Can you freeze almond milk? Yes, almond milk does freeze, but the answer isn’t that simple. If you want to learn how to do it correctly read this article.
Yes, almond milk does freeze, but there are a few things you should know.
If you’re concerned about the safety of freezing almond milk rest assure it’s safe to freeze almond milk.
Most of the almond milk you can buy are the shops are pasteurized and all pasteurized milk are safe to freeze.
But, most manufactures don’t really recommend you to freeze almond milk. This is not because of a safety reason but more a quality issue.
Freezing almond milk changes the texture which will have an effect on the taste and flavor.
But there are a few things you can do when you defrost almond milk to help with taste and texture and most people that freeze almond milk are happy with the results.
Can you freeze almond milk in the carton?
Almond milk can be frozen in the carton and it’s probably the best way to do it if you plan on using it for baking, cooking, and smoothies.
Almond milk will expand when it freezes so make sure you never freeze a carton with more than 3/4 of the milk in it.
Can homemade almond milk be frozen?
Yes, it can.
If you are already making or plan on making your own almond milk you can make it in bulk and freeze it. It will naturally have a shorter life span than that of commercial almond milk, so it’s actually a great idea to freeze homemade almond milk if you make it in bulk.
Can you freeze almond milk for smoothies?
Yes, and it’s a great idea.
Almond milk is a great idea for smoothies and frozen almond milk cubes a great replacement for normal ice cubes.
Must Read: Can You Freeze Risotto? 9 Things You Need To Know About Risotto
How does freezing affect almond milk?
Freezing almond milk has no effect on the nutritional value of almond milk.
It’s only the texture and flavor that gets effected by freezing almond milk. Separation happens when the almond powder separates from the liquid and you end up with a watery liquid with flaky bits floating around.
But there are methods you can use to freeze and defrost almond milk that can help with the taste and texture and ensure it is still usable once you defrost it.
How to freeze almond milk?
If you know you are going to consume your almond milk within 3 days you can freeze almond milk in its original packaging.
Just remember to pour some of the milk out or you might end up with a leaking carton.
- Freeze almond milk before it’s best before date
- Make sure to shake the milk before freezing it. It will help to prevent separation while freezing
- You can freeze almond milk in smaller quantities if you know the amount you will need per day. This way you’ll decrease the risk of having to through away expensive almond milk.
- Remember to put the dates on your storage packaging
Be sure to use airtight containers and leave enough room for the frozen almond milk to expand.
How To Make Almond Ice Cubes For Smoothies:
So can you freeze almond milk for smoothies? Absolutely, and the best way to freeze almond milk is to freeze it as ice cubes.
Follow this easy step by step guide to learn how to freeze almond milk ice cubes.
How to defrost almond milk?
The best method of defrosting almond milk is by thawing it. You can do it wrong and this is when you get bad results and spoiled almond milk.
How to thaw almond milk
It’s a simple process that can take a long time. Take the frozen almond milk out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. Leave it there for a few hours (It can take up to 12 hours to completely defrost.)
If you need to defrost frozen almond milk fast you can boil it until it reaches cooking temperature and then wait until it cools down again.
These two methods are the safest way of defrosting frozen almond milk. It ensures the micro-organisms (bacteria) doesn’t become active again. (The stuff that spoils your food).
Stay away from defrosting your almond milk with hot water, the microwave or at room temperature. These methods run the risk of creating optimal conditions for bacteria to become active and when they’ve become active food starts to spoil.
Also Read: Practical Ways You Need to Know on How to Store Macarons
How to fix frozen grainy almond milk
Once your almond milk is defrosted you might end up with some grainy almond milk. It normally doesn’t taste or look to great, but there’s an easy fix for this.
All you need is a blender. Pour your defrosted almond milk in the blender jug and blend it.
Your almond milk should turn back it’s original silky texture.
How to tell if almond milk has gone bad?
There’s always a risk that your almond milk has gone bad during the freezing or thawing process.
So how can you tell if your almond has gone bad?
It can be difficult to decide whether almond milk has gone bad after you’ve frozen it.
Defrosted almond milk can sometimes look bad because of the freezing process. This doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
If there is a sour smell accompanied by thicker slimy chunks and a colour change (usually more yellow) in the milk it’s a good indicator that the almond milk has gone bad.
If you’re still not sure and feel brave enough, you can have a small sip to taste. You’ll be able to quickly tell it’s rotten.
There is also slime test you can use. Pour some of the almond milk down the drain. If the texture isn’t as smooth as it needs to be it’s a good idea to throw it away.
How Long Does Almond Milk Last?
Frozen almond milk should be used within 2 months of freezing it and when you open it consumed within 3 days.
Refrigerator almond milk should be used before the best before date and within 7 days of opening it. Almond milk you can store on shelves can usually be stored for a few months, but needs to be used within 10 days.
If you’re using homemade almond milk you can assume it will only last around five days.