Can You Freeze Nutella – The Best Way
While it’s highly unlikely the hazelnut spread will last in any home long enough to require freezing, there are some people who are still curious whether or not you can freeze Nutella.
The answer is yes, you can freeze Nutella. Because of the high oil content, the chocolate-hazelnut delight will last safely for 6 months or more, as long as it’s stored in an airtight container out of direct heat and sunlight.
You don’t even have to refrigerate it. But if you have your reasons for hiding it in the freezer, there are a few simple precautions you can take to make sure it comes out just as delicious as it goes in.
How to Freeze Nutella – Best Practices
The only reason we can think of that you’ll need to freeze Nutella is if you buy an entire case of jars to enjoy the bulk discount on a product that you’re definitely going to use over time.
If this is your situation, the best thing you can do is put the unopened jars directly into your freezer. They’re packaged for long-term storage, so they’ll stay perfectly sealed in your freezer like this.
If you’ve opened a jar and you don’t think you’ll be able to use it all before it goes, you can still freeze it. It’s best to take it out of the container at this point and either scoop it into a freezer-friendly Ziploc bag or a freezer-friendly Tupperware container.
If you choose the bag, it might be a bit more difficult to get in at first, but much easier to make sure all the air is removed before you freeze it, which is key.
If you put it into a Tupperware container, you might want to line the surface with plastic wrap before putting the lid on tight. This will protect it from crystalizing and getting freezer burn.
How to Thaw Frozen Nutella
If you have a brand new, unopened container of Nutella in your freezer, you should be able to simply take it out and let it thaw in your refrigerator. Make sure it’s completely defrosted before you open it.
It may need a good stir because the oils might have separated in the freezing process, but otherwise, it should be good as new! You don’t have to store it indefinitely in your fridge, but it will actually last longer in a cool, dark cupboard once it’s thawed and opened.
If you’ve frozen Nutella in a Ziploc bag, you can peel the bag away from the frozen spread and put it into a bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it defrost in your fridge.
If you’ve frozen your Nutella in a Tupperware container, you can let that defrost in your fridge as well, just keep it covered until it’s completely thawed.
When your Nutella is entirely thawed, you’ll want to use a whisk or hand mixer to blend it back together into a nice, smooth spread.
Because of all the air exposure, there’s a higher risk for bacteria so it’s best to keep the Nutella in your fridge from here on out and use it within the next few days.
Using Frozen Nutella as a Dessert
If your reasons for freezing Nutella have nothing to do with storage and everything to do with having a delicious cold treat at your fingertips, then there are a few other things you should know about freezing this nutty, chocolatey spread.
First off, Nutella actually sells its spread as mini-cups, which are single-serving little pods.
If you throw these in the freezer they make an incredible, cool treat that’s similar to a little hazelnut frozen chocolate bar bite. It’s the perfect after-dinner treat on a warm summer evening.
You can also melt Nutella, use it as a dip for fruit like strawberries or apple slices and then freeze them.
Also, perfect in the summer, you’re getting yourself a guilt-free snack that kids and adults around the block will be lining up for.
A great way to wean an ice cream fanatic onto something a little more nutritious is to cut a banana in half and stick a popsicle stick in each of them then put the bananas in the freezer.
Once they’re frozen, use a spatula to smother them in Nutella and then roll them around in sprinkles, crushed nuts or ground coconut. Yum.
One final way to freeze Nutella is to create your own take on a fudgesicle. Blend together 1 cup of Nutella with 1 cup of milk. When it’s mixed well, put it into a popsicle mold and freeze until it’s totally solid. After 4 – 5 hours you’ll have the most incredible frozen treat you’ve ever tasted.
How to Tell if Your Nutella Has Gone Bad
Although Nutella will last up to a year when stored properly, under certain conditions it can still go bad. The oil content will help keep bacteria from growing but, over time, will go rancid. While that’s not life-threatening, it doesn’t taste great so you’ll definitely want to avoid it if possible.
If it’s kept out in the open, exposed to fluctuating temperatures or sunlight, it will go rancid faster, so make sure you keep it in a nice cool, covered cupboard.
Products that are high in oil will naturally separate over time. This doesn’t mean your Nutella has gone bad, it just means it needs a good stir. However, if it smells bad or has any unexpected discoloration, you’ll want to toss it.
Over time, Nutella will also harden. This takes a while and, by the time it’s too hard to use, it will probably also have lost most of its delicious flavor, so it’s time for a new jar.
Finally, if your jar of Nutella has been forgotten at the back of your cupboard for literally years, it might just be a good idea to splurge for a new jar and get rid of the old one.
Make Your Own Nutella
Nutella is technically a brand, so what you’ll actually be making here is your own chocolate hazelnut spread. It’s easy and delicious and can be made on demand, further eliminating your need to freeze this delightful treat.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 C of roasted hazelnuts
- 1 ½ Tbsp cocoa powder + 1 ½ Tbsp maple syrup
- OR 1/4 C melted dark chocolate
All you have to do is make nut butter out of your hazelnuts, which requires a food processor and some patience. You’ll need to blend and scrape the sides of the processor many times until you get a fairly smooth texture.
Once you’re 90% happy with the texture, you can add your cocoa and syrup or melted chocolate. Keep blending this together until you are 100% happy with the final, glossy smoothness of your spread.
If you need to, you can add a bit of water while you’re blending everything together, to get it silky smooth. Go slow adding the water though, because the more you blend the smoother it will get naturally, and you don’t want to add too much water to end up with a soupy, still lumpy hazelnut spread.
Patience really is a virtue when it comes to making any kind of homemade nut butter.
Related Questions
Can You Freeze Peanut Butter?
Sure, you can freeze peanut butter, but why would you need to? This healthy treat’s high oil content and low moisture levels make it very shelf-stable, meaning it will keep well in your cupboard or fridge without the necessity of freezing.
If you’d like to, however, you can pop it in your freezer and take it out again to find it as fresh as when you first put it in.
Can You Freeze Jelly?
Jelly will freeze, but when you thaw it out it will become quite watery and not have the solid, jiggly consistency that it’s prized for. This is the fault of the gelatin, which is most commonly used in jelly.
If you have vegan-friendly products that use fruit pectin or carrageenan for the congealing effect, then it will probably freeze with better results, but it’s best to test a small amount before freezing anything of critical importance.
Can You Freeze Pesto?
You can definitely freeze pesto, and it makes for a fabulous surprise dinner guests rescue plan! Our favorite way to freeze pesto is the flash freeze method.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spread out your leftover pesto into a thin layer.
Put it in your freezer until it’s frozen solid, but don’t forget about it! If you leave it too long it will start to pick up unwanted freezer flavors and moisture crystals.
Once it’s frozen solid you can snap it into pieces and put it into freezer-safe Ziploc bags. Because it’s frozen in thin sheets, you’ll be able to chip off the perfect amount for use whenever you need it!
