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Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
The basic answer to can you freeze almond milk is yes, as long as you know the outcomes. While the nutritional value of almond milk does not deteriorate when it is frozen, the separation of the dairy particles makes it nasty looking. The smooth and silky texture of the milk is broken, giving it a bad aftertaste.
When to freeze almond milk?
A lot of people, specifically culinary experts and gym buffs, recommend that almond milk be frozen only if you will incorporate it regularly in baked goods, and other cooked foods as well as in making protein shakes.
Blending it in cooked food and protein shakes will not affect the taste of the finished product even though the dairy contents are broken.
How to freeze almond milk
If you want to freeze almond milk, here are two ways to do it.
How to Frozen almond milk in cubes
If you want to freeze almond milk in cubes, here is the way to do it.
Materials
- food grade ice cube trays
- almond milk
- fridge plastic bags
Tools
- Fridge
Instructions
- The first thing to do is decide if you want plain almond milk cubes or if you want to incorporate granola, oats, or bits of fruits in it.
- Next, pour the almond milk in the ice cube tray. Leave it in the freezer for at least 8hrs.
- Once the almond milk is frozen in the tray, transfer the cubes in a fridge plastic bag.
- Keep the plastic bag in the fridge. Label each container with the date and time.
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Frozen almond milk in glass containers
- Prep time: 5-7mins
- Active time: 8hrs and 7mins
- Materials: almond milk, glass containers
- Tools: Fridge
- Instructions:
- This one is a more straightforward way to freeze almond milk. The only thing you need to do is to pour almond milk in glass containers with an airtight lid.
- You can separate the glass containers in terms of need. For instance, if you are using a batch for cooked dishes, make sure that you have stored enough for one pouring only. This way, you avoid refreezing a defrosted almond milk.
- Leave at least an inch of space on top when filling the glass containers. This is the breathing space when the milk expands in the freezer.
- Freeze the glass containers with almond milk in an upright position only. Label the lids and leave it in the freezer for 8hrs.
This is just about how to freeze almond milk. In the succeeding sections, you will find out how to thaw it, what to do with it once defrosted and other essential things that you need to know about frozen almond milk.
How to thaw almond milk
Just like any frozen food, all you must do is to transfer the frozen almond milk in that place in the fridge where you put your leftovers. Leave it there to thaw for a few hours (1-2hrs).
After this, you would find that the dairy contents are broken up. To get them back together after thawing, immediately blend, stir, or shake the almond milk.
Now, you will find that the color of the stirred, blended or shaken thawed almond milk will change. Experts say that this is normal. Even the slight difference in taste is normal too. As such, consume immediately.
How to use defrosted almond milk
There are three easy ways to defrost almond milk. One is making almond milk cubes out of it, another is tossing in the container in a bowl of lukewarm water and third is to defrost the almond milk while you cook it.
Before incorporating it to any cooked dish or beverage, make sure that the defrosted almond milk is well stirred. Look out for milk curds settling at the bottom and stir it some more.
So, once you defrost it, how do you use almond milk? Here are the things you can do:
- Cooked dishes: If you want a creamy dish with a healthier full milk alternative, you can always pour in defrosted almond milk in any cooked dish.
- Baked goods: In the same light, if you are on keto diet or switched to a vegan lifestyle, you can always opt for almond milk to substitute regular milk and other dairies. And speaking of vegan lifestyle, you can also use it for cereal bowls.
- Coffee creamer: The nutty, earthy, taste of almond milk is one of the best coffee blends you can ever find. Just make sure that it is stirred well or else, you might not like the taste of the overpowering almond milk.
- Smoothies and shakes: As we have mentioned somewhere here, almond milk is recommended in making healthy or muscle building smoothies and shakes. It is blended with protein shake powders before and after workout sessions. Sometimes, almond milk cubes are also used.
- Desserts: Frozen almond milk used in sorbets, ice cream and pudding are a very underrated combo. It is sought after because it is gluten free and low in calories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freezing Almond Milk
To complete this guide to everything almond milk, we give you a rundown of some of the most frequently asked questions about storing, preparing, as well as the dos and don’ts when it comes to frozen almond milk.
Does almond milk go bad?
This question might look simple in the outset, but it really has a lot of ways to consider in answering this one. First, we start by emphasizing two things: one is that almond milk only has a shelf life of 7-9 days before it starts smelling, or becomes sour and clumpy, second, there are two types of almond milk, the refrigerated and unrefrigerated.
Unrefrigerated almond milk must be stored away from dark, humid areas. Once you open it, keep it refrigerated if you would not consume it all the way. If unsealed, or if the carton is not airtight, expect the almond milk to go bad in just a day.
For refrigerated almond milk, make sure that it is stored away from the fridge’s door. The door is usually the warmest part of the fridge and putting the almond milk carton there will have an effect on the taste of the almond milk, making it a goner in just over a day.
For visuals, here is a table to refer to:
| In the pantry | In the fridge | |
| Almond milk (sold unrefrigerated, unopened) | Best-by date + 1 – 2 months | |
| Almond milk (sold unrefrigerated, opened) | 5 – 7 days | |
| Almond milk (sold refrigerated) | Sell-by date + 3 – 5 days | |
| Almond milk (fresh) | 3 – 5 days |
How long does frozen almond milk last?
