If you got gallons of milk from a sale at the store or for the sake of stocking up, you’ll agree with me that the fridge isn’t your best bet for that. So, can you freeze a gallon of milk to preserve it?
Freezing milk is a good way to preserve it for a long period. However, only if you do it correctly. But freezing a whole gallon of milk is not advisable.
Continue reading to see why you should not freeze a gallon of milk. Also, you’ll get to know how to freeze milk correctly.
Can you freeze a gallon of milk?
You can freeze milk in the gallon as long as you’re not freezing a full gallon of milk. Yes, do not freeze a full gallon of milk.
Milk expands as it freezes. And in a full gallon, it will expand and most likely split the gallon. This will result in waste and a mess in your freezer.
If you want to freeze milk in the gallon, reduce the milk by a cup or two to allow room for expansion.
Can you freeze an unopened gallon of milk?
It is not advisable to do so.
If you will freeze the gallon without opening it, you must keep an eye on the gallon of milk. Ensure milk does not become frozen enough to expand the container and rupture it.
However, if you’re storing the gallon of milk for a long time, open it and reduce it by a cup or two to create a headspace for expansion.
Why should you freeze gallons of milk?
Freeze gallons of milk to preserve it over a long period.
Freezing milk in the gallon it came in helps you save room in your freezer. This is because you’ll be using one container to store so much milk.
How to freeze a gallon of milk
You can either freeze a gallon of milk in its original container or in smaller containers.
If you’re freezing the milk in the original gallon, reduce about a cup of milk to allow room for expansion. Be careful not to leave too much air in the gallon. Otherwise, you risk quick spoilage and waste.
After reducing the milk, seal the gallon tightly and shake gently. Then, freeze it.
You can also freeze milk in small quantities using plastic bottles or freezer bags. Share the milk in portions you can use up at a time. Pour it into the bottle or bag and seal it.
If you’re using plastic bottles, remember ½ to 1-inch headspace. If it’s a freezer bag, it should be airtight with a little space for expansion.
Make milk ice cubes you can pop into beverages. Get an ice cube tray and fill each cube with milk but not to the brim. Allow the milk to freeze until you have solid milk ice cubes.
Afterward, pop the cubes into a freezer bag and freeze. This way, you can easily take out as much milk as you need at a time.
How long should you freeze gallons of milk?
You can freeze a gallon of milk for up to six months.
Milk may even stay longer, up to a year, if you freeze it properly. However, it is not recommended you freeze milk for that long. After three or four months, the quality of the milk reduces, even in the freezer.
Pros of freezing gallon of milk
- When you freeze gallons of milk, you save money because you’ll most likely get two gallons or more at a discounted price.
- Moving milk from the refrigerator to the freezer will give you space to refrigerate other food items you’ll need frequently.
- Also, when you store a gallon of milk in the freezer, you save yourself the time and energy you’d spend taking frequent trips to the store.
- In addition, freezing milk helps to prevent waste.
- And if you freeze milk properly, it won’t affect the taste or texture.
Cons of freezing gallon of milk
- If you don’t freeze milk in the gallon correctly, you may end up with spilled milk and a messed-up freezer. This usually happens when you freeze a full gallon of milk without leaving the headspace.
- Sometimes, frozen milk will have a grainy texture, especially when it has been frozen for too long. But you can easily fix this with a blender or by using the milk for smoothies, baking, and cooking.
- If you don’t monitor the milk or remember the freezing date, the milk may go past its printed date in the freezer. This will leave you with doubts about drinking the milk.
FAQs
What are the best containers to freeze milk in?
The best containers for freezing milk are airtight ziplock bags, freezer bags, canning jars, and ice cube trays.
These containers allow you to freeze milk in small portions and thaw only as much as you need at a time.
Can you refreeze thawed milk?
Do not refreeze milk frozen milk after it has thawed completely. But, if you notice that the milk still has ice crystals, you can refreeze it.
How long will frozen milk last after thawing?
Do not keep thawed milk for more than one week. Use it up quickly to avoid loss in quality. Also, thawed milk does not taste great. This is why you should freeze milk in small portions.
Conclusion
Freezing milk in the gallon it came in isn’t so great an idea. It may sound like a good way to store a large quantity of milk in just one container. However, that’s not the case.
In the gallon, milk expands as it freezes. Consequently, the container may break open and waste the milk.
Instead, make milk ice cubes and freeze the milk in small quantities using small plastic bottles. Most preferably, don’t freeze milk if you can avoid it. Milk rarely runs out anyway.
Thanks for reading.
Visit Millenora to read more helpful articles on food storage and preservation.
