How to Freeze Milk — Do you ever freeze milk when you can snag a great deal? We go through milk pretty fast around here, but every once in awhile, there is a stock up deal that is just too good to pass up.
I love having a gallon in the freezer just to eliminate the need to make a quick run to the store. I don’t know about you, but those quick runs seem to always add up to additional purchases for me, so I try to avoid them.
Freezing milk is super simple and extends the life of the milk out about 3 months. First pour off about a cup of the milk. The milk will expand as it freezes, so if you don’t pour a bit off the top, you risk a mess in your freezer. {You can freeze glass or plastic cartons.}
The fat in the milk will separate during the freezing process. That’s normal. You can shake it after you thaw it to mix it all back up again. {Store the milk upright in your freezer to avoid spills, etc.}
When you are ready to use it, you can thaw it in the sink in COLD water until their are ice chunks in the milk. At that point, I recommend putting it in the fridge to thaw the rest of the way, so that you can be sure you’ve maintained a safe temperature. You can also just thaw it in the fridge completely, but that takes 2-3 days, and I usually don’t plan ahead that well.
After you thaw frozen milk, you should ideally drink it in 5-7 days.
Have you ever tried this? Could you taste a difference?
~Mavis
Skelton says
I find that there are “chunks” of milk fat floating in the milk, even if I shake it well. I strain the milk once it is thawed and it’s great.
Lana says
I freeze milk quite often because I make a ‘vat’ of banana pudding for the homeless shelter every month. If I see that we are coming up to the date and will not use it up I pour it into a plastic container and freeze it. I can usually save up 1/2 of more of the milk I need that way. I don’t care for the taste of milk that has been frozen so we only use it for cooking.
Anni says
Have you ever frozen almond milk in the cardboard containers? I am thinking it would be ok. Just wanted to ask
ann dziagwa says
My daughter-in-law has frozen almond milk before. It worked fine./
Cindi Myers says
We’ve been doing this for years. Just shake the milk up well each time you use it — I never notice any difference in taste.
Beth Rankin says
We used to freeze milk all the time before heading out on a 2-4 week road trip….Mom would pour some into a quart container for the cooler and the rest would go into the freezer. Yes, took a while to defrost but tasted fine.
Gina says
In Canada it’s popular to go to the dairy store and buy frozen milk. I thought this was odd when I visited relatives. I didn’t notice a difference in taste, but it’s been 20 yrs since I had frozen milk.
Jessica Prescott says
In what part of Canada? Never saw frozen milk in store in Quebec… Except as an alternative to ice cream.
sheila says
As long as you let it completely thaw and shake it up, it tastes the same. Otherwise, it will taste different. I’ve also had the best luck with the lower fat varieties. The higher the fat content, the harder it is to incorporate after thawing.
Angela says
In Canada they sell frozen milk in bags. It’s usually thawed in the fridge then used as normal. I don’t notice a difference in taste. I’ve never tried freezing milk but will sure try this. TY for sharing.
Brandi says
I have lived in Canada my whole life and we have never purchased, nor had the option to buy frozen milk. It does come in bags but they are not frozen first. Where in Canada have you seen this?
Allison says
Does anyone know if you can you freeze milk in glass jars safely; and what about cream and half and half?
Kaia says
Don’t freeze milk in jars with regular mouth lids for sure–they crack! I haven’t tried wide mouth jars, but the should be ok since they don’t have “shoulders.”
Tabitha says
I can defrost in water a bit? Please keep sharing this “basic info.” I didn’t know that and milk takes about 4 days to defrost in my fridge. This will be much more practical. Seriously, THANK YOU.
Theresa says
I’ve been freezing milk for years. It was just my husband and me, and now just me so I could buy less but it really hurts me to buy a quart or half-gallon when I can buy a gallon for less; and it is especially hard when it’s on sale. I don’t use it for drinking, only for coffee or tea or in cooking so I can’t say about the taste (it tastes the same the way I use it). I also use it to make yogurt and have never had a problem.
Stacey says
Not related to topic but I remember reading you loved some flour sack towels …where do you get them? I’ve been looking everywhere. Thanks stacey
JS says
I don’t know where you live, but here in MN I can find flour sack towels at Fleet Farm.
Sarah B says
She’s purchased them at One Kings Lane, I buy them at Business Center Costco.
Sakura says
Sams Club has them also.
Samantha M. says
We freeze milk all the time. I just freeze the whole 1 gallon plastic bottle I get it in from the supermarket, it stretches enough with the dimples in the side that it handles freezing without any need to tip any out. I then just defrost it in the fridge and shake the crap out of it before opening, this not only mixes up the fat but breaks up any ice lumps. . I’ve had a milk slushy fall into my cereal once or twice but I’ve never had a problem with taste. If you use no fat or low fat milk you don’t have to shake it up as much but I like my full fat milk.
T. Wimes says
When my kids were little we went through 5 or 6 gallons a week. I used to freeze it all the time. I never have noticed a difference in the taste, maybe because it was never in the freezer that long. Just enough to keep me from running to the grocery store so often.
I’ve never tried half and half. I would be interested to know if anyone has tried this.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I’ve never tried half and half but I regularly freeze the flavored creamers, every brand. I don’t pour anything out of those first and have never had an issue. I imagine half and half would be fine- but you would likely need to shake it well to re-combine the fats.
KK
Kim L. says
Freeze milk all the time. We have a store locally $1.99 each, limit 2 w/ $10.00 purchase. Well I can buy a lot of oatmeal, flour, sugar and clearance produce for $10.00! The store is SAVE- A – LOT . . love it but have to be careful what you buy!
PattyB says
Years ago I knew a military family that bought milk at the commissary and froze it. I was amazed! I will buy organic milk on sale and make my yogurt out of it. I also have frozen heavy cream for whipped cream and it worked fine.
Lisa says
I freeze milk in cartons but I also will freeze milk in ice cube trays to use later in smoothies or Vita Mix ice cream. After the milk is set in the ice cube tray, I take them out of the trays and fill up a ziplock bag. I also do this with leftover coffee, freeze it in ice cube trays to use later in iced coffee.
Mavis says
Oh I love this idea. I freeze stuff in ice cube trays all the time, but I’ve never done milk! Genius!