When unopened, you can freeze the almond milk (both homemade and in carton packaging) for two months straight. But once it is opened, you have to consume it in a span of three days, or it will start souring and clumping up.
Can almond milk be frozen after opening?
Yes. Homemade or by the carton, almond milk can be frozen after opening. As a matter of fact, this is one of the go-to ways to ensure that it could last up to 9days. However, refreezing the almond milk once it is opened has different considerations. This has been discussed in the other sections so read on.
Can I freeze almond milk yogurt?
Like regular yogurt, you can also freeze almond milk yogurt. However, as we have been mentioning, separation of solid curds and liquid components take place after thawing.
As such, you will feel a significant change in the texture and taste of almond milk yogurt. This is the reason why if you ever use frozen almond milk yogurt, it is best to incorporate it in baked goods and cooked dishes where the change in taste and texture is not recognizable.
Can you freeze almond milk for smoothies?
Yes, and the most recommended freezing method is for almond milk to be frozen in cubes using ice cube molds. This way, you can retain the creaminess and the texture of almond milk in your shake and smoothies.
This method is also good for keeping the almond milk and throwing the carton after opening it to avoid souring. Four cubes of almond milk make up for the day’s required calcium intake.
Can you freeze almond milk in the carton?
Just as any milk, yes, almond milk can be frozen in the carton. However, there is just one drawback. Freezing milk causes them to expand and if you leave the carton unopened for many days, chances are, the carton might burst.
As such, it is recommended that almond milk, or any milk for that matter, be transferred first to an airtight jar or a fridge-safe plastic container before freezing them in.
Can you freeze almond milk and then defrosted?
When frozen, the solid and liquid components of the almond milk break up. This requires skilled thawing after. But it is a different conversation if almond milk is refrozen.
Refreezing the almond milk will have a significant effect on the taste and texture of the milk. This is the reason why it is recommended not to stock up on almond milk or if you do, to freeze it in small batches.
Can you freeze almond milk for popsicles?
This one is a resounding yes. If you want a vegan, low carb, low calorie, and gluten-free popsicles to quench the heat of the summer, you can always go for almond milk popsicles.
It may not taste like the usual popsicle, but combine it with fruits for some grit, and fresh fruit juices, will make you forget that it is made from almond milk.
Interested in making one? There are hundreds of recipes that you can find on the net. Some even feature a complete breakdown of the nutrients for each almond milk popsicle recipe.
What happens if you freeze almond milk?
What happens to other milk when frozen is basically what happens too when you freeze almond milk. It will retain all nutrients but milk has a tendency to expand while on freeze so make sure that they are stored in a fridge-safe container that would not burst in pressure.
To give you a more lucid view of what happens if you freeze almond milk, here are some pros and cons that you should know.
Pros:
- Freezing almond milk before opening it and consuming it entirely maintains the freshness of the milk and enhances the nutrient concentration of the milk.
- Freezing almond milk in cubes is one way to lengthen the fridge life of the milk without losing its taste and texture.
- Freezing almond milk in different batches is another way to ensure that the almond milk does not go bad.
Cons
- When frozen for a long time, milk crystals are produced. As such, you will find milk curds separating from the liquid once you pour it out. You have to skillfully blend and stir it for the components to reunite.
- Prolonged stay in the fridge will also have a significant effect on the texture and taste of the almond milk. It is still recommended that almond milk be consumed in 3-5 days only.
- Thawed almond milk has a very short shelf life. Once you open the almond milk, make sure that you consume it immediately or transform it into cubes so that you can save it for later.
Is it bad if you freeze almond milk and then put it back in the fridge?
Refreezing thawed almond milk is a big no. It is said that defrosted almond milk can only survive for a day.
Other than this, remnants of ice crystals are still settled on the bottom causing a sour taste after a few days. So, while it is possible, thawed or defrosted almond milk should not be put back in the fridge, unless they are made into almond milk cubes.
Can you use a mason jar to freeze almond milk?
Yes, but with some minor considerations. One, make sure that you are using a tempered mason jar. Glass breaks under pressure and it may crack once it is taken out to room temperature.
Also, always leave at least an inch of space when you are filling the mason jars with almond milk. This gives it a breathing space once the milk expands under freezing temperature.
Three, make sure that the mason jar has an airtight lid. This is crucial to the fridge life of the almond milk. It is also recommended that the jar lids should be labeled in terms of date of transfer. This will give you a head up as to which batch should be consumed first or turn into almond milk cubes.
Conclusion
Almond milk is one of the most nutritious milk substitutes ever made. Its high nutritional value makes it the top choice for vegan lifestyle, ketogenic diet, and in muscle building. Knowing what you can do about it and the proper way to store it saves you a lot of time and from the mess of spoiled almond milk.
It is quite delicate, just like other dairy would be, but almond milk is always worth a shot. So, if you intend on storing almond milk in batches starting today, these are the considerations and information that you should be on the know.
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