TOP 3 proven ways to freeze milk

The easiest way to protect milk from souring is freezing.

But in order to preserve all the taste and biological properties of this product, you need to adhere to certain rules.

The main requirements are the correct selection of containers for freezing milk and compliance with the shelf life of the frozen drink.

Can it be stored in the freezer?

You can store milk in the freezer. But provided that this is done once. Repeated freezing, especially of previously boiled milk, will kill all the beneficial components in the drink. This drink is harmful to health.

Skim milk is best suited for freezing. Flakes form on the surface of a drink with a high percentage of fat content, and underneath it is a cloudy liquid. After defrosting, full-fat milk will become homogeneous again if you heat it a little and mix thoroughly.

Storage duration

How long can milk be stored in the freezer? Milk can be stored in the freezer several months at temperatures 15-18 C° below zero.

But already at the end of the second month, the taste of the product will deteriorate significantly, and the amount of nutrients will decrease. Therefore, it is better to consume a frozen drink within 4-6 weeks.

Long-term freezing gradually destroys milk proteins, and the product gathers into lumps after defrosting.To control the expiration date, it is better to immediately label a container with a frozen product. The container should contain information about the date the drink was placed in the freezer.

Which is correct?

In addition to observing the time limits for freezing a natural product, it is important to choose the right storage container. You also need to remember: different types of milk will behave differently in the freezer.

Selection of containers

Frozen milk can be stored in different containers:

• in plastic bottles;
• in plastic bags with a zipper;
• in ice trays (frozen white cubes are convenient to add to hot drinks).

The plastic freezer bag can only be used once.

In a bottle

In addition to plastic bottles from store-bought milk, You can use containers from baby food, juices, yogurt.

It is more convenient to place small bottles on the freezer shelf - there is little space between them.

How to freeze milk in a bottle:

1. Wash the inside of the container thoroughly, turn it over and let the drops drain. Dry the bottle, pour boiling water over it (sterilization is not suitable for disposable containers).
2. Pour the drink into the bottle.
3. Do not fill the product to capacity. When frozen, milk will begin to expand and a container filled to the top may crack.
4. After the bottle has been filled, you need to try to squeeze the air out of it and close the lid tightly.
5. Place the container in the freezer for storage.

Liquids frozen in bottles cannot be partially used. That is, you will have to defrost the entire contents of the container and consume it.It is impossible to break off a part of the frozen product and get it out due to the shape of the bottle.

In packages

Bags are more convenient than bottles if you need to take not all the frozen milk, but only part of it. You can separate a portion from the total frozen piece and put the rest back in the freezer.

How to store milk in bags:

1. Choose a thick freezer bag. It is better if it is closed with a zip lock.
2. You need to pour the drink into bags as carefully as possible. To avoid spilling it, you can immerse the bags in tall cups, glasses, or jars.
3. Close the bag, make sure the lock is closed tightly. Place in the freezer for storage.

In ice trays

This method is the easiest in terms of preparing for freezing:

• take an ice tray, wash and dry well;
• fill the cells with milk;
• cover the container with a lid;
• place the form in the freezer for storage.

Milk easily absorbs odors from foods stored in the refrigerator or freezer. To prevent this from happening, it is better to tightly close the bottle or bag and cover the ice tray with a lid.

Another option is to remove everything from the freezer except milk.. If this is not done, after defrosting the drink may unpleasantly surprise you with its taste.

Depending on the product type

In addition to cow's milk, other types of milk can be frozen. Freezing will affect each drink differently:

1. Almond, oatmeal, soybean, flaxseed - when frozen, they can separate and become grainy. Best frozen in ice cube trays and used for hot drinks.
2. Coconut — the product should not be frozen in a tin can.Storage containers and freezing temperatures are the same as for cow's milk. The coconut drink may also separate.
3. Condensed - should not be frozen in a tin. Sweet condensed milk will not freeze because it contains a lot of sugar.
4. Goat – lends itself well to freezing, but may separate a little. It is best to store this drink in a glass container.
5. Chest – during freezing, slight changes in smell and taste and fat separation are possible. At a temperature of 15 C° below zero, such a product can be stored for up to 6 months.

Milk with a long shelf life does not need to be frozen if the packaging has not been opened.

Defrosting features

If the freezing was slow and gradual, the milk should not be boiled after defrosting. The protein in the product will be destroyed and the drink will curdle into flakes.

Defrost milk can be done in several ways:

• remove the container and leave to defrost at room temperature;
• place the container with the drink in the refrigerator for several hours;
• Immerse the container with frozen milk first in cold and then in warm water.

Practical advice

Practical tips will help you freeze milk correctly and quickly:

1. Homemade milk must be boiled before freezing. But if the defrosted drink is then used for baking or preparing hot dishes, boiling is not necessary.
2. The freshest possible product is sent for freezing. If the drink has been stored at room temperature for a long time, it is better not to risk it.
3. The milk must be cooled before it goes into the freezer.It is impossible to freeze a warm, and even more so a hot product.
4. A frozen drink should not be removed from the freezer unnecessarily.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will show you how to freeze milk:

Conclusion

When stored in the freezer, most types of milk separate, especially plant-based varieties (flaxseed, almond, oatmeal, etc.). To fix this problem, just heat the drink and beat it a little with a blender at low speeds. If the storage period is observed, the healthy product will not lose its nutritional and taste qualities.