Fresh milk is a constant visitor in the refrigerator. However, sometimes it stays there longer than it is good for. The sell-by date is running out, it spoils and has to go. Don't waste a drop. Freeze the milk while it's still good.

Milk can also be frozen in cubes

Freeze fresh or preserved milk?

Preserved milk should preferably be entrusted to the freezer. Fresh milk can also be frozen, but in the freezing cold its fats separate from the protein molecules and settle unsightly on the surface. Homogenized milk has lower fat percentages and is therefore more suitable for freezing.

Suitable containers

Various types of packaging can be used for freezing milk:

  • milk cartons
  • tetra packs
  • plastic bottle

Frosted milk needs more space

Freezing milk expands and takes up more space than fresh milk. If the milk container is filled to the brim and placed in the freezer, this can have unpleasant consequences: the container bursts and the milk is no longer usable.

This "disaster" can easily be avoided by leaving some free space in the container. If an entire unopened package is frozen, some milk should be removed from it beforehand. A cup is enough.

Note important dates

Be sure to write the date of freezing on the freezer container. The remaining shelf life should also be noted. You can easily calculate how many days the fresh or thawed milk still has to go using the best-before date.

Freeze milk cubes

Leftover milk can also be frozen in the ice cube tray. After the cubes are completely frozen, they are removed from the container and kept in a freezer bag. Such milk cubes offer a number of advantages:

  • they can later be removed in portions
  • desired amount of milk can be dosed better
  • for example for baking recipes
  • Milk cubes thaw faster than a large "milk block"

Shelf life in the freezer

Milk should not be stored in the freezer for more than three months. It does not spoil even if stored for a long time, but takes on foreign odors over time. Once thawed, the milk should be consumed within five days. Occasionally earlier if it was not freshly frozen.

thawing

You have two options for defrosting milk:

  • slowly in the fridge
  • may take more than a day depending on the size of the container
  • under cold water
  • within a few hours

Never thaw milk using heat. The microwave is also not suitable for defrosting.

Shake first, then serve

Before serving the thawed milk, it should be shaken well. As a result, the attached layer of fat is evenly distributed in the liquid again. The yellowish tint in milk after freezing is normal and does not indicate that the milk is bad.

tips

Use frozen milk for cooking or baking, as it is only suitable for drinking to a limited extent after it has been thawed.

Conclusion for fast readers

  • Long-life milk: It freezes well before the sell-by date has passed
  • Fresh milk: less suitable for freezing; fat settles unsightly when it is cold.
  • Suitable containers: milk cartons, tetra packs and plastic bottles
  • Filling: Frozen milk expands, so never fill to the brim; Container can burst
  • Labeling: Record the date of freezing and also the remaining shelf life in days
  • Milk cubes: Leftover milk can be frozen in ice cube trays
  • Advantages: cubes can be removed individually; Amount can be dosed better; for example for recipes
  • Shelf life: Use frozen milk within three months
  • Longer storage: milk can also be stored for longer than three months, but will take on foreign odours
  • Thawing: Slowly in the refrigerator or faster under cold water; do not thaw under the influence of heat
  • Serving: Shake the milk before serving to mix the separated layer of fat with the liquid
  • Tip: Use frozen milk for cooking and baking, as it is suitable for drinking to a limited extent

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

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Care tips