Freezing kiwis prolong their lifespan, they persevere longer and taste great in smoothies. However, simply throwing your kiwis into the freezer is a no-no! In this post, I’ll show you how to freeze kiwi for smoothies properly so that they keep their color, texture, and flavor.

Having a glass of frozen kiwi, pineapple, and banana smoothie on a hot summer day is extremely satisfying!

The creaminess and the tart, sweet, and tropical flavors of these three ingredients are heavenly. A must-try! Here are other ingredients you can add to your kiwi smoothies.

Can You Freeze Kiwis?

Yes! You can freeze kiwis for up to 6 months! They are preserved well when frozen correctly and are great for smoothies and sorbets.

Now it’s worth mentioning that frozen kiwis may taste a bit different than fresh kiwis but still provide the same vitamins and mineral profiles.

You could buy frozen kiwis from your local supermarket for your smoothies but homemade frozen kiwis have a touch of freshness to them and in my experience, taste better.

How To Freeze Kiwi For Smoothies

Here is my simple step-by-step process for freezing kiwis properly at home so that they don’t get freezer burns and preserve well for your smoothies.

Step 1- Choose The Right Kiwis

When choosing kiwis for your smoothies, you need to choose the ones that are just ripe. Your kiwi should not be over-ripe or under-ripe.

You should also make sure your kiwis don’t have tears, spots, or bruises. A perfect kiwi for smoothies should be slightly soft and give a little when squeezed

If a kiwi is over-ripe, it will burst open when you poke it with your fingertips. If it’s under-ripe, it will be hard and won’t give when poked.

Also, if your kiwis taste or smell like alcohol, it means that they have gone bad. They won’t taste great in smoothies.

Step 2 – Peel Your Kiwis

This step is optional since Kiwi skin has a ton of health benefits but for the perfect creamy kiwi smoothie, I recommend peeling your kiwis before freezing them.

Or else you may need to strain your smoothie after blending.

Step 3 – Slice Your Kiwis

You can get as creative as possible in this step but simply slicing your kiwis into circles or chunks after peeling them works!

Just make sure they are not too thick, 1-inch chunks or 1-centimeter slices are perfect sizes. They will blend easily with other liquid ingredients in your smoothies.

Step 4 – Flash Freeze Your Kiwis

Flash-freezing fruits and vegetables before freezing them helps preserve their color, flavor, and texture plus prevents them from sticking together when transferred to larger containers.

This process also preserves their nutrients longer.

To flash freeze your kiwis after cutting them, layer a baking tray or platter with parchment paper and place the kiwis in a single layer.

Place the tray in the freezer and let the kiwis freeze for 2-3 hours until frozen solid.

Step 5- Freeze Your Kiwis

Label a freezer-safe zip-lock bag or container with a date and transfer the kiwis into it. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn (discoloration and ice crystals).

I always use freezer bags for my fruits and vegetables.

A simple trick I use to get rid of all the air is to push the fruit to the bottom of the bag, flatten the rest of the bag, and roll the part with the fruit onto the empty side.

This releases all the air and once I’m satisfied, I lock the bag before flattening its content. Place your kiwis in the freezer and freeze.

How Long Can You Freeze Kiwi?

You can freeze kiwis for 3-6 months. However, I do not recommend freezing your kiwis for more than 3 months, especially for smoothies.

I found that if kept longer, kiwis lose their freshness and flavor plus they become slightly mushy.

Do I Need To Peel Kiwi Before Freezing?

No! You do not need to peel your kiwis before freezing them for smoothies. This step is completely optional and comes down to preference.

However, you will need to choose kiwis with golden or yellow skin and wash them properly before freezing them for your smoothies.

Can You Freeze Kiwi Whole?

Yes, you can but I don’t recommend freezing your kiwi whole for smoothies. It will be hard to blend and cutting it before freezing makes your life so much easier.

Try This Kiwi Spinach Smoothie! Also, this kiwi strawberry smoothie and learn about the amazing benefits of kiwis.

Conclusion

I hope you found this post helpful and don’t forget to save it for later if you did! You can also follow me on Pinterest for more helpful tips and smoothie recipes. I love hearing your thoughts so don’t be shy and hit me up in the comments below or contact me.