Can You Freeze Rhubarb?

Here is the ultimate guide on how to freeze and store rhubarb. 

These methods and tips have worked like a charm for me and others. 

So, let’s dive right into it. 

How to Freeze Rhubarb?

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This is a great way to freeze the rhubarb for long, and it also makes it easy to pull out a handful later on. 

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Materials

• Rhubarb
• Baking Sheet

Tools

• Parchment Paper
• Ziploc Bags

Instructions

1. Clean and Cut: Wash and cut the ends and leaves off the rhubarb, and then cut them into sizes that you plan to use in your recipes.
   
   
2. Line Them Up: Spread out the rhubarb on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the pieces don’t touch each other and are evenly spaced.
   
   
3. Flash Freeze: Leave the tray of rhubarb in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let the rhubarb freeze solid.
   
   
4. Pack and Seal: Transfer the frozen pieces of rhubarb into a Ziploc bag and seal them after squeezing out as much excess air as you can.
   
   
5. Label and Freeze: add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you are good to go.
   
   Check out this tutorial by “Learn to Grown” on YouTube to see how it is done -

Freezing Rhubarb after Blanching

With a few additional steps, you can freeze the rhubarb keeping it fresh and vibrant for longer. 

Clean and Prep

Wash and prep the rhubarb by cutting it into pieces that you plan to use in your recipes later on. 

Blanch

Put the cut rhubarb into a pot of boiling water and cook it for a minute or so. Then transfer it into an ice bath to stop any further cooking. 

Dry and Spread

Thoroughly dry the rhubarb and then line it up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to keep the pieces separate from each other and evenly spaced. 

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let the rhubarb pieces freeze solid. 

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen pieces of rhubarb into a Ziploc bag and seal them after squeezing out all the excess air. 

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you are all set to freeze the rhubarb. 

Here is a tutorial by “Good Housekeeping UK” on YouTube to show you how it is done – 

Freezing Rhubarb in Juice

Another great method to freeze rhubarb is to keep it frozen in juice, or even water, to keep it sweet. 

Clean and Cut

Wash and clean the rhubarb. Then cut them into small pieces that you plan to use in your recipes later on. 

Portion and Fill

Portion the rhubarb into quantities that you can easily use in one go and then put the portion in a Ziploc bag. Then pour some juice or syrup or water into the bag, with enough liquid to submerge the rhubarb. 

Seal and Freeze

After squeezing out as much air as you can, you can add a label on the bag and freeze it till you need the rhubarb. 

To get a clearer picture, here is a tutorial by “Scoff” on YouTube – 

How Long Can You Freeze Rhubarb? 

You can freeze rhubarb for up to a year. Especially if it has been blanched, it will stay vibrant and flavorful for a long while.

But as in the case of any fruit or vegetable, the quality of the rhubarb will deteriorate, the longer it stays in the freezer, so it is best to use it up sooner rather than later. 

If you are freezing food made with rhubarb, they would last well in the freezer for a couple of months before they lose their taste and texture.

How to Store Frozen Rhubarb? 

You can store frozen rhubarb in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. The key is to freeze it completely sealed and protected from being exposed to air or freezer burns. 

If you are pressed for freezer space, then the best option would be Ziploc bags.

While the freezer-safe containers can be bulky and limit the quantity of rhubarb you can freeze, the Ziploc bags are a great way to freeze even large batches compactly. 

How to Defrost Rhubarb? 

If you want to defrost the frozen rhubarb, take out the portion you need and leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight, and let it thaw gradually. 

But in most cases, you needn’t bother thawing the rhubarb. You can use them right out of the oven and cook or bake with them.

Keep in mind that the rhubarb can get mushy or soggy once it thaws. So, it is best to use them in recipes where you cook them and don’t call for thawing it first.

Can You Refreeze Rhubarb? 

Although you can refreeze rhubarb, it is best advised not to. The rhubarb can change in texture and get mushy once it thaws.

Repeated freezing and thawing will only worsen this condition. So, it is best not to refreeze rhubarb and also risk the chance of bacterial buildup.

To avoid having to refreeze or waste the rhubarb once it thaws, you can freeze them after portioning it into quantities you can easily consume in one go.

You could also flash freeze the pieces of rhubarb beforehand to easily grab a handful without thawing the whole batch.

Does Rhubarb Freeze Well? 

Yes, rhubarb freezes well, and it is a great way to have the delicious fruit at the ready all year long. If it has been blanched beforehand it freezes much better and for longer.

Dishes cooked with rhubarb, like rhubarb crumble, also freeze quite well. 

But keep in mind that while rhubarb freezes well, it isn’t too appealing once it thaws. So, frozen rhubarb is best used right out of the freezer and when cooked. 

FAQs

Bottom Line 

I hope this article has helped you freeze and store rhubarb all year round. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some tips and tricks of your own, it would be great to hear from you.