Leftover Fruit Punch? These Storage Tips Are Every Party Host’s Secret Weapon!
There is no denying that as gratifying as it is to host a dinner party, it usually requires an incredible amount of effort, time and planning on the host’s part to pull it off successfully. From food and beverages, decor and games, to music and activities—organising the house party of your dreams is nothing short of a Herculean task.
But what is even more taxing is the after-party clean-up the next day.
And, if you are specifically worried about how to store your leftover fruit punch, here are some of our tips to extend the shelf life of the drink, to be enjoyed later in the solitary company of a good crime thriller novella.
Separating The Elements
In case you have added fruit pulp or pieces of fruit to your punch, you would have to strain out the pieces of fruit from the drink and then refrigerate it in an airtight container.
You can also store the fruit in airtight boxes for a maximum of 1-2 days after the party. But do make sure that you eat the cut fruits as soon as possible to avoid them going rancid.
It is also important to refrigerate both the drink and the fruits as soon as possible.
Just in case there are also ice-cubes in your drink, you may want to fish them out from the jug with a ladle or strainer. This is because the ice will eventually melt and dilute the drink.
Flavoured Ice
If you are looking to store the drink for even longer, pour the drink in ice cube trays and stack them inside the deep freezer.
When you host your next soirée, just pop out the ice cubes from the tray and dunk them in your fresh batch of fruit punch. This little addition ensures your drink does not become too watery.
Glass Containers
Glass containers are your best options to store leftover fruit punch. They prevent any sort of chemical reaction to the drink, as opposed to plastic bottles, notorious for altering and tampering the taste of the drink. Metal bottles are also a huge no-no, because of how it reacts to alcohol, changing its composition and flavour.
Marinade
Who said beverages were only meant to be drunk?
Reduce the punch in a saute pan in high heat with a spoonful of sugar to prepare the sticky, sweet and tangy glaze of your culinary dreams. You can then use this glaze on anything your heart desires: charred corn, fried chicken or Korean pork skewers. The astringency of the alcohol and the natural sweeteners of the fruit infuses your protein with oodles of flavour.
Dessert Corner
Fruit punch is a brilliant base to make jellos or sorbets—you need not split hairs on exact recipes. You can add a few sheets of gelatin or dissolve its powder into the drink and let it freeze.
If you are more of a sorbet person, adjust the sweetness as per your taste and boil off some of the booze to make sure the sorbet does not melt too quickly. Then simply pop it inside the freezer in a tray and let the magic unfold in a few days.
