Can you freeze olives?
Quick reply
Can you freeze olives? Yes, you can freeze olives up to six months. There are several ways to freeze olives. Fresh olives can be frozen within an airtight container. Or to enhance their texture after they have been frozen, brine them before freezing.
You don’t have to be an avid fan of Mediterranean cuisine to appreciate the health benefits of olives. The distinctive flavor of tangy olives and unique texture help any food to stand out. I really appreciate fresh olives because I can use them in pizzas and salads.
Because olives are incredibly diverse and nutritious, it’s not unusual for many home cooks and cooks to purchase large quantities of olives. Have you ever thought about whether it’s okay to keep olives in a freezer? Or , are there better methods to extend their shelf-life?
Storage of olives should be done very seriously as the fruit will lose its taste if it is not properly stored. Also, you do not want your olives to be watered down, ruining the fresh salad you’ve just made.
How To store olives?
Olives can be kept in the refrigerator or inside the pantry.
If you intend to keep them in your pantry, make sure the jar or can is not opened. The temperature of the room must not exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit . This is approximately 24-degrees Celsius.
If left unopened in a jar, olives last for two years or more. They’re an excellent staple in your pantry to use in many healthy recipes. You can also snack on them.
After the can has been open, olives need to be kept in the refrigerator. They must also be completely immersed in liquid. When refrigerated, olives may stay fresh for as long as 4 months beyond the date printed.
Can you freeze olives?
It is true that you can freeze olives. Actually, olives frozen are able to keep their texture and flavor for as long as six months. After being thawed in the refrigerator olives will remain in good shape for up to 3 weeks.
But don’t place the can of olives into the freezer. There are a few ways to freeze the fruits.
Here’s how you should go about freezing it. Begin by putting the olives into the colander before placing it under running water. This will eliminate impurities in the fruit.
Let the fruit drip dry for 10-15 minutes. Be aware that excessive water could result in moisture that can affect the taste of olives. If you aren’t able to wait to dry the olives, use a paper towels to dry the olives.
After the olives have been dried, place them into a dry and freezer-safe container. Make sure there’s enough space between tomatoes and lid. At least a half-inch of space must be left so that there is enough room for the fruits to expand once they’re frozen.
Check that you seal the containers prior to placing it into the freezer. Like I do when food storage, I suggest that you place your olives into the middle of the freezer so that the temperature remains constant.
You can brine olives before they are frozen
It is also possible to place the olives in brine, which is an extremely salty solution, prior to freezing them. This will help reduce the softening of olives that are frozen.
This technique is similar to the trick I mentioned, but you’ll be soaking the olives in brine before placing them inside the refrigerator.
The following step-by-step instructions will guide you following this procedure:
Step-by step guide
- Place the olives into a pan and then pour the brine that is made of four ounces of salt to each gallon. It should boil for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the brine and put the olives in cold water.
- Take the olives out of the water, then put them in the freezer-safe container.
- Make sure the container is securely sealed prior to placing it in the freezer.
3 Tips to Freeze Olives
Now that you are aware of the best ways to store olives, I strongly recommend following the steps when freezing olives for the best outcomes.
Brine to improve Texture
Brining olives prior to freezing or purchasing them will improve the texture of your olives. Olives that have been frozen can be somewhat soft, but brine helps reduce the effect from freezing and can improve the quality.
The best cooking ingredients to use
Like many other frozen items, it is possible to mask the texture changes that occur when you cook them into meals. The same is applicable to olives. If you’re planning to serve them on pizzas or mixed in pasta sauces, such as Puttanesca , you will not feel the difference in texture.
Flash Freeze
If you’d like to make it simpler to pick a small portion at a time, flash freezing will stop the olives from sticking together after being frozen. It’s a little tedious but it is worth it.
How long can you freeze Olives?
Olives have a remarkable shelf life. This is also true also for frozen olives. It is possible to keep olives frozen at room temperature for as long as 6 months, but I am sure they won’t last as long! They’re too tempting to be kept aside.
You can freeze olives up to 6 months.
How to defrost frozen olives?
The process of defrosting olives is fairly simple. Just place the container in the refrigerator, and then allow it to cool overnight.
After the olives have been removed from the freezer, you can use them to make sauces, marinades, and purees. Consume or use the olives that have been frozen within three weeks. It is possible for the fruit to lose its flavor when you consume it after the time frame.
Can you refreeze olives?
We strongly discourage freezing olives again. It can have a significant effect on the overall appearance of the oil. Nobody wants mushy and bland olives, and that’s precisely the result you’ll be left with when refreezing olives.
Instead, you can freeze them in a manner that makes it easy to defrost one portion at one time.
Do Olives Keep Well in the freezer?
There’s a lot of debate regarding freezing olives. Some people like the slight texture change while others are averse to it. If you’re looking to stay clear of the texture change, you should try the brined olives variant since this will help you stay away from having too much texture change.
If you intend to use your olives frozen in blends, sauces or other dishes, it isn’t necessary to worry about changes in texture and you can freeze them using a simple method.
The recipe you can enjoy with thawed olives
Here’s a recipe that is simple to follow. You can use frozen olives that have been thawed orecchiette, chickpeas and olives. Orecchiette can be described as homemade pasta that looks like the tiny ear.
This recipe for homemade pasta can be a quick meal or lunch that are able to whip up on those busy times. It’s ready in about 30 minutes. It’s enough for four portions.
Ingredients
- Orecchiette pasta (about 12 ounces)
- A can of chickpeas (about 15 pounds) washed and drained
- Half cup olives, pitted
- A tablespoon of tomato paste
- Three garlic cloves, chopped
- One rosemary sprig
- Extra virgin olive oil: Three spoons
- Half teaspoons of pepper in flakes
- Ground pepper and salt
- A cup of infant Arugula
- Half cup Parmesan cheese grated
Step-by-step instructions
Mix the pasta with tomatoes, olives, garlic paste as well as rosemary, pepper as well as 5 cups of liquid in the pan. Add salt and water.
Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer over medium-high temperature. Mix it up frequently to ensure that the pasta cooks cooked al at a good al dente.
Take the skillet off the heat and remove the rosemary. Mix in the cheese. Make sure to add more water so that the sauce is thinned.
The pasta, arugula and pasta should be divided into the bowls. Sprinkle cheese and pepper flakes. Drizzle with oil prior to serving.
Related FAQs
Can you freeze olives?
If you’re still unsure regarding freezing olives, or about olives generally, these tips can be of assistance:
Can You Freeze Stuffed Olives?
The olives that are stuffed with stuffing can be frozen with the above method. However, you must consider what the olive is packed with prior to freezing. If it’s stuffed with cheese, the texture could be dry and spongy therefore it’s not a good option for freezing them. If they’re packed with pimento, or anchovies, they’ll be fine to freeze.
Can you freeze black Olives?
Yes, you can freeze black olives chopped in a freezer. The olives should be divided in airtight containers or quality freezer bags that are sealed with a tight seal.
Wrapping up
So, can you freeze olives? Yes, of course, you can. Olives are not just nutritious and delicious, they also have an extended shelf life, especially when they are frozen. The process of freezing olives can prolong their storage time by about six months. As you’ve learned, freezing the fruit is a simple process and you should be able to do that at home without any expert help.
