When you find a great price on milk or other dairy products, you may be reluctant to stock up for fear that it will go bad before you can use it. However, it’s safe to freeze dairy products to save them for a later date!
For milk, just follow some easy steps to make sure you preserve it properly:
- Keep it in a container that has extra some room. Milk, like other liquids, expands when frozen so you need some extra room. If you buy you milk in a plastic jug and intend to put it directly in the freezer, you’re probably going to be ok since the jug itself will expand. Since we don’t want to risk anyone having a big milky mess in their freezer, we recommend taking the safe route: open it and use about a cup and a half before you freeze it!
- Make sure the container is firmly closed.
- Let the milk thaw first in the refrigerator when you’re ready to use it and plan that it’ll take a day or more to fully defrost. Also, keep in mind that the fat separates upon freezing so, after it’s thawed, you should gently shake the container to get the milk back to its original consistency.
Consume within 3 months for the best quality, but it can last longer than that if you want. Just keep it frozen at zero degrees Fahrenheit. An added perk to freezing a large container of milk is that freezers are more efficient when they’re 2/3 full so you’ll actually be lowering your electric bill!
Most other dairy (e.g. butter, cheese) is also safe to freeze and also a bit easier since it usually just entails wrapping them securely. If you’d like more info (or a little guidance), North Dakota State University has published a great article on food freezing basics.
By freezing dairy products, you’ll be able to take advantage of some simple cost saving techniques such as stocking up, buying larger sizes or participating in “buy one, get one” specials.
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A LOZO expert posted this tip. |