How to Freeze Dragonfruit (Pitaya)
One of the easiest ways to reap the health benefits of dragon fruit is to use it in smoothies, but fresh dragon fruit can be expensive. The good news is that you can freeze dragon fruit for later use in smoothies, so next time your local grocery store has a special on fresh dragon fruit, buy a little extra and freeze it. It is also good to have frozen dragon fruit on hand if you have one of those frozen fruit dessert makers that turn frozen fruits into guilt-free desserts. However, if you plan to eat dragon fruit without puréeing it, it is usually not a good idea to put it in the freezer because freezing and thawing alter the texture of this exotic fruit, and it will turn mushy when you thaw it.
The best way to freeze dragon fruit, or pitaya as it's called in Spanish, is to first cut it into slices or cubes, and let the pieces freeze separately before transferring them to freezer-safe bags or containers for long-term storage in the freezer. Freezing dragon fruit this way ensures the pieces won't stick together, and you can just grab a few slices or cubes from the freezer when you want to add a bit of exotic flair to a smoothie or frozen dessert.
For detailed instructions on how to freeze dragon fruit, and ideas on how you can use frozen dragon fruit, keep reading.
Equipment Needed for Freezing Dragonfruit
Gather the equipment before you start. You will need:
- Sharp knife for peeling and slicing the fruit
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper or freezer-safe silicone baking mat
- Plastic wrap
- Freezer-safe Zip-lock bags or containers (glass freezer containers with tight-fitting lids are great if you are trying to reduce your exposure to BPA).
- Permanent marker and labels
- Freezer with enough space to accommodate the dragonfruit
Step-by-Step Directions for Freezing Dragonfruit
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a freezer-safe silicone baking mat.
- Peel the dragonfruit, and cut it into small cubes. Arrange the fruit pieces on the baking sheet, making sure they don't touch. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Create a level area in your freezer to fit the baking sheet, and put the whole baking sheet of dragonfruit in the freezer to freeze overnight.
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer, and lift the edges of the baking mat or parchment to dislodge the frozen dragonfruit cubes. Using a spatula, transfer the cubes to freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving as little air inside as possible.
- Label and date the containers or bags, and pop your dragonfruit cubes into the freezer until ready to use.
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