How to Freeze Milk
Milk is a perishable product, and oftentimes, people don’t use it in time, so it ends up being thrown away due to its short shelf life. But few of us actually know that milk can be frozen, thus being saved from getting dumped. It will also help you save money from having to buy new milk all of the time.
5-Minute Crafts is telling you how to freeze and defrost milk correctly along with how long it can be stored in the freezer.
Which milk is suitable for freezing?
There are many types of milk sold in supermarkets, including ones made with vegetables. The latter doesn’t stand freezing well, turns sour, and becomes grainy. Animal milk, on the other hand, is best suited for freezing. These are the following types:
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Fat-free cow’s milk
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Reduced-fat cow’s milk
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Whole milk
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Goat’s milk
The following types of milk are better off not being frozen:
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Almond milk
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Coconut milk
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Soy milk
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Oat milk
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Flax milk
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Cashew milk
How to freeze milk
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Pour the milk into a plastic container or bottle suitable for freezing products. You can freeze it in the original packaging if it’s okay to do so. You’d better not freeze milk in a glass bottle or carton — when exposed to cold temperatures, it expands, and the packaging may crack.
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Due to the same reason, make sure not to fill the bottle or container to the brim. Leave 1-2 inches of free space between the milk and the brim.
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Tightly close the container or bottle with a lid and shake it well.
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Put a sticker on the container with the date you froze it on, and place the milk into the freezer.
How long you can store milk in the freezer for
Though milk can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, it’s recommended to consume it within 4-5 weeks. It will help you to be sure that the product will keep its properties and stay of the right quality after the defrosting process.
How to defrost milk
Don’t defrost milk at room temperature. It can worsen the quality of the product and make it unsuitable for consumption.
In order to safely defrost milk, move it from the freezer to the bottom shelf of the fridge and keep it there for 8 hours. It’s best to leave it overnight so that it completely gets back its previous consistency.
In order to speed up the defrosting process, fill a sink or a big bowl with cold water and place the container with milk into it. Change the water as it heats up.
Consume the defrosted milk within 3-4 days.
Changes to expect after milk is defrosted
The more fatty the milk is, the more its texture can change. Freezing and defrosting the food may cause the fat to separate, and the milk will become slightly grainy. However, the issue can be solved if you shake the container with milk well. You can also use an immersion blender to get back the homogenous structure of the product.
Other changes can apply to the taste of the milk. Remember, this product absorbs the smells of other products, especially fish, easily. That’s why in the freezer it should be stored either separately or with other products that don’t have a strong smell.
Due to these specifics, defrosted milk can not only be suitable for drinking, but it can also be used for cooking breakfasts, pastries, and other dishes.