How To Freeze Milk So That It Remains Fresh

What To Do Before Freezing Milk

Before you freeze the milk, the most important thing is the selection of the milk. What milk you are using definitely hampers the result that you desire. So, here are some of the selection tips to get the right milk:

1. Freshness

You should go for the fresh milk that is perfectly in good condition for the storage. If you choose the milk closer to the expiration date, then your milk will be spoiled soon without getting consumed. So, it will be a smart move if you choose fresh milk with a long expiration date.

2. Type of Milk

Though you can use any type of milk, it is always advised to choose milk with less fat content. If you choose milk with huge fat there is a high chance that they separate when thawed later. 

3. Check Package

Before you select the milk, you need to make sure there are good details on the packaging. This helps to provide knowledge on the condition of milk and its freshness. Also, it reduces the risks of bacterial growth and spoilage in milk.

4. Smaller Portions

You should always buy the milk as per your requirements. If you don't need lots of milk, then always go for smaller portions as this can prevent wastage. Deciding the portion as per your need is always a better idea than wasting it.

Equipment Required

To make your freezing process easy and quick, you need the following kitchen equipment:

1. Freezer-Safe Containers or Plastic Bags

As we are freezing milk, the main thing we need after the milk itself is a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. The container or bag that we are using must be in good condition without any damage to get the best result.

2. Permanent Marker

We also need a permanent marker to label the containers with the freezing date. If we forget to mark the date, we may have to consume spoiled milk later.

3. Measuring Cups (Optional)

You can keep the whole milk in a container or plastic bag for future use. However, if you want to portion the milk before freezing, then you can use measuring cups. This is optional, so you may or may not collect this tool as per your desire.

4. Freezer

Another essential tool is a freezer that freezes the milk for future use. You need to make sure that the freezer you are using is in good working condition.

How To Freeze Milk

You can freeze the milk while retaining freshness with the right instructions. Just follow the step-by-step process below and get the best result:

Step-1: Select a Container

With the use of a clean, freezer-safe container or plastic bag you can start your freezing process. Also, you must choose a plastic bag with a tight seal. After that, put milk in leaving some space at the top of the container which ensures there is a good expansion as the milk freezes.

Step-2: Portion Control

First, decide how much milk you require and how much you want for future use. If you need a major portion of the milk for the future, then kindly divide it into smaller portions. By doing this, you will be able to thaw only the amount of milk you need. This also helps in preventing the wastage of milk.

Step-3: Label and Date

If the milk you are using already has labeling and date then it is ok. If not, then you need to put the date on the container or bag which later helps in tracking the duration of the milk in the freezer. Lack of knowledge on the date may result in spoilage of milk later.

In this step, you may need a permanent marker for marking the date.

Step-4: Freeze Quickly

After the above arrangements, you should place the milk in the coldest part of your freezer. This action definitely helps speed up the freezing process, thereby making sure there will be the preservation of its freshness.

Lack of proper cold will spoil the milk, so make sure there is no connection cut in the power supply to the freezer.

Step-5: Thaw Safely

When ready to use, it will be time to thaw the milk in the refrigerator. However, you need to avoid thawing it at room temperature in order to prevent bacteria growth. Gently shake it well before using, as the milk may separate during freezing. It is always advised to thaw in the refrigerator.

Step-6: Use Within a Month

For the best quality, you should use frozen milk within a month. Though you may feel that freezing can keep your milk fresh for a long time, it is better to consume it quickly. Keeping it for a long time will reduce the sweetness of milk.

Additional Tips

Freezing milk is an easy and quick process, however, you need to focus on some useful tips. Here are some useful tips to help you do this task:

• It will be better if you freeze milk on or before the best-before date (until it loses its quality). Also, you can retain the taste and nutritional profile if you freeze milk as quickly as possible.
• Once you open the container of milk, it can be used safely for 3 days.
• It will be better to avoid exposing milk to light as this can destroy some of the essential vitamins.
• You can use milk containers within the best-before date to retain quality.
• For the best result, you need to leave the milk in its original container and freeze it unopened. Interestingly, you can also freeze single portions with the use of ice cube trays or similar. There is also an option to freeze milk in an airtight container.
• The container of the milk should possess space for frozen milk to expand.
• Lastly, you can thaw milk in the fridge so that it does not go above 39.2°F (4℃). As soon as it thaws, the milk may separate into solids and liquids. So, you need to shake it properly to return it to its original texture.

