How to Freeze Milk

Leave room for the milk to expand. As the milk curds, it will take up more space than it did in liquid form. ^[1] If the milk jug is filled to the brim, there is a chance it will overflow the freezer, creating a frozen battlefield in it (especially for glass jars). Fortunately, this is also easily preventable — just drink one cup less milk to leave a few centimeters of space between the lids of the jars. This way, the milk will have enough room to expand.

• On the other hand, if you already drink more than 1 to 2 cups of milk, then you can skip this step.

Enter the date for the milk carton. When milk is refrigerated, the expiry date printed on the carton will no longer matter, unless you defrost it immediately. For this reason, you should write on the box the date of freezing and the number of days remaining before expiration. You can write directly on the box or you can use paper tape to make the label.

• For example, if today is August 24 and the milk expires August 29, you can label it as “Freeze: August 24 — 5 days from expiration” to know if the milk is still ready to use after thawing. how many more days?

Put the milk carton in the freezer. You’re ready to freeze your milk — simply place the labeled milk carton in the freezer below 0 ^o F/C. If the carton of milk does not fit in the freezer, divide the milk into several smaller containers. Within a day the milk was frozen solid.

• Once the milk has frozen, you can see the fat layer separating. Don’t worry, — this is normal during the freezing process and it’s safe.

Store milk for up to 2 to 3 months. Most information recommends that you only store frozen milk in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months. ^[2] Some sources even recommend that you freeze your milk for up to six months. ^[3] Milk can generally be kept in the freezer for a long time in general, but it will gradually pick up the flavors of other foods and become difficult to drink.

• Note that dairy-rich products like custard smoothies, buttermilk, and ice cream typically have the same shelf life as regular milk (or slightly shorter) when frozen — usually about 1 to 2 months.

You can freeze milk in an ice tray. Instead of freezing milk in its container, you can pour it into an ice tray. This is a great option for those who need frozen milk to make cakes, as you can use ice cubes one by one instead of smashing a chunk of frozen milk or waiting for it to defrost.

• You can also put ice cubes in a cup of fresh milk — the milk will stay cold without being diluted like when using regular ice.