Can You Freeze Simple Syrup?
Simple syrups are simple to make, but they don’t last forever! This delicious cocktail sweetener is easy to make at home and will last for around one month in the refrigerator.
But can you freeze simple syrup to keep it fresh for longer? Yes, simple syrup can be frozen — this is a great way of extending the life of this popular homemade sweetener. The simplest way to freeze simple syrup is in ice cube trays or silicone molds overnight, then pop them into a freezer bag or container.
Want to learn more about how to freeze simple syrup? We’ve got everything you need to know right here!
What Is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is the most basic form of syrup — once you’ve mastered this technique a whole new world of flavored syrups will be opened up to you!
This popular sweetener is just a straightforward blend of white sugar dissolved in water that is then used to add sweetness to cocktails, coffee, tea, sorbets, and much more.
The big advantage of simple syrup is that it blends effortlessly with other ingredients, as the sugar is completely dissolved into the liquid. This eliminates any grittiness that can occur when you try to mix sugar with other ingredients.
Using simple syrup means you get a smooth, sweet flavor that blends perfectly with liquids and fruits. It can also be added to desserts to create sweetness without needing to dissolve sugar into the mix.
And once you’ve got the hang of using plain simple syrup, a whole world of flavored syrups is waiting to be explored! Simple syrup can be used to create herbed, spiced, or fruity syrups, which have a myriad of different uses.
This is a really exciting way to bring a whole range of flavors to your cocktail recipes! They can also be used to flavor lemonades and other cold drinks.
How Is Simple Syrup Made?
The basic simple syrup recipe consists of a mix of equal amounts of sugar and water — that’s a ratio of 1:1. White granulated sugar is normally used, but you can experiment with other sugars (like demerara sugar) for different flavor profiles.
Some bartenders like to use a rich simple syrup, which contains twice the amount of sugar — this gives a ratio of 2:1, which results in a syrup with a thicker texture. This can add body and improved mouthfeel to cocktail recipes.
There are two ways of measuring ingredients to make simple syrup.
The first is to measure by volume, which is the quickest and simplest way, although not quite as accurate. Use a liquid measuring cup to measure one cup of water, and a dry measuring cup to measure one cup of white granulated sugar.
Measuring by weight is more precise, although there is very little difference to it — all you need to do is separately weigh out 6 ounces of sugar and 6 ounces of water.
Once you’ve measured out your ingredients, tip the water into a pan and heat it gently on the stovetop before adding the sugar. You can add the sugar to the cold water, but it will not heat as quickly.
Over a warm heat, stir the mixture thoroughly until the sugar is dissolved. It is not necessary to bring the liquid to a boil — you are just using heat to help the sugar blend smoothly into the liquid.
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. It can then be poured into a container for storage, preferably an easy-pour glass bottle.
This sugar syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month – that’s four whole weeks of delicious cocktails and cold drinks!
Make sure to keep it in a tightly lidded bottle, as this syrup is very sticky if it gets accidentally spilled in the fridge. An easy-pour bottle will help to prevent a sticky mess from forming if there are any drips down the side of the bottle.
But what if you want to enjoy this syrup for longer? Or you’ve got a batch of sugar syrup that won’t get used within one month? Let’s find out whether you can freeze sugar syrup to preserve it for longer!
Can You Freeze Simple Syrup?
The good news is that simple syrup can be frozen, and this is a great way to preserve this flavorful liquid for longer!
So, whether you don’t want the hassle of making a fresh batch of sugar syrup every few weeks, or you’ve got a load left over, the freezer is a great way to preserve it for longer.
Sugar syrup can be frozen in large amounts, or you can split it into convenient individual portions. Whichever method you choose, you can sleep easy knowing that your freezer is fully stocked with this versatile homemade sweetener!
Simple syrup will not alter at all in terms of taste or texture when it has been frozen and thawed. This is also a great way of preserving infused simple syrups, as these can only be stored in the refrigerator for around one week.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Simple Syrup?
Our preferred way to freeze simple syrup is in individual portions. After all, you are only going to need a small amount at a time, so it may not be worth defrosting a large bottle!
The best way to do this is to use an ice cube tray or silicone mold to freeze little lumps of sugar syrup.
Place the mold on a flat baking sheet and carefully pour the syrup into each indentation. Place this into the freezer on a flat surface until it freezes — this may take several hours or overnight.
The next day, your simple syrup cubes can be popped out into a freezer bag or storage container. Remember to label and date them, or someone may get a very sweet surprise if they mistake them for ice cubes!
Whenever you need some simple syrup, all you need to do is take out one or two cubes from the freezer. They will dissolve quickly into cocktails or cold drinks, giving the perfect hint of sweetness without any hassle.
Larger amounts of simple syrup should be decanted into lidded plastic containers for freezing. This is because the liquid may expand when it freezes, so if you attempt to freeze it in its bottle, it might burst!
Take a suitable-sized plastic container — we’d suggest something large enough to hold a week’s supply of simple syrup — and fill it to around two-thirds full with the syrup.
Place the lid on securely and label with the date and contents. Carefully place the container on a flat surface in the freezer. Then let it freeze!
How Long Can Simple Syrup Stay Frozen?
The great thing about freezing excess simple syrup is that it greatly increases the shelf life of your simple syrup.
While this delicious cocktail sweetener will last for around a month in the fridge, it can be frozen for up to six months without deteriorating.
So, if you take the time and effort to make a batch of frozen simple syrup cubes, you could have enough to keep you supplied for half the year! This is far easier than making up a new batch every few weeks.
Simple syrup that is kept in the refrigerator for longer than six months will still be safe to consume, but it might start to deteriorate in terms of flavor and texture.
You might find that crystals start to form, so they don’t melt as smoothly into your drinks. They can also absorb strong flavors and odors from other foods in the freezer.
Related Questions
Now you know how to store your simple syrup for longer in the freezer, let’s take a look at some other syrupy questions!
Can you freeze fruit syrups?
A great way to preserve fruit-infused simple syrup for longer is to freeze it. Any excess fruit-based simple syrup will stay in peak condition for up to six months in the freezer.
It is a good idea to split it into smaller batches first, so you don’t need to defrost it all at once when the time comes to use some.
Alternatively, freeze the excess fruit syrup in ice-cube trays — then, when cocktail hour arrives, all you need to do is pop a frozen cube of fruity sweetness directly into your drink!
Bear in mind that any fruit syrup with a high sugar content may not freeze solid, so ensure that any ice cube trays are stored on a flat surface inside the freezer.
It can be a good idea to pop the trays inside a secondary container, just in case they accidentally get knocked over!
Can you store simple syrup at room temperature?
A homemade simple syrup should be kept in the refrigerator to prevent mold and bacteria from multiplying. At room temperature, simple syrup can quickly become contaminated and unsafe to drink.
If your simple syrup is not crystal clear and free from particles or mold, it should be discarded.
The exception to this is if you have an unopened bottle of store-bought syrup, which will contain stabilizers to make it shelf-stable at room temperature.
Once the bottle has been opened it is more susceptible to contamination and should be kept in a cool place.
