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How to Make & Freeze Fruit Salad
- Kelsey Henry
- Jan 12
- 6 min read
Hey there, fruit lovers! 🍓
Are you ready to dive into the juicy world of fruit salad? Whether you're prepping for a picnic, looking for a refreshing snack, or just wanting to add a splash of color to your day, fruit salad is your go-to solution.
But wait—have you ever thought about making a big batch and freezing it for later?
Imagine having a delicious, healthy treat ready to go whenever the craving strikes. Sounds pretty great, right? In this post, we'll walk you through the simple steps to create a mouthwatering fruit salad and share tips on how to freeze it so you can enjoy its goodness anytime.
So, grab your favorite fruits, and let's get chopping! 🍓🍍🥝
What fruits do you need for a fruit salad?
The beauty of fruit salad is that you can make it really any way that you want. Love strawberries but don’t like blackberries? No problem! Are strawberries too expensive? Forget them! You can customize your salad to your heart’s desire.
Here are a few fun combinations to try:
Tropical Paradise: Strawberry, Orange, Mango, Pineapple, Kiwi and Dragonfruit
Berry Nice: Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Cherry and Blueberry
Pretty Picnic: Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Blueberry, and Cherry
Fourth of July: Watermelon, Blueberry, Cherry, Blackberry and Mint
Experiment with your favorite fruits!
Tip: If you want to use apples, cut to the desired size and then soak for 5-10 minutes in a bowl of salted water. Rinse and add to your recipe. This will keep them from browning in the fridge and freezer.
Tip: I usually leave out bananas when I freeze fruit salad and add them in fresh as desired. Frozen bananas can be mushy as they thaw and change the texture of the salad. The color is also nicer when fresh.
How to save money on fruit
I know what you’re thinking... But fruit is expensive! 😭
It definitely can be, but don’t worry. Grocery stores have deals on fruit every single week. Below are some of my favorite fruit savings tips.
Shop the weekly ad
Is Pineapple your fav? Well, when the grocery store advertises 99 cent pineapples, stock up! Use a nifty pineapple tool and dice those pieces to your heart’s content. Throw them in the freezer until needed. When you want some, thaw it on the counter, in the fridge, or a few seconds at a time in the microwave.
Use grocery store coupons
Kroger will regularly have coupons for 99 cent berries. You can use this coupon up to 5 times in a transaction. When this happens, I stock up on all the berries, cut them up, and freeze them for later.
Tip: Download the app for all of your local grocery stores. Sign up for a rewards account and check for deals weekly. Most grocery store weekly ads come out on Wednesdays.
Use the cheapest fruit
If raspberries are outrageously high this week, don’t use them! There are so many fruits out there. Use the cheapest ones you can get right now. Next time, the cheapest options may be different. It keeps life interesting!
Use expensive fruit sparingly
I love to add a pop of excitement to my fruit salad with dragonfruit, but it’s pricey. To stretch it out, I just use less of it. Instead of using a whole dragonfruit in big fruit salad, use half and freeze the rest for next time.
Buy frozen
Sometimes frozen fruit is the best price. Thaw and use in your fruit salad as is, or cut it up after it thaws.
How to make fruit salad
Okay, you’ve got the best price on your favorite fruits. Now what?
It’s really quite easy. 😍
For this tutorial, I made my Pretty Picnic Fruit Salad.
Ingredient List:
Strawberries
Blueberries
Red grapes
Cherries
Clementines
Lime or a bottle of lime juice
Agave (Optional)
Use as much or as little of each fruit as you like. Cherries are usually more expensive, so I use them sparingly.
Instructions:
Wash your fruit in a colander and peel your clementines.
Cut fruit to your personal preference. I like a finely diced fruit salad. You may like a chunky one. Up to you!
Combine all of the fruit in a bowl and stir to mix.
A little at a time, add 1 tbsp lime juice to the mixture and stir. This will help preserve the fruit and add a little tang. If desired, add 1 tbsp of agave or sweetener to taste.
Try a bite. Want more tang? Add more lime. Want more sweet? Add more agave. Keep in mind that the flavor of the fruit salad will enhance the longer the mixture sits, so you don’t need to add much.
That’s it! Pop the bowl in the fridge and let the flavors mix together into a big pile of deliciousness!
Eat within a few days for optimal freshness. If you have extra, proceed to instructions for freezing!
How to freeze fruit salad
Let your mixture sit in the fridge overnight. The next day, follow these instructions:
Easy method:
Pour the fruit salad into a plastic or reusable bag.
Flatten and freeze.
When ready to thaw, break off a piece, put it in a container, and thaw overnight in the fridge.
OR
Portioned method:
Put a silicone cupcake tray on a baking sheet.
Fill each cupcake mold with equal amounts of fruit salad.
Freeze until solid.
Pop frozen fruit salad out of the molds and put them all in a bag. Each mold equals one serving.
When ready to thaw, grab as many servings as you need, put them in a container, and thaw overnight in the fridge.
How to use frozen fruit salad
Besides thawing and devouring as is, what else can you do with a frozen fruit salad?
Here are some delicious ideas:
Make a fruity salad. Top your go-to greens with fruit salad, seeds, and a fruity salad dressing. Yum!
Top your oatmeal, chia pudding, pancakes, waffles, and more!
Make adorable fruit dessert tarts.
Add to plant-based ice cream or nice cream!
Thaw and take to a party! Oh this dish? It took sooo much time to throw together 😜
Cost Breakdown
The cost of fruit salad can vary, depending on prices in your area and which fruit you buy. For this breakdown, I'll use my Pretty Picnic. I will also compare sale prices vs. average prices for my area.
Sale Prices:
Strawberries - 49 cents (99 cents/lb)
Blueberries - 49 cents (99 cents/lb)
Red grapes - 49 cents ($1.99 /2 lb)
Cherries - $1.50 ($5.99/2 lb)
Clementines - 40 cents ($2.99/3 lb)
Bottle of lime juice - 4 cents ($1.24/15 oz)
Agave (Optional) - 30 cents $4.88/lb
Total for 12 servings: $3.71
Per serving (1 cupcake mold): 30 cents!
Regular Prices:
Strawberries - $2.04 ($4.09/lb)
Blueberries - $1.49 ($2.99/lb)
Red grapes - 99 cents ($3.99/2 lb)
Cherries - $2.19 ($8.78/2 lb)
Clementines - 52 cents ($3.95/3 lb)
Bottle of lime juice - 4 cents ($1.24/15 oz)
Agave (Optional) - 30 cents ($4.88/lb)
Total for 12 servings: $10.27
Per serving (1 cupcake mold): 85 cents!
Delicious fruit salad can be yours for only 30-85 cents per serving!
As you can see from this breakdown, sale prices make a huge difference. Stock up when your favorite fruit is on sale. Chop it up and freeze it for later.
Also, consider that you may have to buy more fruit than you need for this recipe. Double up this recipe or find other creative uses for your leftover fruit.
And there you have it, folks—your ultimate guide to making and freezing fruit salad! Who knew that a simple mix of nature's candy could be this easy and delicious, right? Now, you've got a colorful, nutritious, and oh-so-tasty treat ready to enjoy at a moment’s notice.
Perfect for those sunny picnics, spontaneous brunches, or just a refreshing snack after a long day. So, why not grab some fresh fruits and give it a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
Remember, when life gives you fruits, make a fruit salad—and freeze it for later! If you have any fun fruit combos or tips of your own, I’d love to hear them. Share your fruity adventures in the comments below. Until next time, keep it fresh and fruity! 🍉🥝🍓
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