Can You Freeze Marshmallows?

Can You Freeze Marshmallows?

We all love marshmallows, don’t we? What’s not to love. You can roast them on a fire, you can melt them in your hot chocolate, and they make the perfect dipper for a chocolate fondue.

The only problem is that they sometimes come in large amounts that can’t be eaten all at once. And we don’t want to make ourselves sick by eating them all in one go, do we? But equally we don’t want to throw them away because that would be a terrible waste. What a conundrum!

So, the big question is can you freeze marshmallows? You will be happy to know that the answer is a resounding yes! You can freeze marshmallows, so there’s no need for any unwanted waste. Freezing them will also stop them from going bad or dissolving into a big sticky mess.

Putting marshmallows in the freezer is probably the best way to make them last longer. That’s because it reduces the amount of moisture the marshmallow is able to soak up. A marshmallow is filled with air pockets, which is how it absorbs the moisture that causes the marshmallow to collapse and lose its lovely bouncy consistency. Nobody wants to eat a flat sticky mound of sugar, do they?

So, to stop marshmallows from absorbing moisture and becoming less delicious than we want them to be, it is best to take action pretty soon after opening the bag.

How to Freeze Marshmallows

The good thing is that it’s really easy to freeze marshmallows. If you haven’t opened the bag yet you can just put your marshmallows straight in the freezer as they are. However, if you have opened the bag so you can snack on a sneaky few, then follow these steps to ensure your marshmallows are kept at their optimum freshness.

Step 1: Divide into Smaller Piles

Dividing your marshmallows into smaller piles means that the next time you’re in the mood to devour their spongy goodness you won’t have to defrost them all at once, you can just defrost the exact amount you need. Also, if you pack too many in one bag or container, they are likely to squish together.

Step 2: Airtight is Right

Make sure you put your marshmallows in an airtight Ziploc bag or container. It might also be a good idea to wrap them in aluminium foil before putting them in your bag or container for some extra added freshness.

Step 3: Label it

You should probably label your container or bag with the date you decide to put your marshmallows in the freezer. Whilst they usually have a long shelf life (they often keep between 6-12 months in an unopened bag), you shouldn’t really keep them in the freezer for any longer than 3-4 months.

Step 4: Dust with Sugar

This is optional but dusting your marshmallows with some powdered sugar before putting them in the freezer can help with keeping them fresh and it also stops them from sticking together. It’s a win-win situation.

How to Defrost your Frozen Marshmallows

So, what exactly is the correct protocol when defrosting your foamy treats?   

Basically, all you need to do is take your bag or container of marshmallows out of the freezer and leave them at room temperature for around 10-15 minutes. This should allow them enough time to fully defrost.

But the beauty of marshmallows is that you don’t have to let them fully defrost before using them again if you don’t want to. If you can’t wait for their sugary goodness any longer, you can add them to hot chocolate or begin toasting them immediately after removing them from the freezer.

If they happen to be sticking together once they have been defrosted, then fret not. All you need to do is add some more powdery sugar or even cornflour to the bag or container they have been stored in and give it a good shake. This will help to break them apart.

Does Freezing Marshmallows Effect their Taste?

The short answer is no. Whilst your marshmallows may potentially lose their original shape, if you follow the above instructions for freezing them, they should taste as great as they did before you froze them.

However, if marshmallows are left for a long time or are kept beyond their best-by date, they may begin to change. Usually marshmallows smell and taste very sweet. So, if you open a bag of them and can’t smell the sweetness, or you bite into one and it has become tasteless, then it is likely that your marshmallows have gone bad.

Also, when marshmallows are past their best-by date their texture begins to change and instead of being light and spongy they become quite hard or even extra chewy. Whilst this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t eat them, it is another sign that your marshmallows are beginning to spoil.

If you happen to store your marshmallows in a warm environment, they are likely to stick together and melt causing a big unwanted mess. Now I’m going to be honest with you, if they have wound up in this state it is probably better to get rid of them and buy yourself a new bag. 

Helpful Tips for your Frozen Marshmallows

  • Even when marshmallows are frozen, they are still relatively soft. This makes them perfect for making homemade ice packs. All you need to do is put them in a bag and then put them in the freezer for a few hours and voila!
  • If you do find that your marshmallows have begun to get hard, one thing you can do to resurrect them is to put a couple of slices of bread in the bag with them. The bread begins to soak up the moisture instead of the marshmallows and your marshmallows will become soft again within a couple of days.

What if I can’t Freeze my Marshmallows?

Whilst most people nowadays have a freezer that doesn’t mean their freezer has enough space to house multiple bags of marshmallows. But don’t worry, if you aren’t able to freeze them this time, you can always store them in a refrigerator.

If you do decide to do this it is even more important to dust the marshmallows with powdered sugar before storing. Whilst they won’t last as long as they would do in a freezer, it will still give you that bit of extra time to build up an appetite for them. And if you’re anything like me that won’t take very long.