Can You Freeze Apple Cider?

Apple cider is a delicious beverage, especially when it is heated up. It is the perfect way of enjoying a cozy and non-alcoholic drink during the winter months.

But what do you do when you have too much? Often, when making drinks for a party, there never seems to be enough. But, if you have made a big batch and have a lot left over, you’re not going to want to pour it down the drain.

Apple cider is generally considered a festive drink. But it can be drunk throughout the winter months. It is a warming winter drink and doesn’t need to be kept only for November and December.

So, to save your apple cider, can you freeze it? The answer is yes! Liquids are generally very easy to freeze. But there are still a few considerations to take into account before freezing apple cider.

How to Freeze Apple Cider

So, how exactly should you freeze apple cider?

Follow these simple steps to make sure you freeze your apple cider in the best way possible.

Step 1

Let the cider cool down. This is a very important step. If you don’t let the apple cider cool down before putting it in the freezer, then it will alter the temperature of the freezer itself.

If it is hot, then it could defrost the entire freezer. Even if it is just warm, it can defrost other frozen items around it.

Step 2

Once the apple cider is completely cold, transfer it to a freezer-safe container. This should be something like plastic Tupperware. Make sure that the lid is airtight and don’t fill the container. Pour the apple cider in until it is around an inch from the top.

The apple cider will expand when it freezes so will need space to do that. If you don’t leave space or don’t use an airtight container, the apple cider may overflow when it freezes.

And that’s it! There isn’t a lot of preparation needed for freezing something like apple cider. But make sure to read on or scroll down to our Top Tips section. This will give you a few extra things to consider before freezing your apple cider.

How to Defrost Apple Cider

So, now you know how to freeze apple cider, you, of course, need to know how to defrost it.

This is a simple process but, as with freezing, there are a few things to consider. There are also a few different ways to defrost apple cider.

Method 1: Place it in the refrigerator.

This will be the longest process but it is also the best. Moving the apple cider from the freezer to the refrigerator will allow it to defrost slowly.

This will lessen the risk of any alterations in taste or texture.

Method 2: Leave it on the worktop.

If you want your apple cider a little sooner, then you can leave it out to defrost at room temperature. This is essentially the opposite of leaving it out to cool.

Leaving apple cider at room temperature is absolutely fine as it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. If this were a product that needs to normally be refrigerated, such as something containing dairy, then it would be a bad idea to leave it out.

Method 3: In the microwave. 

This is the quickest way to defrost apple cider. It will also allow you to heat it up straight afterward. If you can, remove the top of the container (be careful as it may be frozen shut). Then, gently place the lid back on but don’t shut it properly. This will stop the apple cider from making a mess.

Turn the dial to the defrost setting. Then turn on the microwave for around 2 minutes. If, when you open the door, the apple cider is still frozen, place it back in for another 30 seconds. Repeat this until it has defrosted completely.

Then, if you want to heat it quickly, you can turn the dial back to the normal setting and it’s ready to drink!

Top Tips

So, now that you know the basics of freezing and defrosting apple cider.

But just in case you need some more help, here are some tips for freezing apple cider perfectly.

Let the apple cider cool down in the pot

If you heat up your apple cider in a cooking pot, you should let it cool down in there. This will allow the apple cider to cool down gradually.

If you pour it into a cold container, this might alter the taste. It will take a little longer as the pan will also be hot. But it will be worth it.

Do not freeze apple cider in a glass container

If you have some apple cider that is in a bottle, don’t be tempted to just put the bottle in the freezer. As mentioned above, apple cider will expand in the freezer. This is because food and drink take on water when frozen.

The glass will also potentially crack or break entirely when frozen. This will not only be a nuisance to clean but can also be dangerous. It will be difficult to know what is ice and what is glass in your freezer.

So you might end up with ice in the freezer which will be dangerous. This will also make the apple cider too dangerous to drink. So it’s not worth the risk.

Stir the apple cider in the microwave

It’s important to remember that microwaves heat things up a little differently than a normal oven. So, after the first 2 minutes, stir the apple cider. This will help you to know if it has thawed entirely.

Then, if you need to place it in for longer, stir it after every 30 seconds as well. This will let you know if it has defrosted yet. It will also help the apple cider to defrost more evenly in the microwave. This will speed up the process too.