Almond milk has become a popular milk alternative for those who are health-conscious or vegan. The biggest problem with almond milk is that it tends to come in large cartons, and it can be difficult to drink it all before it goes bad. So, how do you store it?
Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
Yes, you can freeze almond milk for up to 6 months but there are some caveats. Frozen then thawed almond milk separates and even a whizz in the blender doesnāt entirely fix this.
How to Freeze Almond Milk
If you love a good healthy smoothie, then you already know that using ice makes everything so much creamier and tastier, which is why this is one of the ways you can freeze almond milk.
- Portion Out
Grab an ice cube tray. Pour almond milk into the tray compartments. Make sure you leave a little bit of a gap so that the liquid can expand.
- Flash Freeze
Put the tray flat into a freezer and freeze. If you’re worried about things falling into the tray or spillage, you can wrap it in cling film.
- Final Freeze
Once the almond milk ice cubes are frozen, transfer them to a labelled and dated freezer bag. Finally, return the cubes to the freezer.
How to Freeze Almond Milk in Containers
If you are looking to freeze your almond milk in larger quantities, the process is much the same. Instead of using an ice cube tray, use larger airtight containers. You’ll need to make sure that the boxes are freezer-safe.
When pouring your almond milk into the container, make sure you leave a small cap at the top to allow for an expansion likely to happen when you store your almond milk in the freezer.
How to Freeze Other Plant-Based Milk
It’s not just almond milk that’s freezable. There is a range of plant-based milk types that can all be frozen. If you need more information on these, click the relevant link below:
Yes, it is possible to freeze Silk almond milk. Silk would probably disagree as you can have some issues with the texture of the milk when it freezes and thaws. But this is the case for all almond milk, regardless of the brand.
It is possible to freeze homemade almond milk, but you’ll have the same issue with shop-bought almond milk where the texture becomes grainy after thawing.
How Long Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
There is not a great deal of information on how long you can freeze almond milk, mostly because manufacturers donāt advise it because of the extreme change in quality and texture frozen almond milk can suffer.
A general guideline would be to ensure you use any frozen almond milk between 3 and 6 months from the freezing date.
If you have made your own almond milk, then it will last for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. If you have bought almond milk from the supermarket then it will last for around 7 to 10 days.
How Do You Defrost Almond Milk?
If you are adding ice cubes to a smoothie or cooked dish, pop the frozen almond milk ice cubes directly into the dish or smoothie and blend.
This should disguise any textural changes, and as long as you drink it right away, you shouldn’t find the texture very noticeable.
If you need to defrost the almond milk, you can pop it into the fridge and allow it to thaw out slowly.
You can speed this process up if you want to by using a lukewarm water bath. Put the container into a bowl of cool or lukewarm water and defrost.
When you have thawed the almond milk, you must blend it to fix the separation problem.
How Do You Fix Frozen Almond Milk?
This is something that gets asked a lot by people who have frozen almond milk and then discovered the texture is completely off.
Unfortunately, the only way to potentially fix it is to give it a lengthy blitz in a blender to try to incorporate those fats back into the liquid. There’s no guarantee that this will work, however.
Ultimately, if you plan on using frozen almond milk on your cereal, in your coffee or on its own, then you will be disappointed. It just won’t be as good as it normally is.
If, however, you’re going to use it in smoothies, curries, desserts or sauces, then there is a chance you’ll be able to mask the textural issues.
How to Fix Separated Almond Milk
To fix separated almond milk, start by giving it a thorough shake to combine the separated layers. If shaking doesn’t work, try heating the milk gently, stirring constantly until it blends. Adding a small amount of a natural emulsifier like lecithin or xanthan gum can help prevent separation.
Can You Refreeze Almond Milk?
As you can imagine, almond milk is not something you want to refreeze.
This can catalyse the separation issues you’ll experience from just one freeze. Refreezing and then defrosting again will make the separation even more noticeable.
Does Almond Milk Freeze Well?
Almond milk is not one of those food substances that freezes well at all. When it thaws out, the proteins and fats separate, which isnāt pleasant to drink.
You can blend the milk up to fix most of this issue, but even then, if you wanted to drink a glass of almond milk on its own, you would notice the texture change.
Does Almond Milk Go Bad?
Yes, almond milk can go bad.
Like other dairy alternatives, almond milk has a shelf life and can spoil if not stored properly. It is important to check the expiration date and refrigerate almond milk at all times.
Once opened, consume it within 7-10 days for the best quality.
Sources
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