year, which is enough time for you to enjoy until the next harvesting season.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
