How to Freeze Grapefruit, Including Juice, Zest, Segments, and Whole Fruit

When winter citrus hits its stride, grapefruit can pile up fast—especially if you’ve received a box of ruby reds as a holiday gift. The good news, says Jennifer Hillis, MS, RD, LD/N, registered dietitian and citrus nutrition research liaison at the University of South Florida, is that freezing grapefruit is not only possible, it’s also practical. Now is a good time to make some room in your freezer so you can freeze peak-season grapefruits, whether you want to preserve the juice, zest, segments, or even the whole fruit. Hillis explains the best way to freeze grapefruit and how long it lasts.

Why You Should Freeze Grapefruit—and How Long It Lasts

If you have more grapefruit than you can eat right now, freeze it, says Hollis. “Any kind of citrus (including fresh-squeezed citrus juice) will maintain its quality for up to six months in the freezer,” she says, adding that freezing won’t negatively impact flavor; instead, it will help it last much longer.

How to Freeze Whole Grapefruit

If you’re short on time, you can toss the fruit in whole. Hillis says to rinse the citrus skin, dry it with a clean kitchen towel, then pop it into a resealable bag and freeze it whole.

Pros and cons: Expect a longer thaw and a softer interior, but freezing the whole fruit uncut gives you the benefit of preserving the peel for zesting later.

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Freezing Grapefruit Segments

To end up with something more versatile than the whole fruit, peel and segment the grapefruit before freezing. You can freeze segments as-is, supremed, or sliced. Hillis often uses several approaches: “I prefer flash-freezing on a pan in several different forms so I can take out only what I need, when I need it.” (Flash-freezing keeps juicy grapefruit pieces from sticking together in the bag; once they're frozen, then you can transfer them to a bag.)

What About Juice?

Grapefruit juice freezes exceptionally well. Pour it into ice cube trays or a freezer-safe bag, leaving room for expansion—Hillis fills bags roughly two-thirds. Fresh juice keeps up to six months; bottled 100-percent grapefruit juice lasts up to 12 months.

Can You Freeze Grapefruit Zest?

Absolutely. “Freezing citrus zest does not intensify or dull the flavor—it preserves it,” Hillis says. Freeze zest the same way you would freeze segments: spread it on a sheet pan, let it firm up, then store it in an airtight container. Frozen peel offers nutritional benefits, including vitamin C, potassium, thiamin, and hesperidin, notes Hillis.

How to Use Thawed Grapefruit

Once thawed, use grapefruit within a few days. Take out only what you need to keep the rest at peak quality.

Freezing does change the texture of the fruit: Oce thawed, grapefruit becomes soft or “mushy-like,” which makes it ideal for drinks, compotes, and marinades, rather than snacking out of hand.

Hillis loves frozen-and-thawed grapefruit for “smoothies, baking and even for dressing, sauces and marinades for salads and main dishes.”