Almond milk is a delicious and commonly used alternative for choosing lactose-free milk. It is often enjoyed by those who suffer from lactose intolerance; what's more, some vegans and vegetarians also like to drink it.
If you're one of these millions of almond milk lovers and you find yourself with a container of almond milk that is half full and you can't figure out how to use it in the next few days, what do you do? Or what if your local grocery store is having a great sale on almond milk and you're thinking about stocking up? In both cases, you surely realize that the best solution is to freeze your extra almond milk. But can you freeze almond milk? If you can, is it a good choice? Read on to find out.
Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
The short answer is yes — almond milk can be frozen. Freezing almond milk will have no effect on its safety or nutritional value; however, most almond milk manufacturers do not advise freezing of their products.
But why don't manufactures recommmend freezing almond milk for future drinking?
Can you freeze almond milk? Yes. But should you? Not really. The manufacturers of almond milk brands including Almond Breeze or Silk Pure Almond do not recommend freezing their almond milk. Why? The manufacturers claim that the consistency and texture of their milk is negatively affected by the freezing and then thawing process. The changes to the milk will be noticeable, as there is irregular separation of the almond milk. Irregular separation produces a change in the texture of almond milk and reduces its visual quality; then, both its taste and color will be affected by the freezing processes. One more point, after the milk thaws, its shelf life will be drastically reduced.
If you intend to utilize your leftover almond milk for baking or cooking, freezing it is surely worth a shot. If your plan is to freeze the milk for purposes of drinking, you may be disappointed with the results. The best way to figure out if freezing almond milk will work for you is to try freezing a small amount of milk and see how you feel about the results. You'll find that some brands of almond milk freeze better than others.
If you have homemade almond milk:
Many people who freeze almond milk on a regular basis are quite satisfied with the result. Freezing almond milk is an especially good option for those who make their own almond milk at home, as the shelf life of homemade almond milk tends to be much shorter than the shelf-life of store-bought almond milk.
How to Freeze Almond Milk
As you have known a positive answer to "Can you freeze almond milk?" you may want to know the next step of how to do it. Almond milk should always be frozen in an airtight container, as this prevents the milk from absorbing odors from your freezer. If you freeze the almond milk while it is in its original packing, be sure to take out a little milk first, as almond milk will expand in the freezer.
If you intend to only use a little almond milk at one time, try freezing it in smaller containers—you can even use an ice cube tray. In order to use an ice-cube tray, pour the almond milk into the tray, keep it in the freezer to freeze, remove the cubes of almond milk from the tray, and return them to the freezer in a bag or container. Now, you can thaw the required quantity of almond milk! Bear in mind that you should never re-freeze almond milk after you've thawed it.
How to Thaw Almond Milk
To thaw almond milk, simply move your almond milk from your freezer to your fridge. It may take several hours for almond milk to thaw in the fridge, but this is generally regarded as the best thawing method. If you need your almond milk to thaw more quickly, you can try other methods of defrosting. Before you use your defrosted almond milk, make sure that you stir or shake the milk in order to re-integrate the ingredients that have separated.
How to Tell If Almond Milk Is Bad
As freezing and thawing your almond milk can impact its shelf life, it's important that you know how to tell whether your almond milk is good or bad.
Manufacturers set an approximate date beyond which they product should not be sold. If the product has been stored properly, almond milk should last for a few weeks after this date. Odds are, it won't go bad the day after the sell-by date; however, it's still wise to check before you pour yourself a glass.
The characteristics of bad almond milk include a distended package, changes in color, and a distinct odor. These changes should be easy to spot—if the milk contains thick chunks and gives off a sour smell, discard it immediately. And of course, any milk that tastes rotten or "funny" is never safe to consume.