Can you freeze cranberry sauce?
The USDA does not recommend it: thawed cranberry sauce turns watery. Homemade sauce keeps 7 to 10 days in the fridge. Freeze whole cranberries instead, for a year.
By Zain Nazeer, founder and editor
Photo by Melissa Di Rocco on Unsplash
You can, but the USDA FoodKeeper does not recommend freezing cranberry sauce, because it can turn watery when it thaws. It is not a safety problem, only texture. The good news is that cranberry sauce keeps longer in the fridge than most leftovers: 7 to 10 days homemade, and 1 to 2 weeks once a can is opened.
How long does cranberry sauce last?
- Homemade, in the fridge: 7 to 10 days.
- Canned, unopened: about 2 years in the cupboard.
- Canned, once opened: 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, moved out of the can into a covered container.
- Fresh whole cranberries: about 2 months in the fridge and 12 months in the freezer.
Does cranberry sauce need to be refrigerated?
Homemade sauce does, from the start. A can only needs the fridge once it is opened; until then it keeps in the cupboard. Do not store leftovers in the opened can: move them to a covered glass or plastic container, which keeps the taste fresher too.
What if you freeze it anyway?
If you have too much to eat in 10 days, freezing is better than throwing it away. Freeze it in small sealed containers with a little space at the top. Thaw it in the fridge, pour off any liquid and stir well, or simmer it for a few minutes to thicken it again. Use it in cooked dishes, sauces and baking rather than as a jellied slice.
What is better to freeze?
Whole cranberries. They freeze for a year with no loss of quality for cooking: rinse, dry, and freeze them in a bag. Cook a fresh batch of sauce from frozen berries in 15 minutes whenever you want it.
How do you use leftover cranberry sauce?
Stir it into overnight oats or yogurt, spread it in a turkey sandwich, or swirl it through baked oatmeal or high-protein overnight oats. It also makes a quick glaze for turkey meatballs.
How can you tell if cranberry sauce has gone off?
Mould, a fizzy look or a fermented smell mean throw it away. Throw out a whole container with mould, not just the top.
What else from Thanksgiving keeps?
See how long cooked turkey lasts, can you freeze mashed potatoes and foods that do not freeze well. For all the times in one place, see the printable storage chart.
Sources
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