One thing I realized after our jujube trees started producing more fruit each year is that there’s only so many fresh jujubes a family can eat in one sitting.
That’s not really a complaint.
It’s actually one of the best problems to have.
After spending months watching the fruit develop, it’s exciting to finally have more than enough to enjoy.
Naturally, that got me wondering…
Can you freeze jujubes?
The answer is yes.
Freezing is one of the easiest ways to preserve your harvest if you can’t eat everything fresh right away.
Even though we usually eat a surprising number straight from the tree, it’s nice knowing there are simple ways to save the rest for later.
If you’re still learning about this unique fruit, I’d recommend starting with What Is a Jujube Fruit and What Does It Taste Like? before deciding how you’d like to preserve your harvest.
Why Freeze Jujubes?
Fresh jujubes keep longer than many fruits, but they still won’t last forever.
Eventually every harvest reaches the point where you need to either eat them, preserve them, or share them.
Freezing lets you enjoy fruit long after the season has ended.
It’s also one of the simplest preservation methods because you don’t need any specialized equipment.
Freeze Them at the Right Time
One thing I’ve learned from growing fruit is that preservation starts with harvesting.
Don’t freeze damaged fruit.
Don’t freeze moldy fruit.
And don’t freeze fruit that’s still immature unless you have a specific reason for doing so.
I like starting with the best fruit I have because that’s usually what gives the best results later.
If you’re still deciding when to harvest, How Do You Know When a Jujube Is Ripe? Signs It’s Ready explains the stages I look for every season before picking ours.
Should You Freeze Them Whole?
You certainly can.
Freezing whole jujubes is quick, easy, and works well if you haven’t decided how you’ll use them later.
Just remember they’ll take a little longer to thaw before using.
If you’re planning to add them to recipes, slicing them before freezing may be more convenient.
Wash Them First
I usually recommend washing fresh fruit before freezing.
After rinsing, dry the fruit thoroughly with a clean towel.
Removing excess moisture helps reduce ice crystals from forming on the outside.
It’s a simple step, but it helps maintain better quality.
Remove the Pit or Leave It?
This mostly comes down to how you plan to use them.
If you’ll be eating them as snacks later, leaving the pit inside is perfectly fine.
If you’re planning recipes, removing the pit ahead of time can save a lot of work later.
Personally, I’d probably freeze some both ways.
Will Freezing Change the Texture?
Yes.
That’s true with almost every fruit.
Fresh jujubes have a crisp bite that’s one of my favorite things about them.
After freezing and thawing, they won’t have quite that same crunch.
That’s completely normal.
Even so, they’re still excellent for many recipes where texture isn’t the main focus.
My Favorite Way to Enjoy Jujubes
I’ll be honest…
Even though freezing works well, I still prefer eating them fresh whenever possible.
There’s something special about walking out to our Honey Jar and Sugar Cane trees, picking fruit that’s just reached my favorite stage of ripeness, and eating it right there under the tree.
That’s hard to beat.
If you’ve noticed your fruit beginning to wrinkle before you can eat it all, don’t assume you’ve waited too long. In fact, I often prefer those fruits because of how much sweeter they’ve become. I explain why in Why Are My Jujubes Wrinkled? Are They Still Good to Eat?.
Label Everything
One habit that’s helped us over the years with every kind of frozen produce is labeling the bags.
Write down:
- The date.
- The fruit variety if you’re freezing more than one.
- Whether the fruit is whole or sliced.
It only takes a few seconds and makes it much easier to know what you’re pulling out of the freezer months later.
Other Ways to Preserve Jujubes
Freezing isn’t your only option.
Depending on how you enjoy them, you can also:
- Dry them.
- Make jam.
- Make jelly.
- Turn them into fruit butter.
- Brew tea from dried fruit.
As we continue experimenting with our own harvests here on the farm, I’ll be sharing those methods too so you can see what works best for us.
My Advice
If this is your first year growing jujubes, don’t overthink preserving them.
Eat plenty fresh.
Share some with friends.
Freeze a few bags.
Experiment a little.
That’s exactly how we’ve been learning ourselves.
Every harvest teaches us something new, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most about growing unusual fruits.
If you’re interested in more firsthand experiences from our orchard, you might also enjoy How Long Do Fresh Jujubes Last? Here’s What I’ve Found and What Can You Make With Fresh Jujubes? 15 Delicious Ways to Use Your Harvest. Together, these guides will help you get the most out of every jujube your tree produces.
About the Author
Daxon Weaver is the owner of Weaver Family Farms Produce, where he shares firsthand experiences growing fruit, harvesting seasonal crops, and helping others enjoy the rewards of homegrown food on a family farm.
