You need durians, right now.
Unfortunately, it is the off-season. All your favourite durian shops do not have fresh stocks for sale. You decide to Google “durian Singapore” and notice a link leading you to a catalogue for frozen durians.
You think to yourself: frozen durians ah…. Legit or not?
Believe it or not, the apprehension to try frozen durians isn’t unheard of. And this doesn’t come as any surprise because as durian lovers, ourselves, we want the best and nothing less.
So, are frozen durians worth the hype?
Before we answer that question, let’s dive deep into the fundamental differences between fresh and frozen durians.
1. Frozen Durians Last Longer than Fresh Ones
Thanks to refrigeration, we have been able to buy our groceries in bulk, preserve them, and thaw them when ready to use them. Fortunately for us durian lovers, we can maintain the King of Fruit, as well.
While we would recommend for fresh durians to be consumed within two days once the durians are cut, and flesh is removed from the husk, frozen durians can be kept for up to 3 months in the freezer. This means you can still get your durian fix even during the offseason if you buy some frozen ones and store them in your freezer.
2. Flavour of Frozen Durians Might Not Be As Strong As Fresh Ones
Have you ever noticed how freshly-baked bread feels dry and smells less aromatic after keeping it in the fridge for a couple of days compared to how it felt and smelled like when you first took it out of the oven?
While refrigeration does help us preserve food, the process of refrigeration does affect the taste and texture of the dish. Firstly, while freezing durians helps slowdown the fruits’ natural biological and chemical processes, the fruit will still continue ageing and fermenting, albeit slower than fresh ones that are not frozen.
Secondly, as the durian sits in the freezer with other foods, the flavours might blend together and cause the durian to have a less distinct taste. This is true, especially if one does not store the durians in an airtight container.
Then again, taste is subjective. Try it yourself and assess which has a flavour that suits your tastes!
3. Be Prepared to Wait for Your Frozen Durians to Thaw
“I want some durians, and I need them RIGHT NOW!”
Singapore’s sweltering heat might make it easy for one to thaw frozen foods, but what if you need your durian fix and you need it now?
Unless you don’t mind enjoying your frozen durians as they are (they taste just like a durian popsicle), you will need to wait for them to thaw. Unfortunately for impatient durian lovers, waiting can be quite frustrating, especially when your cravings are high.
Should I Buy Fresh or Frozen Durians?
Ask yourself the following question if you encounter this dilemma:
Are you willing to wait till the durian season?
If the answer is “No”, go ahead and get frozen ones instead of waiting for fresh stocks to come. The wait can be trying, especially if you are a hardcore durian lover. Then again, the wait for frozen durians to thaw is probably less burdensome than waiting a couple of months for durian season to begin again.
Suppose you are worried about your frozen durians losing flavour or not tasting as marvellous as fresh ones, no worries! We vacuum-pack our frozen durians so that they preserve the flavour and taste of fresh durians. Check them out on our online store.