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Top Tips: Can You Freeze Milk? Your Guide to Doing It Right

If you’ve ever wondered, ‘can you freeze milk?’, the answer is yes!

Freezing milk is a handy hack for when you want to save money, reduce food waste or keep your fridge well-stocked for longer. However, not all milk is created equal when it comes to freezing so let's dive into which milks freeze best, how to freeze milk safely and everything you need to know about the thawing process. 

 

Is All Milk Freezable?

We aren’t short of choice when it comes to milk these days, but different kinds of milk react differently to being frozen due to the varying fat content. So before you open the freezer, have a read of the below:

 

Cows Milk

Whether you love full-fat, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, cow’s milk can be frozen! Just keep in mind that full-fat milk may separate slightly when frozen, but don’t worry— if this happens, don’t panic, give the bottle or carton a good shake or stir once it has thawed. For optimal taste, use frozen cow’s milk within three months of freezing.

 

Goats Milk

Goats milk is another dairy milk that can be frozen but may also sometimes separate. Use frozen goat’s milk within 1-2 months to preserve taste and texture.

how to freeze dairy alternatives

Dairy-Free Alternatives

Can you freeze oat milk alternative? What about soya or almond drinks? With the right process, you can freeze pretty much any milk! However, these non-dairy alternatives may become grainy or slightly separate when thawing. Top tip: try using a blender to mix the milk after thawing.

 

Can You Freeze Coconut Milk Alternative?

Coconut milk alternative in a carton will freeze about as well as any other non-dairy alternative and should be used within one month. However, coconut drink in a tin cannot be frozen — it’s better to decant coconut drink into a smaller, freezer-safe container.

 

Lactose-Free Milk

Lactose-free milk can be frozen but it tends to separate more than cow’s milk. It’s recommended to freeze it in small portions and use it within 1-2 months. Give the container a good shake after thawing.

 

What Happens When You Freeze Milk?

When milk freezes, its water content expands. This means it is important to use a container with some space (and one that isn’t glass), otherwise it might bulge or crack as the liquid freezes.

how to freeze milk

How Long Does Milk Take to Freeze?

Milk only takes 2-3 hours to freeze, but about 24-36 hours to fully thaw.

 

Tips for Properly Freezing and Thawing Milk

It’s important to know how to freeze milk and thaw it properly. Freezing milk is easy with these simple steps and luckily, we’re experts!

1. Use an air-tight, freezer-safe container, leaving a couple of inches at the top for expansion.

2. Label and date the milk so you know how long it has been in the freezer.

3. Always thaw milk in the fridge, rather than at room temperature. This gradual process will help retain the milk’s texture and taste.

4. When the milk has thawed, give it a good shake or stir to reduce any separation.

 

Freezing Milk: What You Should Know About Texture and Taste

Freezing milk is a thrifty hack for those times when you’ve not quite finished a carton, but the freezing process can impact the texture and taste. These changes are usually harmless but might impact the mouthfeel or flavour. If you’ve got sensitive taste buds, it might be best to use thawed milk in baking (why not try these mouth-watering banana pancakes?) or a smoothie, rather than as a standalone drink.

 

Best Practices for Freezing Different Types of Milk

Follow a few simple rules to freeze your milk properly. Firstly, pop the milk in the freezer before its ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date; thaw the milk slowly in the fridge before consuming; shake or stir the milk once it has been thawed.

Milk with higher fat content tends to freeze best in small batches. If you’ve got an ice cube tray, you can use this for an easy way of freezing milk in single servings.

 

How Long Can You Freeze Milk For?

The general rule of thumb is to use frozen milk within 1-3 months. However, goat’s milk, lactose-free milk and non-dairy milk doesn’t tend to last as well, so if you can, try to use these within 1-2 months.

 

Check Out Our Other Tips & Tricks…

Freezing milk is just one of the many ways you can make the most of your groceries whilst saving a few extra pennies and reducing food waste. For more household hacks, check out our new Besides the Pint blog and shop to stock up your fridge with our full range of milk.