Can Milk Be Frozen

Can milk be frozen

In this brief guide, we will address the query, “can milk be frozen?” We will also discuss what is the shelf life of milk and its proper storage.

Can milk be frozen?

Yes, milk can be frozen. Freezing milk will allow you to preserve it for up to 6 months, but certain guidelines should be followed, they will depend on the type of milk you want to freeze.

You must not leave milk in its original container when freezing it. As milk expands when frozen, it needs to be transferred to a container appropriate for the freezer and with enough room to allow expansion.

What types of milk are there?

Milk can be found in different ways, you can find animal-based and plant-based options. This beverage is widely used all over the world, and it is not surprising due to its high protein levels.

So, let’s check the different types of milk that are available in the market.

Types of milk: plant-based and animal-based
Plant-based Milk	Animal-based Milk
Almond milk Oat milk Cashew milk Soy milk Hemp milk Rice milk Coconut milk	Whole milk Skim milk Raw milk Low-fat milk Organic milk Condensed milk Evaporated milk Buttermilk Goat milk

As you can tell, there are so many different types of milk on the market, and not all of them freeze well, so, keep reading to find out which types can or cannot be frozen.

How long does milk last?

Milk can be found in different forms, and all of them exhibit different shelf lives. Depending on whether they are plant-based or animal-based.

When we talk about plant-based milk, like oat, coconut, or soy milk. The shelf life of these products can last for up to 180 days when unopened, once the bottle has been opened, it can only last 5 days.

Now, let’s focus on animal-based milk. When they are submitted to a pasteurization process, the shelf life will be noticeably enlarged in comparison to raw milk. Pasteurized milk can last for up to 12 to 14 days, before opening the carton. Once opened, the shelf life decreases to 4 days.

If you want to read more about what pasteurization does to animal-based milk, click here.

What types of milk freeze well?

Freezing affects differently to the various types of milk available, some of them do not freeze well because all of their features can be altered. Actually, most plant-based milk does not react positively to the freezing process, it will end up becoming grainy, and curdles will be formed.

The types of milk that freeze well are animal-based, such as

Goat milk.

Whole milk. Some people say that it can become grainy.

Skim milk.

Low-fat milk.

Fat-free cow milk.

As we have already discussed, plant-based milk is the one that suffers the worst consequences of freezing. So, it is not recommended to freeze these types of milk, some examples of them are

Soy milk.

Cashew milk.

Coconut milk.

Almond milk.

Oat milk.

How to freeze milk?

Freezing milk can be easily done, but there are several steps you need to follow to keep the best quality of your beverage. So, make sure you attend to these recommendations to better freeze your milk.

Do not leave it in its original container, especially if it comes in a cardboard or glass package. Use a freezer-appropriate container instead, make sure you choose a container big enough to allow milk’s expansion.

Do not fill the container. As milk expands when frozen, it is recommended to leave two inches of headspace.

Label the date of freezing. This will help you keep track of time, and consume it in the recommended time.

How can you defrost milk?

When you need to use frozen milk, it needs to be submitted to a thawing process. First, it is a process that should not be done at room temperature, place it in the freezer instead. You can also use a bowl with ice-cold water to help thaw.

If you notice that milk becomes grainy after thawing, do not panic! Usually, an energetic shake will do wonders to recover the texture of the beverage. After thawing, milk should be consumed within 3 to 4 days.

How can frozen milk be used?

Frozen milk is recommended to prepare cooked dishes because this way the altered texture will be hidden and it will not cause any odd feeling. Thawed milk can be used to

Baking.

Cooking.

Preparing smoothies.

You can also drink thawed milk, but the texture might not be that appetizing. At the end of the day, it is up to you the way you use milk. Have you ever frozen milk?