Freezing milk is an incredibly easy way to extend the expiration date. In addition, it allows you to save money if you buy in large quantities by taking advantage of the supermarket offers! Defrosted milk is safe to drink and maintains the same nutritional values as fresh milk, so there is practically no reason to spoil milk instead of freezing it!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Freezing the Milk
Step 1. Leave room in the container for the milk to expand
When milk freezes, it takes up a little more space than when it is liquid. If the milk container is filled to the brim, it could burst in the freezer, creating a terrible mess (especially if it's thick glass jugs). Fortunately, this problem is easy to prevent: just fill the container and then remove 240 ml of liquid to leave a few centimeters. By doing this, you will leave room for the milk to expand.
On the other hand, if you have already drunk 240ml of milk or more, you can safely skip this step
Step 2. Put the date on the container
Once you've frozen the milk, the expiration date on the package becomes virtually useless unless you thaw the bottle right away. For this reason, it would be wise to label the container both with the date of the day you freeze the milk, and with the number of days left to expiration. You can write it directly on the container with a marker or, if you prefer not to dirty it, you can use a piece of masking tape as a label.
For example, if it's August 24th and the milk expires on August 29th, you could write "Frozen: Aug 24 - 5 days to go", so you know by when you need to drink the milk when you thaw it
Step 3. Place the container with the milk in the freezer
You are ready to freeze the milk, just put the labeled container in the freezer at a temperature below 0 ° C. If you can't fit the entire container into the freezer, you may want to divide the milk into smaller containers. In about 24 hours the milk should be solid.
When the milk has frozen, you may see the separation between the milk and the fat. Don't worry, this is a normal part of the freezing process and is completely safe
Step 4. Keep it up to 2-3 months
Many sources recommend leaving the milk in the freezer for up to two to three months. Other sources even recommend freezing it for up to six months. The general consensus seems to be that milk can last a long time in the freezer, but it gradually absorbs the flavors and smells of other foods in the freezer, making it less pleasant to drink.
Be aware that higher-fat dairy products, such as eggnog, buttermilk, and cream, usually have a similar (or slightly shorter) shelf life to regular milk when frozen, usually lasting around a month or two
Step 5. Consider freezing milk in ice trays
Instead of freezing the milk in its own container, you could pour some into the ice cube trays. This is a great idea especially for those who want to use frozen milk for cooking, as it allows you to quickly add more or less standard portions of milk to your recipe, instead of spoiling an entire container or having to wait for it to stop. defrost.
Frozen milk cubes are also great for adding to glasses of fresh milk - they keep it cold and, at the same time, don't dilute it like ice cubes as they melt
Part 2 of 3: Thaw the milk
Step 1. Defrost the milk in the refrigerator
The secret to defrosting milk is to follow a gradual and not a rapid process. For this reason, the easiest way is to simply transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator. The slightly higher temperature of the refrigerator will allow the milk to slowly return to a liquid state.
This step may take some time, depending on the volume of the frozen milk. It is not uncommon for it to take up to three days for it to defrost completely in the refrigerator
Step 2. Soak it in cold water to make it defrost faster
If you are in a hurry to thaw the milk, try filling the sink with cold (not hot) water and submerge the frozen milk containers in it. Use a heavy object, such as a cast iron pot, to hold the milk under water as it defrosts. This process will be quicker than the previous one, but still takes several hours, so be patient.
The reason milk thaws earlier in water than in the refrigerator is related to the way energy is transmitted between the milk and its surrounding environment at the molecular level. Liquids promote the transfer of heat energy into ice more effectively than air, making the former a faster method of thawing
Step 3. Do not use heat to thaw the milk
Never try to thaw milk quickly with heat. It's a surefire way to ruin your milk and your hard work. Reheating milk can cause it to thaw unevenly or even burn, leaving you with an undrinkable product. Here is a list of tips to avoid this situation:
- Do not leave frozen milk at room temperature
- Do not defrost milk in the microwave
- Do not defrost milk in hot water
- Do not defrost milk in a saucepan on the stove
- Do not thaw the milk by exposing it to the sun
Part 3 of 3: Serve the Frozen Milk
Step 1. Serve it within 5-7 days of defrosting it
If the milk was fresh when you frozen it, its "freshness" should be the same after thawing. However, most thawed milk is good to drink and use in cooking for about a week after thawing. Although the appearance and texture may look slightly different, it should still be good to consume.
Keep in mind that if the milk wasn't fresh when you frozen it, it won't be fresh even when thawed. In other words, when you freeze the milk a day or two after its expiration, when thawed it will be in much the same state it was initially
Step 2. Shake it before serving
During the freezing process, the fats present in the milk can solidify and separate from the liquid. This effect is greater in whole milk. To redistribute the fats in the milk, shake the container a couple of times during defrosting to mix the milk and fats together.
You may notice that the milk has developed a yellowish color, which is a normal part of the freezing process and not a sign that the milk has gone bad
Step 3. Alternatively, use a blender
It's worth pointing out that you don't have to shake the milk by hand to redistribute the fat. Using a mechanical tool, such as a blender or mixer, you can quickly and easily obtain a more homogeneous milk with a greater consistency. It may also help you get rid of frozen bits left in the milk, which if you don't find out before drinking, could be a nasty surprise.
Step 4. Don't be discouraged if the milk has a slightly different consistency
Defrosted milk can sometimes look different than regular milk, usually described as slightly heavier and watery. While it is completely healthy to drink, these qualities can cause someone to fail to drink it.
