Can You Freeze Banana Pudding?

Yes, you can freeze banana pudding for 2 to 4 weeks. However, you should be aware that due to the high water content when it is defrosted the texture may not be as rich. Also, the bananas can tend to get mushy and brown due to oxidization.

How to Freeze Banana pudding

Banana pudding is a super delicious rich and flavorful dessert that is comprised of vanilla pudding, bananas, vanilla wafers and whipped cream. Though it is best eaten within a few days of making it, if you've made too much or made it ahead of an event you can freeze it for a short period of time.

Before freezing banana pudding you should be aware that it will have some texture and quality degradation. The high water content in the pudding will cause it to lose some of its richness once thawed. This is due to the way that water crystallizes when frozen.

Additionally, bananas as you may know, experience oxidization when exposed to the air. So, your banana slices will get brown and mushy once frozen. Well this doesn't make them inedible, it does make them unsightly.

Okay, now that we've covered some of the potential issues you might run into when freezing your banana pudding, let's talk about how you can freeze it and still maintain is much quality as possible.

The methods used are similar to those used when freezing jello, freezing pancake batter and freezing pudding.

Prepare it

If you are making homemade banana pudding, make sure that as you start out you drizzle some lemon juice on each of your banana slices.

Doing this will help to prevent some of the oxidation that the banana goes through when being frozen.

Unfortunately, if you are freezing store-bought banana pudding you won't be able to prevent any of the bananas from oxidizing.

Cool it

Next, once your banana pudding is made, make sure that it is thoroughly cooled. Then you can get to work freezing it.

Portion it

Decide if you want to freeze your banana pudding all together or in individual servings. If you're freezing an individual servings, you can wrap each serving in plastic wrap first.

Pack it

Take your banana pudding and place it into an airtight container or a freezer bag.

If using a freezer bag, make sure to squeeze all of the air out of it before fully sealing it.

If using an airtight container you can place one layer of plastic wrap over the top of the pudding before you put the top on the container to give an extra layer of protection.

Label and Freeze it

Label your bag or container with the date and then place your banana pudding into the freezer.

Tips for freezing banana pudding

• Do it Fresh. Freeze it as freshest possible so that it is frozen at maximum quality.
• Add Lemon. To prevent bananas from oxidizing by adding some lemon juice to each slice.
• Seal out Air. Make sure that you use a completely airtight container to help maintain maximum freshness.
• Make popsicles. If you want to avoid the degradation and texture when you saw your banana pudding, freeze your banana pudding into pops and eat it frozen. To do this, put dollops of banana pudding into an ice cube tray and you can even put a popsicle or lollipop stick in it to freeze it.

Supplies/Equipment Needed:

• Ziploc Bags
• Plastic Wrap
• Aluminum Foil
• Marker or Pen
• Airtight Freezer Container

How to Defrost banana pudding

The best way to defrost banana pudding is slowly and without a drastic temperature change. To do this, simply place it into your refrigerator the night before you would like to use it.

Once it sits overnight in the refrigerator, it should be thoroughly defrosted by the next day. If you froze it in bulk, it may take a little longer than 8 hours to get all the ice out of it.

If, you chose to freeze a small individual servings, you can pull out one serving at a time and defrost in the refrigerator. These should take a shorter amount of time to thaw and you can do it during the day.

If you're looking to speed up the defrosting, you can place the container of frozen banana pudding into a room temperature container of water. However, you need to make sure that it is not warmer than room temperature. Also, this can cause further degradation in texture.

Make sure not to use hot water or a microwave when defrosting your banana pudding. Both methods can lead to unsavory results.

Freezing Banana Pudding FAQ

How long does banana pudding last in the freezer?

Banana pudding doesn't freeze super well and should only be kept in the freezer about 2 to 4 weeks before using. While you can't keep it in the freezer longer, the longer it's frozen the more degradation and texture and quality you will experience.

How long does banana pudding last in the fridge?

Banana pudding last around 3 to 5 days max in the fridge and that's if it is stored properly.

Does homemade pudding freeze well?

Homemade pudding can be frozen, but it does not freeze super well due to the high water content.

Can you refreeze banana pudding?

No, you should not refreeze banana pudding. The multiple temperature changes lead to a less safe food and will also seriously degrade the texture and quality.

Can you freeze bananas to make pudding later?

Yes, you can freeze bananas to make pudding later. However, they will lose a little quality being frozen and you should make sure that you spritz them with some lemon juice before freezing.