Can You Freeze Milk? {Technically Yes, But…}
It’s kinda gross once defrosted — from a texture standpoint anyways.
However, sometimes you have to, so here are the best ways to freeze t and defrost it..
We drink milk every day here and one of my favorite things in the world is my nutrient-dense hot spiced milk drink, but can you freeze milk and still use it afterward with no ill effects, and how long can you freeze it for?
You can freeze milk and, depending on what kind of milk it is. Milk can keep safely in your freezer for around six months. It should be defrosted in the fridge rather than at room temperature to prevent the risk of bacterial growth, which would be stunted in the colder fridge environment.
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With any dairy product, it is better to know how to freeze and thaw it as you risk making yourself and your family ill if you don’t do this process properly. So, let’s get out the milk and discover the various types of milk and the best way to freeze and defrost them.
Why Would You Freeze Milk
If you are guilty of pouring sour milk out frequently, you may want to consider freezing it instead. This can save you milk and money, and if you do it properly, you can safely re-use the frozen milk once it is defrosted.
What’s The Best Way To Freeze It
It may seem as simple as placing the milk container in the freezer, but nothing is ever just simple, especially when it comes to freezing liquids. As you know, fluids expand when they freeze, and if you aren’t prepared for this and make accommodations for it, you could end up exploding your milk carton in your freezer, which is messy!
Because milk has a high percentage of water, it will expand if you freeze it, so you need to make provision for that before you freeze your milk, and here’s how to do it.
If you have tinned milk as in coconut or evaporated milk, you should not freeze these products in the tin as there is no space to accommodate the liquid expansion as it freezes. Long-life or shelf-stable milk will last a very long time and, if it’s not unopened, doesn’t need to be frozen – but if you are going to freeze it, don’t freeze it in the carton.
Don’t freeze full cardboard cartons of milk, either. Rather drink or decant some out of the full carton before putting it in the freezer, or you can place it in an air-tight freezer bag that will be able to accommodate the expanding liquid as it freezes.
To be safe when freezing milk, leave about two inches of headspace in the plastic milk container to allow liquid expansion.
Never freeze milk in a glass container or bottle. Not only do you risk the bottle exploding and breaking in your freezer, but you also risk having shards of glass penetrating other foods being kept in the freezer.
Milk Separates During Freezing & Thawing
In most cases, milk will suffer separation during freezing as the different liquid components will freeze at slightly different rates. You will see evidence of this when you defrost it.
Once the milk is fully defrosted, you can whip it back in shape using a blender.
Most other kinds of milk, such as soy, dairy, goats, and flax, will also expand during freezing, and you may also see some separation. Condensed milk should also not be frozen in the tin and, because of its high sugar content, won’t freeze solid.
Safe Defrosting
Freezing your milk is only one-half of this process, so let’s look at the safest ways to defrost milk once you are ready to use it.
As mentioned above, you should never defrost milk at room temperature.
The reason for this is that milk exposed to warmer temperatures has a greater chance of developing bacteria, which can lead to upset stomachs or worse if consumed.
Once you have removed the milk from the freezer, place it in the fridge, and although this will be a longer defrosting time, it is far safer as the colder environment will prevent the growth of bacteria.
If you want your milk to defrost faster, you can also place it in cold water; never in warm or hot water, for the same reason, you don’t defrost it at room temperature. The slower the milk defrosts, the safer it will be for consumption.
If you are cooking using frozen milk, you can add the milk directly to the pot or pan you are using. Defrosted milk is ideal for smoothies and baking as the separation may make milk less palatable for drinking after defrosting disappears as they are blended.
Reconstitute Separated Milk
During the freezing process, most types of milk will separate. Still, fortunately, most homes have shakers or blenders, and you can use these devices to reconstitute the milk and eliminate the effects of separation.
Heating it slightly helps.
To get the milk back to a more favorable consistency, pour the milk into a blender and blend it for a few minutes to get the liquid back to a pre-frozen state and, provided it has been properly frozen and defrosted, there is no danger in drinking it.
Should you not have a blender, you can use a shaker to do the same; just give a good shake for a few minutes, then check the liquid and see if there is still separation. If there is, shake it some more; if not, go ahead and drink it!
If you are used to having fresh milk in your coffee, defrosted milk may taste a little different, but this will be negligible, and provided it has been defrosted properly, it will be perfectly safe to drink.
Freezing Raw Milk
Raw milk is frozen in the exact same way that any other milk would be.
Alternatives To Freezing
Make cheese!
Cheese such as paneer actually freezes so much better than milk and I have two recipes for it, the first is a basic paneer and the other is herbed wild ramp paneer.
All you need is milk and vinegar or lemon juice.
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Conclusion
Freezing dairy products like milk requires a little care and preparation, so when you take it out, you don’t have to clean up a milky mess in your freezer, and you won’t suffer any ill after-effects once it’s defrosted.
Freezing and defrosting milk is pretty straightforward, and provided you follow the guidelines above, you will have no trouble storing your milk in the freezer for up to six months. Remember that frozen milk should be used within a month of freezing wherever possible.
