To better understand how to store Jello properly, we have first to explore what makes up a Jello. Jello is typically made up of four essential ingredients—water, gelatin, food coloring, and artificial flavors or sweeteners. (<a href="https://www.onelovelylife.com/healthy-homemade-jello/">*</a>)<br><br>Among these ingredients, it's the gelatin (mainly the collagen it contains) that gives the Jello the potential to be molded into a different shape. The collagen is produced by boiling the hides and bones of other animals.

Can You Freeze Jello? (Everything You Need To Know!)

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Jello is a jiggly sweet treat that everyone loves. It’s a satisfying and refreshing dessert for kids and a versatile food item for adults. You can turn it into just about anything—salads, fillings, cakes, and many more!

That’s why it won’t come as a surprise that you’ll have lots of Jello powder in your pantry. However, while this powdered delight can last for long when stored correctly, it may not be the case for ready-made Jello, which can only last for a week in the refrigerator.

So what can you do if you plan on pre-making Jello shots for your party weeks in advance? Or what will you do when you make too much of your child’s favorite Jello cake? Can you freeze jello?

Short answer:

Yes, you can freeze Jello. However, don’t expect that the frozen Jello will have the same consistency and texture once thawed.

Keep on reading this article to know more about freezing jello.

What Happens When You Freeze Gelatin/ Jello?

Freezing Jello will alter its wobbly and smooth consistency because it damages the particles that bind the gelatin together, which will cause it to separate once it’s thawed.

Instead of freezing solid, your Jello will end up as a watery mess or sometimes an ice slush because the freezing process just undoes the effects of the boiling process performed to produce Jello in the first place.

How To Store Jello Properly

Since all its ingredients will be broken down, the freezing process also won’t prolong Jello’s’ shelf life, so it defeats the original purpose you have for freezing it.

With that said, what are the methods you can employ to store Jello and slow down its spoiling process properly? Here are some tips:

All types of Jello—packed, homemade, and dry Jello mix—should be placed in a cool and dry environment that’s safe from temperature change.
If you plan on storing prepared Jello, the best thing you can do is cover it in plastic wrap to protect it from air and moisture, which may hasten the spoiling process.
You can even add a layer of protection by placing the wrapped Jello in an airtight container before placing it in the refrigerator.
For storing prepared, packed Jellos, you should follow how to keep them in the place where you bought them. For example, if you’ve purchased the Jello from the stores’ refrigerator, you should also place the Jello in the fridge. If it’s just on the shelves, you can store it on your pantry shelf.

This is because temperature changes (warm to cold and cold to warm) may produce moisture. The presence of moisture inside your packed Jello will spoil your Jello and may cause mold to grow.

If you store unopened Jello in your pantry, ensure that the temperature won’t exceed 23 degrees Celsius. Hide it away from places with light, heat, and moisture.
When preparing homemade Jello, make sure to use only clean utensils to avoid contamination. Place the prepared Jello in an airtight container and refrigerate it right away to prevent the formation of moisture droplets.

How To Thaw Frozen Jello

There are a few ways to thaw frozen Jello.

The easiest way is to put it in the fridge and let it slowly thaw over time.
Another way is to place it in a bowl of warm water and let it thaw that way.
You can also microwave it, but be careful not to cook it.

Pro tip: the best way to make sure your Jello comes out correctly is to follow the instructions on the package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are more important information you need to know about freezing (or not freezing) Jello:

What is Jello?

To better understand how to store Jello properly, we have first to explore what makes up a Jello. Jello is typically made up of four essential ingredients—water, gelatin, food coloring, and artificial flavors or sweeteners. (*)

Among these ingredients, it’s the gelatin (mainly the collagen it contains) that gives the Jello the potential to be molded into a different shape. The collagen is produced by boiling the hides and bones of other animals.

Can Jello Go Bad?

Yes, it can. As mentioned, leftover Jello (whether it’s pre-made or homemade) will only last for a week when stored in the refrigerator. Leave it longer than that, and it will go rancid.

If you have Jello cups with fruits or fruity flavored Jello cups, it will get spoiled faster—only around 2 to 3 days—even if it’s stored properly in the fridge.

On the other hand, pre-packaged and unopened Jello cups can last for up to four months at room temperature and up to a year if placed inside the refrigerator.

How to know if Jello has gone bad?

The first sign that the Jello has already gone bad is a watery layer at its surface. Its taste will also change from sweet to bitter and give off a sharp foul smell.

And if there’s already a dark mold forming at the top portion of the Jello, discard it immediately.

How long can Jello last in the freezer?

As mentioned, the freezing process won’t delay the spoiling process, so even if you place Jello in the freezer, it will last for 7 to 10 days.

Can you put Jello shots in the freezer?

Jello shots are Jello mixed with alcoholic drinks and placed in shot glasses. While freezing Jello shots seems like a great idea (so you can prep for your parties ahead of time), you need to know that both the Jello and its alcohol content won’t freeze solid.

Freezing Jello shots will only break down Jello ingredients to be watery instead of frozen solid. On the other hand, alcohol has a much lower freezing point, so it won’t become solid when placed in a freezer.

Can you put Jello in the freezer so make it set faster?

When preparing homemade Jello, you need to allow it to set or harden by placing Jello in the fridge for a few hours. However, some people think that they can put it in the freezer so it can be set faster.

While it seems like a good idea, doing so may ruin your Jello project. This is because there’s a high chance that the watery edges of the Jello will freeze even before the center of the Jello sets.

To help set it faster, you can stir Jello in ice cubes instead of boiling water.

Can you put Jello into Popsicles?

Yes, you can. However, it won’t work on all Jello Types—only on Jello pudding. Nevertheless, you can enjoy the popsicles for up to three months when stored in the freezer if you do this.

Can you put Jello pudding in the freezer?

Jello pudding is one of the few Jello products that freeze well, same with popsicles, and this can also last for up to three months when frozen.

In Summary

Jello is a simple dessert to make and use in your recipes, but prolonging its shelf life is truly an entirely different story.

So can you freeze Jello? Of course, you can, but with all the issues surrounding freezing Jello, you shouldn’t. Leftover jellos can last for only up to 10 days when stored in the fridge. The excellent news is and unopened and sealed Jello packs can last longer if you keep them the right way.