Can you freeze cashew milk? 

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze cashew milk?”, and how to freeze cashew milk and its shelf life.

Can you freeze cashew milk?

Yes, you can freeze cashew milk. Frozen cashew milk might develop a grainy texture. Blend or strain using a cheesecloth to get rid of the grains or use as is in smoothies, cereals, cooking or baking.

Because plant-based milks are emulsions, they may suffer severe textural changes due to the freeze-thaw process. 

How to freeze cashew milk?

To freeze cashew milk, you should place the milk in small containers and leave some extra space at the top since milk expands during freezing (8). Close the containers to reduce the risks of  moisture loss and freeze-burn (7). 

What happens when you freeze cashew milk?

When cashew milk is frozen, there is a reduction of the rate in which chemical and enzymatic reactions occur. The microbial growth is inhibited through the low temperature. These factors enable the increased shelf life, when compared to the refrigerated storage (7).

However, many reactions still occur during frozen storage, leading to negative effects on the frozen food. The most important chemical changes that can proceed during freezing and frozen storage are: enzymatic reactions, protein denaturation, lipid oxidation, degradation of pigments and vitamins, and flavor deterioration.

Therefore, the frozen shelf life of cashew milk is limited through the quality loss during storage. In addition to loss of texture, lipid oxidation and protein denaturation are responsible for the generation of off-flavor and off-odors, compromising the safe and pleasant consumption of this beverage.

In addition, these chemical processes can impact the nutritional profile of the beverage, as important fatty acids may react and oxidize. Lipid oxidation generates potentially toxic products that have shown correlation with inflammatory diseases, as well as cancer, atherosclerosis, aging and other health problems (6).

How does freezing impact plant-based milk?

Freezing drastically impacts the texture of plant-based milks, leading to the increase of the particle size and aggregation.

Although plant proteins are effective natural emulsifying agents, their ability to stabilize emulsions can be easily compromised by alterations in the pH level, temperature, and ionic strength of the system. 

Freezing and thawing can also render protein emulsions unstable, causing them to break down and leading to the formation of clumps and floating fat globules that can significantly impact the quality of the food. 

This instability is primarily due to the water/ oil phases crystallizing and changes occurring in the protein’s structure and droplet microenvironmental characteristics (2).

Many of these non-dairy milks are prone to instability during both the manufacturing process and storage, which can result in the separation of different phases and spoilage over extended periods. 

To address these issues, various methods have been implemented to enhance the stability of these products. Some of these methods include incorporating various additives such as gums, thickeners, and emulsifiers, or utilizing new technologies such as ultrahigh-pressure homogenization, ultrasound, and pulsed electric fields (4).

What is the shelf life of frozen cashew milk?

The shelf life of frozen cashew milk is 6 months, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, you should not store nut milks for long periods, due to their high amount of unsaturated fatty acids.

Unsaturated fatty acids are particularly prone to oxidation, resulting in formation of volatile products that give rise to the aroma and taste characterized as ‘rancid’ (7).

How to thaw cashew milk?

Thaw milk in the refrigerator (3). Thawing it on the counter top will result in bacteria growth making the milk unsafe for consumption. Shake vigorously before using to mix up the separated liquid with the milk solids. 

If you need the frozen milk while cooking a dish, you do not need to thaw it. Just put the frozen bulk in the sauce pan and let it melt.

Other FAQs about Milk which you may be interested in.

How to make evaporated milk from condensed milk?

How to drink non-homogenized milk?

Can coconut milk cause diarrhea?

Conclusion 

In this article, we answered the question “Can you freeze cashew milk?”, and how to freeze cashew milk and and its shelf life.

References

  1. Manasa, R., et al. Non-dairy plant based beverages: A comprehensive. Pharma Innov. J, 2020 9, 258-2712020.
  2. Sun, Hongrui, et al. Study on Protein Structures of Eight Mung Bean Varieties and Freeze-Thaw Stability of Protein-Stabilized Emulsions. Foods, 2022, 11, 3343.  
  3. Freezing and Food Safety. United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Bridges, Meagan. Moo-ove over, cow’s milk: The rise of plant-based dairy alternatives. Prac Gastroenterol, 2018, 21, 20-27.
  5. Dhankhar, Jyotika, and Preeti Kundu. Stability aspects of non-dairy milk alternatives. Milk Substitutes: Selected Aspects. 2021, 1-28.
  6. Vieira, Samantha A., Guodong Zhang, and Eric A. Decker. Biological implications of lipid oxidation products. J Am Oil Chem Soc, 2017, 94, 339-351..
  7. Evans, Judith A., ed. Frozen food science and technology. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
  8. Hanneman, A. Freezing Milk and Cheese. 2020. University of Nebraska. 
  9. Guidelines For Food Shelf Life. Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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