Can raisins be frozen? - The best way

Raisins can make or break an oatmeal cookie and are a fantastic alternative to candy if you’re trying to cut down on your sweets. You can put them on just about everything, from cereals to baked goods to trail mixes and salads, and they even taste great with your risotto for dinner.

With so many uses, no kitchen should be without them, especially considering the amount of nutrients contained in each sweet bite. But if you buy in bulk, you have to make sure you know where you’re going to store them.

As a dried fruit, raisins keep well in cabinets and the fridge, but you may be wondering if you can freeze them.

Can raisins be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze raisins and they will stay fresh in the freezer for over a year, so this is a great option. Being dried fruit, raisins have very little water, so they are ideal for freezing. They’ll come out of the freezer almost identical to how they came in and you won’t have to worry about them spoiling. 

To find out how to freeze your raisins or otherwise store them, and get answers to many other raisin-related questions, keep reading.

Best Practices for Freezing Raisins

If you don’t want them to freeze into one big ball, the best way to freeze the raisins is to first spread them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Make sure there is a bit of space between each one to keep them apart.

Freeze for 30 minutes or until well frozen. From now on, you can collect them all in a single freezer-safe Ziploc bag or Tupperware container.

If your raisins are sugar coated, you can skip the pre-freezing step and just transfer them to a bag or container. The sugar will keep them from sticking together. 

Make sure they are tightly closed in an airtight container. You don’t want air or moisture to get anywhere near your raisins.

If you’re a good planner, you can even package the raisins in individual servings so that when you need some, you don’t have to take out the whole container.

If packed carefully, raisins will last almost indefinitely in the freezer. Still, it’s best to use raisins within 2 years of freezing for best results. 

How to thaw frozen raisins

When you thaw the raisins, you must be careful about any moisture that can form from condensation.

It is best to leave the raisins in their sealed container and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using them.  As soon as you open the package, you’ll be exposing them to the air, and if they’re not thawed yet, the warm air could condense on the cold raisins, creating moisture.

Once thawed, you can treat them like you just bought them at the store.

If you plan to bake with the raisins, there is no need to thaw them at all, but you can simply add them to your recipe in the right amount, mix and bake. They won’t add extra moisture to your baking.

The best way to store raisins

Raisins and other dried fruits last quite a while without being frozen , but they have a nasty habit of clumping together or drying out more than you want.

The key is proper storage.

Immediately after opening a bag of raisins, you will need to transfer them to an airtight container. You don’t want your berries exposed to any kind of moisture and as little air as possible.

Keeping them in a cool, dry, and dark place will also help them last longer. Keeping them away from moisture prevents mold from growing, and keeping them out of light will help keep them from getting too dry and rock hard.

If stored well, they will last at least 6 months , although most packages have a best before date to give you a more accurate estimate.

Do raisins need to be refrigerated after opening?

If you live in a very hot and/or humid place, keeping them in the fridge is a good way to extend their life. Again, make sure they are in a tightly sealed bag or container, because being in the fridge they are at greater risk of drying out and getting hard, which is no fun.

If the raisins get too hard, you can try soaking them in water for 10-15 minutes to rehydrate them a bit. 

How to tell if raisins have gone bad

Raisins keep very well, being dried fruit, but it is possible for them to spoil, as happens with almost all foods. The most obvious clue is visible mold . This usually means that your raisins have been stored improperly and have been exposed to moisture and air.

If you see mold, get rid of your entire supply, because it’s likely lurking on more raisins than are visible and can make you sick, though probably not violently.

If you open your container of raisins and smell something sour or fermented, that’s also a bad sign. Lastly, if you notice that your raisins have changed color, you may not want to eat them.

Again, they’re not likely to do any significant damage, so if you’re not sure, go ahead and eat one or two. You’ll know right away if they don’t taste good!

Related questions

Are raisins healthy?

Raisins are packed with nutrients, especially if you dry them yourself and can account for the freshness and quality of the fruit.

They are high in iron, help keep your digestive system going, and are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and immunity-boosting minerals.

If you buy canned grapes, be aware of added sugars, as the fruit itself is naturally high in sugar, so adding more can quickly throw off your diet or eating plan.

Are raisins bad for dogs?

Raisins are known to be very toxic to dogs and should never be given to your pet in any quantity. The same goes for grapes.

They can lead to sudden and acute kidney failure, so if you think your dog has eaten raisins, treatment is absolutely essential. 

If you have a cat, it is highly unlikely that it will deign to eat a raisin or a grape. That said, there are no known cases of cats having a reaction to raisins, but it’s best not to force-feed the pet regardless, just to be safe.

How are raisins made?

Raisins are dehydrated grapes, although the best raisins are sun-dried rather than in a dehydrator.

The drying process intensifies the natural sweetness of the berry and also extends the shelf life of the fruit , so you can store it for a long time without worrying about it going bad.

Are raisins low FODMAP?

Yes, raisins fit into a low FODMAP diet.

However, if you opt for a low-FODMAP diet for digestive reasons, such as to deal with irritable bowel syndrome, you may want to avoid eating too many raisins at one time, because they are a natural laxative and can cause unwanted problems. related. 

Are raisins keto?

Raisins are not very Keto, no . In a single, tiny serving of just 1 ounce, you’re going to get 22 grams of carbohydrates, and only one of those grams is fiber.

You could do with a serving of fresh berries instead .

Are raisins gluten free?

Raisins are naturally gluten-free, yes.

If you have celiac disorder or are extremely sensitive to gluten-containing products, be sure to check the packaging to see if the raisins have been prepared in a completely gluten-free facility, to guard against possible cross-contamination.

Can raisins cause diarrhea?

Some dried fruits are known to cause diarrhea if eaten in large quantities, and raisins are among them, along with prunes, figs, and dates. If you have a few raisins in your favorite trail mix or cookies, you shouldn’t have a problem; however, if you eat them like candy, you may need to use a little caution. 

For some, raisins can help solve digestive problems like constipation. They are high in fiber and are a natural laxative, but you will have to choose whether this is helpful or uncomfortable for your particular situation.

raisins vs. Currents: what’s the difference?

Both raisins and currants are dried forms of grapes, but the difference is in the type of grape. You may have noticed that raisins are much smaller than raisins.

This is because they are made from a specific type of seedless grape: the Zante grape, native to Greece. Currants are very small and therefore are rarely eaten on their own. They are often used for baking or cooking.

Raisins, on the other hand, can be made from many different types of grapes, creating different flavors, colors, sizes, and textures of raisins.

Dark raisins are usually much drier and wrinkled and chewier, while golden ones are plump and still slightly juicy.

Raisins, as I’m sure you know, are eaten on their own as a dried fruit, but they are also used in cooking and baking.