Can You Freeze Milk? Yes!

One way to save money on groceries is by stocking up on deals which is easy enough to do for dry goods and meat, but what about fresh dairy products like milk? The shelf life is not very long and there’s only so much milk you can drink before it expires. Here’s a tip: You can freeze batches of milk to use for later!

Freezing Milk For Future Use

It makes sense that you will first need to remove a bit of milk from the containers before freezing since liquids expand when they’re frozen, but I’ve found that it’s not necessary. Just popping cartons or plastic jugs of milk in the freezer without first emptying a bit out has worked fine for me.

According to an article I found in the Seattle Times, as long as the milk container has about 1 1/2″ inches of headspace it should be fine (otherwise remove a bit before freezing). To test this for yourself, put a container of milk in a plastic bag and then freeze it. If you find the container will hold the milk without bursting, you’ll know for next time (assuming you buy the same brand/size of milk). If it does burst, the mess will be contained in the plastic bag for easy cleanup.

When you’re running low on milk, remove a carton from the freezer and refrigerate. Depending on the amount of milk, it will need a day or two to thaw. Shake the container well before drinking since it can separate after freezing.

We’re not big milk drinkers in my family so it’s mainly used in cooking and baking (and for breakfast cereal), we don’t notice a difference in quality once it’s been frozen and thawed but if you’re a milk aficionado–your opinion might differ.

Tips:

• Freeze the milk as soon as possible, you want to freeze it before the expiration date but also allow time to consume it once it thaws.
• According to the article I linked to above, low-fat and non-fat milk freezes best.
• How long can milk be frozen? For best results, stick with amounts that will be used within 4 to 6 weeks but I have come across mentions of a three month window.
• Did you know eggs can be frozen too?

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