How to Freeze Wellness Shots in an Ice Cube Tray

You can freeze wellness shots in an ice cube tray. Make the shot, strain it, pour it into a silicone tray, and freeze until solid, usually overnight. Move the cubes to a freezer bag and use them within about 3 months for the best flavor. To drink one, thaw a cube in the fridge for a few hours, or drop it into hot water for a warm shot. It turns a 2-day fridge drink into a month of ready shots from one session.

Why freeze wellness shots at all?

Fresh homemade juice is unpasteurized, so it belongs in the fridge and is best within about 2 days. That is awkward for a daily habit, because you either squeeze citrus every morning or make a batch that goes flat by day three. Freezing solves both problems. You do the squeezing and straining once, and you get single portions you can pull out whenever you want. Cold storage also slows the flavor and color loss that happens as juice sits.

What you need

• A silicone ice cube tray, ideally with a lid. Silicone releases cubes easily and does not crack.
• A fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag. Straining before freezing prevents ginger fibers and pulp from ending up in your shot.
• A freezer bag or airtight container for storing the cubes once they are solid.
• A marker, to write the recipe and date on the bag.

Step by step

1. Make the shot as written, but skip the optional last-minute extras. If you are using honey, stir it in until it dissolves so it distributes evenly.
2. Strain it well. Press the ginger and pulp so you lose as little liquid as possible. A smooth liquid freezes into clean cubes.
3. Measure your tray. Cube sizes vary a lot. Fill one cell with water, pour it into a measuring spoon, and note how many tablespoons it holds. Many trays hold about 2 tablespoons, which is a 1 ounce cube, so two cubes make a standard 2 ounce shot. Large silicone cells often hold about 2 ounces on their own.
4. Pour the juice into the tray and fill each cell evenly. Cover the tray, or lay a piece of parchment or wax paper over the top.
5. Freeze until solid, typically 4 hours, and overnight to be safe.
6. Pop the cubes out and move them into a labeled freezer bag. Press out the air before sealing.

Freeze the juice while it is fresh. The sooner it goes in the freezer after squeezing, the more of its bright flavor survives.

Which wellness shots freeze well?

Shot	Freezes well?	Notes
Triple citrus ginger	Yes	Strain well, freeze in 1 ounce cubes
Blood orange ginger	Yes	Color holds up nicely
Lemon ginger cayenne	Yes	Stir before pouring, since cayenne settles
Mandarin ginger	Yes	Sweetest and mildest
Pineapple lemon ginger	Yes	Strain thoroughly to avoid fibers
Green lime	Yes, with a catch	The bright green fades, so use within a month
Warm honey lemon ginger	Partly	Freeze the ginger honey base without the lemon, add fresh lemon after thawing
Lemon olive oil	No	Oil and juice separate

How to thaw and serve frozen shots

• Cold shot: put 1 to 2 cubes in a small covered glass in the fridge for a few hours, or take a cube out in the morning and let it thaw while you get ready. Stir before drinking.
• Warm shot: place a cube in a mug and pour hot water over it. This is a nice way to make a warm ginger drink in a minute.
• Fizzy drink: drop a cube into a glass of sparkling water and let it melt for a quick cooler.
• Ice for tea: a frozen citrus ginger cube in iced green or black tea flavors it as it melts.

Thaw only what you will drink. Once a cube melts, treat it like fresh juice: keep it cold and use it within a couple of days. The USDA notes that thawed food has to be handled like any perishable item, because microbes become active again once the food is no longer frozen.

How long do they keep?

According to the USDA, food stored constantly at 0 degrees F stays safe indefinitely, and the recommended storage times are about quality. For the best flavor from a citrus ginger cube, aim to use it within about 3 months. Older cubes are still safe, but the bright, fresh taste fades and they can pick up freezer odors, especially if the bag is not sealed well.

Common mistakes

Freezing before straining. Ginger fibers and pulp end up in every cube. Strain first.

Using a flimsy tray without a lid. Frozen juice picks up the smells of whatever else is in the freezer. Cover the tray, then move cubes into a sealed bag.

Skipping the label. Frozen yellow cubes all look the same after a month. Write the recipe and date on the bag.

Thawing at room temperature all day. Use the fridge, or a short time on the counter just before drinking. Homemade juice is unpasteurized, and the UConn food safety guidance notes that children, pregnant women, older adults, and chronically ill people should avoid unpasteurized juice.

Freezing grapefruit shots without a warning. If you freeze a grapefruit shot, the medication caution still applies. Read our guide to grapefruit and medication before drinking one.

The bottom line

Freezing is the easiest way to keep wellness shots on hand without making them every morning. Strain well, pour into a tray, freeze, bag, and label. If you do not own a juicer, you can still make the base with a strainer, as our guide to making wellness shots without a juicer shows. Start with a batch of our triple citrus ginger wellness shot, which freezes particularly well.