By freezing milk, you can take advantage of milk sale prices and two-for-one deals and also stock up with an extra gallon or two in case of emergency.
(Updating to add in this current time of emergency: There is no need to go out and wipe the shelves clean of milk! We suggest buying only what you family can and will use in a reasonable amount of time. We're all in this together! Now back to our previously written post:)
Many households, like ours, can't use more than a gallon of milk before it expires. But, often milk is cheaper if you buy a two-gallon pack and at times stores will have special offers where you get a free gallon of milk when buying X number of boxes of cereal – so it's nice to take advantage of those deals.
Your freezer can come to the rescue in this situation! To freeze a gallon of milk, all you need to do is remove about one cup of milk from the gallon to allow for expansion and then store upright in your freezer.
Remove the milk from the freezer a couple of days before you need it, as it generally takes about 2 or 3 days to fully thaw in your refrigerator.
Before using, shake well as it will separate after freezing. Low fat and skim milk work best as there will be more separation in whole milk.
How long will milk last in the freezer?
3 months is recommended, but you can freeze milk for up to 6 months.
Can I freeze other sizes of milk?
Yes you can also store half gallons of milk, quarts or other sizes. Bottles or cartons with flexible sizes are the best options.
How long can I use milk after it defrosts?
Use opened milk within 5 days of opening.
Can I free milk that is already turning sour?
We recommend freezing milk that is still fresh. If your milk has just started to go sour. You can use it to make sour milk biscuits.
More Food Storage Tips:
Pantry Expiration Dates and Your Stockpile: How long can I store that?
How to Make Your Produce Last Longer and Avoid Spoilage
Baking Ingredients Shelf Life Guide
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Melisa says
Does this change the taste of the milk?
Jinxy and Me says
It still tastes the same, but the consistency can be a bit different if you use whole milk. It works best for skim, 1%, 2% and you just have to be sure to shake it well after defrosting!
susieloulou says
My very picky kids will drink it, but I’ve only done 2%.
Lea-Ann says
I’ve never had to take any milk out of the container. The container expands a little bit, but I’ve never had one burst. We do this all the time because our local grocery store sells the gallons for $1 on their “one day sales” all the time, so our freezer is always full of milk. This is a great tip and works well.
Mom2fur says
I learned the hard way that a gallon of milks takes about as long to thaw as a small turkey. Now I decant it into smaller containers. That is, when I have enough to freeze. We go through a LOT of milk here!
Sandy says
How long can it stay in a freezer ?
Chrysa says
About 3-5 months.
Karen says
How long can you use Milk that has been frozen?
Tonna says
How long can you keep in freezer and how long is it good after you thaw it.
Debbie says
I don’t remove any milk from gallon before freezing and haven’t had any problems with it busting. I also defrost it sitting on the island table of my kitchen a couple days and have had good results. The milk always tastes the same as unfrozen milk.
Tammy says
Can milk in a carton be frozen if so will I have to pour out 1 cup before freezing?
Chrysa says
To be safe, I would recommend removing a bit before freezing. While some cartons have enough “give” to accommodate expansion, others won’t.
Rose says
Cottage Cheese is made from sour milk along with a few other ingredients that is put in there. Thanks for the information on how to freeze milk for quite a long time
Lorraine says
Does the 5 days to use include the 2-3 days ti thaw?