Can You Freeze Marshmallows?
Marshmallows are wonderfully fluffy cloud-like sweet treats that have a multitude of uses. But you already know that! The new trend, however, is making your very own marshmallows at home.
Now, if you’ve tried this technique, you’ll know that these marshmallows are very fragile. They don’t last very long, lose their structure and flavor quite easily, and they aren’t very shelf stable. An easy solution would just be to freeze them, right?
But can you freeze marshmallows? Luckily, you can freeze marshmallows — but you may not want to. Freezing store-bought marshmallows actually shortens their shelf life somewhat. But, freezing homemade marshmallows will make them last a little longer! However, as with all things, freezing changes the structure of the item.
So, you will need to consider why you want to freeze them if freezing is the best solution for your problem, and how you can use them later. Today, we will be answering all of those questions and more!
We will look at the best ways to freeze a number of different marshmallows and what you need to look out for. And we’ll even look at the shelf life and how you should properly thaw them.
What Are Marshmallows Made Of?
Marshmallows are technically a type of sugar candy.
But as you know, a marshmallow looks, feels, and tastes completely different from your average soft and hard candies.
So, seeing as how different they are from other types of candies and how there are extremely few treats that are similar, it’s important to understand what they are made of.
This will help you better understand if they can freeze and how they would freeze!
Marshmallows are made with a combination of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin — that’s essentially all that you need. But naturally, most manufacturers include flavorings, colorings, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and preservatives. What a mouthful!
The final product is a very soft, fluffy, foamy, flavorful spongy treat. It’s stretchy and very sticky once it becomes wet. And once it gets heated, the structure melts and becomes a solid gooey sticky mess.
So naturally, freezing involves the formation of ice crystals. And once these crystals melt, they become water. Water plus marshmallows equal a sticky mess.
Not to mention, ice crystals break down the structure of food items, which is part of why so many foods (like cucumber or herbs for example) don’t freeze well at all!
So, does that mean you cannot freeze marshmallows?
Which Type Of Marshmallows Can You Freeze?
Luckily, there are loopholes. Yes, there is a lot that can go wrong when freezing marshmallows. However, it is still completely possible to do so.
By freezing marshmallows, you can free up some pantry space, store some for future use, extend their near-expired shelf life, and keep a secret stash of comfort treats.
It is possible to freeze any kind of marshmallow. This includes mini marshmallows, regular marshmallows, jumbo marshmallows, and shaped and flavored marshmallows.
It’s also good to know that you can easily freeze homemade marshmallows. Their structure, texture, and flavors do differ from commercially made marshmallows, so they won’t freeze in the same way, but we’ll get to that later.
So, great! You can freeze any and all types of marshmallows. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Tips For Freezing Marshmallows
There are many things you have to consider when freezing a specific type of marshmallow. Let’s take a more in-depth look at a few common tips that we always use for freezing marshmallows.
Shape And Size
This is a factor that many people overlook. Marshmallows are obviously very soft and very pliable. Even when frozen, they don’t freeze into solid blocks. They are still pretty pliable but much stiffer than “warm” marshmallows.
If you freeze them in a way where they will be crushed, they will freeze in that shape. When they defrost, they will be even more deflated and misshaped.
Crushed marshmallows in a freezer are most often caused by a lack of proper storage space or using the wrong storage container.
So, as we will discuss a little later, you should try to store the marshmallows in an airtight container. It will protect it from numerous elements, including getting crushed.
Flavor
All items lose some of their flavors when they are frozen — it’s natural. The ice crystals trap the moisture inside the item. Then, as they melt, the flavor leeches out with the melting ice.
So, if you have bought or made exceptionally flavorful marshmallows, it is probably best to avoid freezing them. While they won’t lose all of their flavor, they will definitely not be what they used to.
Portion Size
It is always better to freeze marshmallows in portions. When you freeze them, they will stick together.
The only way to avoid this is by freezing them separately on a large tray. Then, once the individual marshmallows are frozen, you can combine them in a large container. But, this method is more work and time-consuming.
So, unless you need individual marshmallows, you’ll likely freeze them together in one large container.
The problem with this is that then you have to thaw the entire clump to just grab a few. This affects the flavor, texture, and shelf life of the remaining marshmallows.
The solution is to divide your marshmallow into likely portions. This way, you can thaw one portion at a time without affecting the others.
If you want to freeze an entire bag of unopened marshmallows, you can definitely do so.
Age Of Marshmallows
There is no point in freezing already expired marshmallows. You are just freezing their deteriorated form. Yes, it will slow further spoilage, but it won’t reverse it.
Always check whether or not the marshmallows will still be good after a couple of months of freezing. Otherwise, remember to thaw and use the marshmallows before their original expiry date.
How To Effectively Freeze Store-Bought Marshmallows
Freezing store-bought marshmallows is a lot easier than freezing homemade ones — no matter what their shape, size, or flavor is.
The only questions you need to answer before freezing them are:
- How many you will need later (if you need individual marshmallows or bunches)
- How long you are planning on storing the marshmallows
So, if you need individual marshmallows for garnishing, use the guide for freezing homemade marshmallows below.
But, if you can use clumps of marshmallows (for s’mores or hot chocolate as an example), then you can freeze some together.
Measure out the likely portions that you would use. If you aren’t currently using what you will be using the marshmallows for, still divide them into a couple of bags or containers.
Step 1: Portion Your Marshmallows
For clumps of marshmallows, just place a portion inside an airtight container.
