What is Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate?
Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate is a frozen, concentrated lemonade product made by the Coca-Cola company under their Minute Maid brand. It comes as a frozen puck or tube that needs to be thawed and mixed with water to make lemonade. The concentrate allows you to make fresh tasting lemonade easily at home by just adding water.
How to Make Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade
Here are step-by-step instructions for making lemonade with Minute Maid frozen concentrate:
Ingredients:
– 1 can (12 oz) Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate
– 1 1/3 cups cold water
– Ice cubes
Steps:
- Take the frozen lemonade concentrate tube or puck out of the freezer and thaw completely until no frozen chunks remain. This takes about 10-15 minutes at room temperature.
- Once thawed, empty the contents of the concentrate tube or puck into a pitcher. Add the cold water and whisk vigorously until fully dissolved.
- Add ice cubes to serving glasses. Pour in the diluted lemonade concentrate over ice and enjoy!
Tips:
- For a lighter lemonade, you can use up to 2 cups of cold water for dilution instead of 1 1/3 cups.
- Add more ice cubes if you want a more chilled and icy lemonade.
- Garnish your lemonade with lemon slices or mint leaves.
- Store any undiluted concentrate left in the tube/puck in the freezer for later use. It keeps frozen for 3-4 months.
Making Lemonade from Concentrate Powder
Some brands like Country Time also sell lemonade concentrate in powdered form in canisters instead of frozen. To make lemonade from the powdered concentrate:
- Take the required amount of lemonade concentrate powder according to the directions on the label (usually around 3-4 tablespoons).
- Add the powder to 2 cups of cold water and whisk until fully dissolved.
- Add ice cubes and enjoy!
The powder dissolves more easily in cold water compared to hot water. Adjust the amount of water based on how strong you want the lemonade. Add more water for a lighter lemonade flavor.
Storage Tips
- Keep unused frozen concentrate tubes/pucks in the freezer at 0°F or below.
- Store reconstituted lemonade concentrate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
- For powdered concentrates, keep the container sealed and store in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after mixing as lemonade.
Uses for Lemonade Concentrate
Minute Maid and other frozen lemonade concentrates are very versatile and can be used to make:
Lemonade Slushies:
Blend the diluted lemonade concentrate with ice cubes in a blender for frosty lemonade slushies.
Lemonade Popsicles:
Pour the lemonade concentrate into popsicle molds and freeze for refreshing homemade popsicles.
Added to Cocktails:
Add a splash of the lemonade concentrate to vodka or tequila cocktails like lemon drops.
Lemonade Cake:
Use the concentrate in place of other liquids when baking lemon loaf cakes or pound cakes.
Lemonade Pie Filling:
Mix together a sweetened lemonade concentrate with cornstarch and cook as a pie filling.
Lemonade Iced Tea:
For an Arnold Palmer, combine equal parts lemonade concentrate and brewed iced tea.
Nutrition Facts
Here is the nutrition information for Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate (1/2 cup serving):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 210 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 25mg |
| Potassium | 120mg |
| Total Carbs | 53g |
| Sugars | 51g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, the concentrate is high in natural sugars. When diluted with water to make lemonade, the sugar and calorie content decreases.
Benefits
Drinking lemonade made from concentrate offers these benefits:
- Provides vitamin C, potassium, and other nutrients
- Quenches thirst and hydrates the body effectively
- Adds a tart, refreshing flavor to drinks
- Easy to make at home with just cold water
Conclusion
Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate provides a quick and convenient way to make tasty lemonade at home. Simply thaw the frozen tube or puck, dilute with cold water and ice, and enjoy classic refreshing lemonade any time. Experiment with adding different fruit flavors or using it creatively in recipes like slushies, popsicles and cocktails. Properly stored, the frozen concentrate stays fresh for months.