Kelsey Hansen
Best Containers for Freezing Milk
Heres what our Test Kitchen learned about freezing milk.
Canning Jars
Select canning jars specifically approved for freezing (this is on the jar packaging).
Ball mason jars are a good option.
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Dont fill jars to the top; leave about an inch of room for expansion.
Ice Cube Trays
Fill an ice cube tray with your milk.
Once frozen, transfer frozen cubes to plastic freezer bags.
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But as with every option here, the container cant be totally full.
The smaller containers will fit more easily in an already-full freezer.
Plastic Freezer Bags
Dont use your typical sandwich baggie to freeze milk.
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Instead, opt for plastic bags designed for freezing or vacuum freezer bags.
Thefreezer-safe bagsare thicker and more resistant to moisture or oxygen.
Remove as much air as possible from the bags, and dont forget to leave room for expansion.
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How long does it take milk to freeze?
It doesnt matter which key in of milk you have.
It takes 3 to 4 hours to freeze completely.
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The best kinds of milk for freezing are regular dairy.
They froze and thawed well without signs of deteriorating quality, such as color changes and curdling.
In general, nut milks and oat milk dont freeze well.
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Soy Milk
Like the nut milks we tested, soy milk appeared curdled when thawed.
The soy milk, in particular, took on an unappealing light coffee color.
So we dont recommend freezing soy milk, nor do themajor manufacturers.
This is a good alternative to tossing out soy milk that would go to waste.
How Long to Freeze Milk
Use frozen milk in the first month for the best quality.
However, you’re able to store it in the freezer for up to three months from purchase.
