Most milk is freezable. Freezing is a safe and cost-effective way to store milk. The process extends the life of milk and helps create less waste.
Freezing and storing milk has many benefits. It allows households to have a backup milk supply when they are running low. It extends the natural life of milk, so instead of throwing it away when it spoils, people can thaw it and use it when it suits them. It may also save money.
People can freeze most milk, including breast milk or human milk. Frozen milk retains its nutritional profile when it thaws, and the sooner someone freezes it, the better the milk quality after thawing. The enzymes and fat-soluble vitamins it contains may decrease very slightly but largely remain the same.
This article provides tips for freezing different types of milk and how to defrost it. It also answers some common questions about freezing milk.
To keep milk fresh for as long as possible, it should remain at a temperature of between 32°F and 39.2°F (0℃ and 4℃). If its temperature rises above 39.2°F (4℃), bacteria may grow, resulting in the milk spoiling sooner and becoming undrinkable.
Freezing milk is straightforward, but here are some useful tips:
Learn how to tell if milk has gone off.
There are a wide variety of plant-based and nondairy alternatives to milk, and they are all suitable for freezing.
Freezing nondairy milk is similar to freezing cow’s milk. The milk may separate slightly, the flavor and odor may change slightly, and the texture may be grainier. The thawed milk is suitable for cooking, adding to tea or coffee, or using in a smoothie.
Below are guidelines for freezing nondairy alternatives to milk.
Learn about nondairy alternatives to milk.
Freezing human milk enables parents and caregivers to build up supplies to use at their convenience. The
Learn more about storing breast milk.
The following are tips on thawing milk include:
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding freezing and thawing milk.
Milk can spoil if its temperature rises above 39.2°F (4℃). How long a person can use thawed milk depends on how fresh it is when they freeze it. To be safe, people should use milk as soon as possible after thawing it. A person should pay attention to any signs of spoiling, such as a strong odor or lumpy consistency.
The fat in milk often separates from the liquid when it thaws. Shaking the milk or using a blender should help bring it back together.
Regular glass bottles may crack at freezer temperatures. As the liquid inside them expands, it may put sufficient pressure on the walls of the glass bottle for them to break.
Jars suitable for canning and freezing consist of tempered glass and will withstand the freezing process better. A person can allow extra space in the container for the milk to expand and thaw it completely before removing it from the jar or bottle.
Freezing milk is easy, helps avoid waste, allows a backup supply, and saves money.
Thawed milk will be most nutritious if people freeze it at its freshest. However, as long as freezing happens on or before the best before date, it is fine to freeze milk and thaw it for later use.
The texture of thawed milk may be different from fresh milk, but the solids and liquid usually recombine when a person shakes or blends it.
It is best to freeze milk in its original container, an airtight BPA-free container, or in tempered glass jars or bottles. Placing it at the back of the freezer will ensure its temperature remains constant.
To thaw milk, a person should leave it in the fridge for 24–36 hours. The more milk there is, the longer it will take to thaw.
Last medically reviewed on September 26, 2022
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