Can You Freeze Pumpkin Puree?

Last updated on October 5th, 2022 at 12:15 pm

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing colors and the world is dressed in yellow, orange and red. The weather has a crisp smell to it that only fall brings. It’s time for cozy sweaters and bonfires. 

Everywhere you look you see apple and pumpkin flavored food and drinks. Many begin baking and what better autumn treat than something with a little bit of pumpkin? An ingredient called pumpkin puree can be used to make some wonderful desserts. 

After most of you baking is completed for the week, its possible you have leftover puree. Saving it would be perfect so you can have it on hand to use in the upcoming weeks for more delicious dishes. 

Can you freeze pumpkin puree?

Freezing pumpkin puree is a great way to save it for future use. If stored properly it will last for about 6 months in the freezer.

Pumpkin puree is a cooked pumpkin that is blended or mashed in a food processor to create a smooth pulp. It can be roasted, sauteed, steamed, or boiled. When cooking pumpkin puree using different methods, it will change the flavor of it. 

When a recipe asks for canned pumpkin, know that canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. The two terms are used interchangeably as well as the term solid-pack pumpkin. 

You can store pumpkin puree in the refrigerator for a week. If you need more long term storage, the freezer is your best bet. 

To freeze, remove the leftover puree from the can and put it in a glass or plastic freezer container with a lid that is tight and can seal well. Or you can put the pumpkin puree in freezer bags and to save some space you can lay these bags flat on a baking tray until they are frozen. 

Either way make sure you remove all the air from the container or bag. Once frozen they will be easy to stack or be placed side by side. 

For some diy pumpkin flavored baby food, you can freeze the pumpkin puree in ice cube trays. Just let the puree freeze then pop it out of the ice cube tray and store in a freezer bag.

Does Pumpkin Puree Freeze Well? 

If you end up with a lot of extra pumpkin puree after you are through baking and cooking with it, try freezing it to use later. Because you want it to still be good when you go to use it weeks or maybe months later, you may be asking, does pumpkin puree freeze well?

Pumpkin puree does freeze well and will still be good if it is stored correctly.

Fall is such an exciting time of year. The weather is nice and the smells of desserts are delightful. If you love pumpkin then you know that fall means it’s time for everything pumpkin! It’s the time you experiment making all kinds of pumpkin dessert and food. 

Chances are you have used pumpkin puree for some sort of recipe already. Pumpkin puree is used in making many pumpkin pie desserts. 

The fastest and easiest way to use pumpkin puree is to buy cans of it at the store. If you enjoy a little homemade pumpkin, you can make this wonderful ingredient yourself at home too. 

Homemade pumpkin puree can make a big difference in your recipes because it will be fresh and taste better than the canned puree. It really isn’t hard at all to get that tasty orange food. 

Just preheat your oven, slice the pumpkin, scoop  out the seeds, roast the pumpkin, and then blend the pumpkin. And there you have it! Fresh and delicious pumpkin puree all homemade by you. 

You can use this puree for all kinds of recipes. With pumpkin puree you can make anything from pies, muffins, ice cream, oatmeal, and pancakes, to soup, pasta sauce, and smoothies. After you are done using the puree in your recipes, freeze it to save it for later. It will freeze well and still taste good when you use it within 6 months. 

How Do You Defrost Frozen Pumpkin Puree? 

Now that you have made and frozen your pumpkin puree, you have it in your freezer for wherever you want to use it to make a yummy pumpkin treat. When you do want to use it, how do you defrost pumpkin puree?

You can defrost pumpkin puree in the refrigerator or in the microwave. For best results thaw it in the fridge. 

Sometimes you may begin a pumpkin puree recipe thinking you need more than you actually do and when you’re finished you have opened cans of unused puree sitting on your counter. In this case, follow the steps mentioned in this article to freeze the pumpkin puree and save it for a later date. 

The first way you can defrost pumpkin puree is to place the frozen bag of pumpkin goodness in the fridge for a few hours. The second way to defrost pumpkin puree is to use the defrost button on the microwave. 

After it is thawed, you will have a bit of liquid on the top. Just use a spoon to mix the pumpkin puree up and it will be as good as new!

Making homemade pumpkin puree can be fun! The homemade orange pumpkin cream will also taste delicious. If you will be making your own homemade pumpkin puree and want it to taste delicious, be sure to pick the right kind of pumpkins. Color, flavor, and texture can vary slightly depending on what pumpkin you use. 

Pumpkins you should use for baking or cooking are more round and orange in color. They are sweeter and creamier in their texture unlike the large carving pumpkins. 

Some specific kinds of pumpkins that are ideal for baking and cooking are Autumn gold, Baby Pam, Ghost Rider, Cinderella, or Lumina. 

Final Thoughts

Fall is pumpkin time! The crisp air and coziness of the season gets you in the mood to make some pumpkin flavored desserts. If you have too much left over from your baking and cooking, you can freeze pumpkin puree! 

Just place it in freezer containers or freezer bags and save until you wish to use it. Now you can enjoy pumpkin puree for up to 6 months. 

To thaw the pumpkin puree just place it in the fridge for a few hours or the microwave on the defrost setting. 

Be sure and choose the right kind of pumpkins for your pumpkin puree and when it comes time to store some of it long-term, make sure you freeze it properly. Freezing pumpkin puree will preserve it so you can use it for your favorite pumpkin recipes later.