Nutella, perhaps one of the most common guilty pleasures around the world. Unfortunately, I was sheltered from Nutella in my childhood and it wasn’t until I was in my late teens when I first tried it. I’m pretty sure I cried – from both the taste and figuring that my whole life had been a lie up until that point. Okay, perhaps it wasn’t that earth-shattering for me, but I was certainly in love with it from that point forward!
I replaced peanut butter with Nutella in pretty much everything and that was that. My peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were now Nutella and jelly sandwiches. When I had crepes, you bet, they were always with Nutella. So, for me, I never worried about freezing Nutella since it would be long gone anywhere near the time it may start to get bad – I don’t think a container lasted for longer than 2 weeks actually!
However, eating so much sugar – Nutella included – wasn’t exactly the healthiest practice. So, I actually did have a jar of Nutella I’d forgotten about when I kicked the Nutella habit. Since I was worried about it going bad I decided to freeze it.
Today I’ll be sharing with you everything that I’ve learned about freezing Nutella.
How to Freeze Nutella
I found that, yes, Nutella can be frozen. You can freeze it if you’re worried about it going bad, or if you want to use it for a particular reason while it’s frozen (more on that in a bit).
There are two different ways that you would most likely freeze Nutella: freezing it in the sealed (unopened) container, or in an open container.
Freezing Unopened Nutella
First, probably the best way to freeze Nutella is freezing it in an unopened container. This is because since it’s still vacuum sealed. It’ll keep its original texture a bit better and it will be less likely to have freezer burn. Freezing unopened nutella is very easy. All you need to do is label the jar so you know how for how long it has been in the freezer, and then simply place it in the freezer.
Freezing Opened Nutella
More likely though is that you want to freeze an already opened bottle of Nutella. This method has 2 possible options as well. You can freeze it in the original, opened jar. Or, you can take it out of the original container and transfer it to another one. You may want to do the latter if you won’t want to freeze and defrost the entire container. As with most other foods, you want to refrain from defrosting and refreezing.
The good news is that these two options are pretty much as simple as they sound.
In the Jar
If you freeze it in the container all you do is either put it the container straight into a ziploc freezer bag or a freezer-friendly Tupperware container that is big enough to allow for it. Before doing this however you should line the Nutella inside the jar with a layer of plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
It’s important to note that while Nutella usually comes in a plastic jar, if it comes in a glass jar then it’s recommended to transfer the Nutella to a different container before freezing. This is because plastic allows for the Nutella to expand without breaking the container. Glass on the other hand can break in the freezer.
In a Separate Container
If transferring to a separate container, you should pretty much do the same, except also scooping the Nutella out of the container and putting it into other containers. Likewise, with this method, you should put a layer of plastic wrap on the Nutella to prevent freezer burn.
The perk about taking it out of the container is that you can put it into smaller portions. So if you don’t plan on using it all at once then I would recommend doing it this way. You can defrost it bit by bit as needed.
For both of these methods, you should always label the containers so you know how long they have been in the freezer. This brings us to the next section.
How Long Will Nutella Last in the Freezer?
Nutella already can last for quite a long time outside of the freezer due to the high oil and sugar content. But, you can extend it even further by putting it in the freezer. However, freezing Nutella or even putting it in the fridge can negatively impact the creaminess of the food. That being said, I think it’s better to make a small sacrifice of slightly changing the taste and texture rather than throwing it out.
If you freeze it, it’s best to defrost it as soon as you can to keep the best quality of the Nutella.
It’s safe to eat frozen Nutella pretty much indefinitely. But the longer it’s in the freezer, the worse and worse it will get until it will eventually be likely unedible. I’d recommend keeping Nutella in the freezer for no more than 6 months to one year at the very most.
How to Defrost Frozen Nutella
How you defrost and then store it after you have defrosted it depends on if you have frozen it in an unopened container or a separate container.
If you froze the entire container unopened, then it’s super easy to defrost it. All you have to do is just put the container into the fridge and allow it to defrost. After it’s defrosted you don’t have to keep it in the fridge, and actually, it’s probably best that you don’t keep it in the fridge. That’s because it’s meant to be stored at in a cool and dark place such as a kitchen cupboard or pantry.
The place you store it should remain dry, cool, and dark. If the temperature fluctuates or there is a high level of humidity then the Nutella is at greater risk of becoming rancid quicker.
Also, when you open the container for the first time, you may need to stir the Nutella first as the oil and other parts may have separated in the freezing process.
If you’ve stored it in a Ziploc bag or other container, then the process for defrosting is a bit different.
To defrost the Nutella in a plastic bag then you should remove the Nutella from the plastic bag. Put in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Then place the bowl into the fridge.
If it’s in a Tupperware or similar type of container then you can just put that directly into the refrigerator. You should use the Nutella within a few days as there is an increased risk of bacteria with this method. This is another reason why if you freeze it in a different container, it should be in smaller-sized portions that you will use quickly.
Uses for Frozen Nutella
There are quite a few delicious uses for frozen Nutella. It’s probably no surprise that they’re all desert-related!
These ideas can be particularly tasty and refreshing in the summertime. So if you’re looking for a delicious way to cool down in the summer then you should definitely freeze your Nutella.
You can use it to make ice cream, milkshakes, fudgesicles, ice cream cake, or frozen yogurt. My personal favorite is these Nutella fudgesicles though. All you do is blend together milk and Nutella and then freeze them in a popsicle form and wait for the freeze, and there you have it! A super tasty summer treat.
Since Nutella isn’t quite as good after it has been frozen and defrosted, using it as an ingredient in a frozen dessert is a great way to enjoy the sweet and creamy goodness of Nutella without noticing that it’s not quite as good as it is fresh like you would if you eat it by itself.
How to Tell if Nutella Has Gone Bad
This would be a tragedy if it happens to you, so I hope that you don’t experience what it’s like throwing away a half-full jar of Nutella. It’s pretty horrible. But it’s better to discard a rancid jar of Nutella than to eat it. While it’s not very likely that it will make you sick, the taste of rancid Nutella may put you off of eating it again.
So, to check if the Nutella has gone bad you can simply just use your senses.
If it’s gone bad then you will be able to smell a bad aroma. It will also start to become hard and dry. Lastly, if you notice mold, of course, it’s bad and needs to be thrown away.
While it’s probably unlikely that something as delicious as Nutella would go bad as you will likely eat quickly enough (perhaps too quickly) it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Can You Freeze Nutella on Strawberries?
Yes! You can definitely freeze Nutella-covered strawberries. This is actually a great (and simple) summertime treat. Strawberries dipped or covered in Nutella are super simple to make.
It’s similar to chocolate-dipped frozen bananas (which you can also do with Nutella by the way). You don’t want to freeze them for too long, just long enough to harden the Nutella and to not completely freeze the strawberries. Bon appetit!