You can also use zip-lock bags, but your marshmallows might squish inside the freezer. So, if you use zip-lock bags, just store the marshmallows safely.
No matter which you choose, make sure your container is sealed properly.
Step 2: Wrap In Aluminum Foil
Wrap the entire container in aluminum foil. This will help prevent an excessive amount of ice crystals from forming on the marshmallows, which is important as ice crystals will ruin the texture and flavor of marshmallows.
Label the container so you don’t forget about the marshmallows and know when to use them.
Step 3: Store The Marshmallows
Place the containers inside the freezer. If you use zip-lock bags, try to place them in an area where they won’t get squished since they will freeze in that shape.
How To Freeze Homemade Marshmallows
If you are freezing homemade or artisanal marshmallows, we don’t recommend clumping them together. They aren’t nearly as stable as commercial marshmallows and they are almost always much stickier.
So, you will need to freeze this kind of marshmallow individually.
Step 1: Place Individually
First, start by placing the marshmallows inside a lined airtight container. Space them away from each other so that they don’t touch.
Then, close the container and place it inside the freezer.
Step 2: Freeze The Marshmallows
Leave the container with individual marshmallows inside the freezer for at least 2 hours. After 2 hours, touch them to see how frozen they have become. They don’t have to be rock-solid, but they shouldn’t easily misshape.
The exact time it will take for them to completely freeze will depend on their size and the temperature of your freezer. If you cannot monitor them every couple of hours, just leave them overnight.
Step 3: Combine Into One Container
After the homemade marshmallows are completely frozen, transfer them all to a single airtight container. Now you can stack them on top of each other and allow them to touch.
For extra assurance, place a layer of non-stick baking paper or a sheet of plastic wrap between stacks of marshmallows.
Step 4: Wrap The Container
If you are storing the marshmallows long-term, wrap them with a layer of plastic or saran wrap. It will help keep them extra airtight.
Always wrap the container with a layer or two of aluminum foil. It will help prevent excessive freezer burn inside the marshmallows.
Remember to label the container with the product name, the date it was made and frozen, and the estimated use-by date.
How Long Can Marshmallows Be Kept Frozen?
Marshmallows have a pretty long shelf life at room temperature. Most commercially made products can last up to 1 year — this is because they contain a bunch of sugar and preservatives.
Homemade marshmallows have a shorter shelf life at room temperature. But, if stored correctly, that can still be around 1-2 months.
However, when storing marshmallows inside the freezer, their structure changes completely. So, for commercially made products, the shelf life actually shortens to about 6-8 months.
Shocking, we know. But the structure is completely broken down by the ice crystals. So, it’s not that the marshmallows have gone bad or moldy. But rather that they will become unappealing to even consider eating.
Homemade marshmallows will have an even shorter shelf life, but longer in comparison to their room temperature shelf life. These, when stored properly, will last about 2-3 months at the most.
How To Thaw Marshmallows
Marshmallows are very aerated. So, they don’t take very long to thaw. But again, there are a couple of ways you can do this.
The first way is quick — simply remove the marshmallows from the freezer and place them at room temperature. Then, allow them to sit for 20-30 minutes or until they return to their original shape. Some may be misformed, but that’s fine.
Keep the marshmallows inside the closed airtight container to prevent condensation from forming on the marshmallows. Condensation (aka water droplets) will make them sticky and ruin them.
The second method is more time-consuming. But, it’s great if you won’t want to use them immediately.
Remove the marshmallows from the freezer and place them inside the fridge. Once ready to use, you can remove them from the airtight container.
Can You Use Frozen Marshmallows Without Thawing Them?
There are a ton of ways you can use clumps of frozen marshmallows, but their use is pretty limited to functions where they don’t have to look pretty.
Clumps of frozen marshmallows can be melted immediately. These are usually used in baked goods like cookies, cakes, biscuits, and brownies.
You can also make marshmallow toppings using melted marshmallows. Or of course, make something like s’mores. You can even make your own take on Rice Krispie Treats!
You can also add frozen clumps of marshmallows into your hot chocolate. And you can use them to roast over an open fire.
If you do need to use frozen marshmallows that look pretty, it’s best to freeze them individually.
When we freeze a batch of marshmallows, we always keep some individually frozen to one side — it’s better to have them on hand than need them!
Related Questions
Should you coat your marshmallows in extra cornstarch or powdered sugar before storing them?
While many people say that you absolutely have to do this, we don’t feel that it’s necessary. Sure, maybe if your marshmallows lost all their powdered coating, but if it’s still on the fluffy treats, there’s no need to add more.
However, if your marshmallows are very moist and have become sticky, definitely coat them in powdered sugar or cornstarch before freezing them. Make sure it’s a generous amount that the sticky marshmallow doesn’t just dissolve.
Can you store marshmallows in the fridge?
You can definitely store your marshmallows inside the fridge. However, you will need to follow the same rules as when freezing them. Always store them inside an airtight container and store them in smaller batches.
In the fridge, your marshmallows can keep for roughly 2-3 months. But homemade marshmallows will still only last a month or maybe two.
Homemade marshmallows don’t contain stabilizers and preservatives as commercial marshmallows do.
What should you do with old hard marshmallows?
You can freeze stale hard marshmallows too. This way, you can preserve their flavor, even if their texture has already gone backward.
However, only use these for melting purposes. So again, use them inside cakes and cookies, or in your hot chocolate.
It is the only way you don’t have to “deal” with their unappealing texture. And, you don’t have to toss them out.
