Can You Freeze Milk?

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Can You Freeze Milk?

Question:

Can You Freeze Milk?

Answer:

The answer is yes, you can safely freeze milk… but, the resulting thawed milk is not quite as desirable for drinking as fresh milk that has never been frozen.

Read on for more cautionary advice…

Freeze Milk

Can You Freeze Milk?

How to Freeze Milk

Milk expands when it is frozen. So, to properly freeze milk you should remove about one cup of milk from a gallon container prior to freezing. Otherwise, the container may split open as it expands. If you have ever dropped a jug of milk, you know what I’m talking about – the plastic container can easily split open and create a huge mess in no time.

After being frozen and then thawed, milk will be somewhat separated. The thick velvety texture will be replaced with a texture that has fatty chunks and watery parts, not a very desirable drink for some people. But, according to the Dairy Council, it is perfectly safe for consumption.

How Long Can You Freeze Milk?

Milk should be frozen for only about 3-6 months. After that amount of time, the milk may start to absorb other odors from the freezer and thus taste different when thawed. The milk will also begin to look more yellow over time. Both of these factors make milk that has been frozen less desirable as a refreshing drink.

Can You Freeze Milk?

Freezing Milk
	Does Milk Freeze?	Thawed Result
Does Milk Freeze?	Yes	Chunky and Watery
Does Skim Milk Freeze?	Yes	Slightly Separated
Does Eggnog Freeze?	Yes	Chunky, Watery and sometimes smelly

How to Defrost Milk

How Do You Defrost Frozen Milk?

To thaw milk that has been frozen, place the frozen milk container in the refrigerator for a day or two.

For a quicker thaw, you can put the sealed jug of frozen milk into a sink of cold water for several hours.

NOTE: * NEVER thaw milk at room temperature! *

What You Can Do

What are some uses for thawed milk?

Milk that has been frozen then thawed milk should be used within 5-7 days.

Use it instead of water to make soups creamier.

Use it instead of water to make oatmeal thicker and more substantial.

And of course, make some yummy pudding.

So, you can freeze milk but with varying results. You can also freeze cheese with varying results.

For More Information

Can you Freeze Eggnog?

Similarly, you can also freeze eggnog but it is not recommended. Eggnog is known for it’s creamy consistency which becomes separated and lost when it is frozen. Since eggnog is most commonly known for drinking, the experience with defrosted eggnog will not be as pleasant as with unfrozen fresh eggnog.

To find out how long milk lasts, see our milk page.

To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or use the search function below.

SEARCH Eat By Date

By Ann| January 25th, 2013|FAQ|

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