Which Milk Is Best For Freezing

You can use milk from cows, goats, water buffalo, sheep, camels, and yaks among other animals. The milk from these animals is perfect for freezing and future use.

1. Cow Milk

Cow milk is best to freeze among many options. You can freeze it for up to 3 months however, it is advised to consume it quickly to prevent bacterial spoilage.

2. Goat's Milk

Goat milk is also a good option for freezing. However, reports suggest that freezing it for a long time can decrease its fat, protein, and lactose content. So, you need to be careful about the quick consumption after freezing.

3. Sheep's Milk

It is okay to freeze sheep's milk, however, it is advised not to freeze them for a long time as it may lose the sweetness of doing that. 

You can also opt for plant-based milk. If you are still confused about the right selection of milk for freezing, then you will be surprised to know that there is a wide range of plant-based and non-dairy alternatives to milk. These plant-based milk is all suitable for freezing.

Do you know that freezing non-dairy milk is quite similar to freezing cow’s milk? However, the taste definitely varies as these milk are derived from plants.

Here are the necessary guidelines for freezing non-dairy alternatives to milk, have a look.

1. Soy milk

You can freeze soy milk in a similar way to cow’s milk. However, you need to know that, the milk may separate when you thaw them. To avoid this, you can shake it well before using which helps it return to its original form.

2. Coconut milk

Coconut milk contains a high fat so it is not very suitable for freezing. However, you can freeze it only for short periods to retain texture and taste.

3. Oat milk

Just like other non-diary milk, oat milk also gets separated after thawing. Hence, it is necessary to shake or blend it to combine the solids and liquid.

4. Almond milk

Once you thaw, almond milk literally separates and may also stay separated even after you have blended it. So, it is advised to use it in smoothies or with any other drink. Freezing it for too long and consuming plain is less preferred.

5. Shelf-stable milk

Have you ever heard about freezing shelf-stable milk? Well, this milk undergoes ultra-high temperature processing (UHT) to extend its shelf-life. Because of this reason, it is not necessary to freeze it. Just like any other milk, people freeze this milk also, however, that is not a necessary move also it separates after thawing.

How To Thaw Milk

Thawing milk is a process in which the frozen milk is allowed to get back to its liquid state by warming it. Here are the tips on thawing milk, have a look:

• You need to take the milk out of the freezer and keep it in the refrigerator for 24–36 hours to thaw it properly.
• After that, you should shake the milk before opening the container or plastic bag.
• After shaking, if you feel that solids and liquids are separate, then you need to use a blender or electric mixer to recombine them.
• Also, it is advised to freeze milk for about 1–3 months to make sure the milk retains the best quality.

Serving Suggestions

Once your milk is properly frozen with the retention of freshness, you can use it in various ways. Enjoying it pain is obviously good, but pairing it with side dishes or using it to make other dishes are definitely creative ways to serve this frozen milk. 

You can try the following serving ideas, such as:

1. Cooking and Baking

Thawn freezer milk is the perfect choice for cooking and baking purposes. This milk works best for cooking soups, pancakes, sauces as well as many baked items. Either frozen or thawn, the use of the milk doesn't change in the taste and texture of recipes. So, such milk fits well for making various recipes.

2. Cereal or Oatmeal

Besides the above uses, you can also use this milk for making your favorite oatmeal. Yes, pouring thawed freezer milk over your oatmeal or using it while cooking cereal or oatmeal can give you a delicious meal. Interestingly, the use of this milk can give a great result with no change in taste.

3. Smoothies

Another best way to serve frozen milk is by using it in smoothies. This works perfectly as a base in smoothies and the blend of this milk with other ingredients definitely gives a perfect result. The slight change in thawn milk is often unnoticeable, so you can confidently use thawn freezer milk in your smoothies.

4. Coffee and Tea

You may or may not have used thawn freezer milk in your coffee and tea. If not, then you should definitely use it once, you will love the taste. Milk either fresh or thawn gives no difference in the taste of a hot or cold beverage, so you can use it in your coffee or tea.

5. Milk-Based Desserts

You can use the milk to make milk-based desserts for enjoying it with your friends and family. Such milk helps make custards, puddings, or other milk-based desserts. Also, there will be no change in taste and texture on using this milk.