As one of the most popular alternatives to dairy milk, soya milk is a cupboard staple for people who follow a plant-based diet. Itās also free from cholesterol and low in saturated fat, making it a healthy alternative. But what is the best way to keep it stored?
Can You Freeze Soya Milk?
Yes, you can freeze soya milk for up to 3 months. You can either freeze a carton of soya milk or you can portion it out into freezer-safe containers. Unfortunately, the texture will change drastically and it does not freeze well.
Do Does Soya Milk freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Soya Milk? No
How to Freeze Soya Milk
While itās perfectly safe to freeze soya milk, doing so may cause it to separate. As long as you stir it well after defrosting, you will be able to bring it back to its desired consistency.
Some people think that soya milk loses some of its flavour once it has been frozen and believe it tastes a little watery. But if youāre okay with a slight loss of taste and a change in consistency, freezing soya milk is a good way of preventing it from spoiling.
If youāre freezing shop-bought soya milk, itās best to place an unopened carton directly in the freezer while itās still fresh. This will preserve it for up to three months.
However, if you want to freeze an opened carton (or, indeed, homemade soya milk), follow the simple steps below:
- Transfer to an Airtight Container
Pour the soya milk into a clean airtight container. Leave at least one inch from the top of the container to cater for expansion in the freezer. Then, place the lid on the container. - Label and Freeze
Write the date that you purchased the soya milk, as well as its use-by date, before placing it on a flat surface in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Soya Milk
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing soya milk to have the best results:
Stir Well After Defrosting
You will probably find that your soya milk has separated after it has frozen. While this is nothing to be alarmed about, you will need to stir it well after defrosting it to try and return it to its desired consistency.
It wonāt always be fully restored to its pre-freezer consistency, so donāt be too disappointed if itās not silky smooth!
Opt for Long-Life Soya Milk Instead
If youāre worried about your soya milk going bad, you could always opt for long-life cartons instead of those that need to be refrigerated. This is a particularly good idea if you buy soya milk in bulk.
While long-life soya milk still needs to be used within a matter of days once opened, unopened cartons will be fine on the shelf for months, removing the need to freeze them.
Use it in Smoothies
Frozen soya milk is an ideal base for delicious, plant-based smoothies. And because it is blended with a range of fruits and vegetables, its texture isnāt overly important. Equally, if you use frozen soya milk in smoothies, you donāt need to defrost it before adding it to your blender.
How Long Can You Freeze Soya Milk?
Once opened, soya milk needs to be used within 3-4 days from the fridge, so freezing it is an excellent way of extending its shelf life. It can be stored in the freezer. for around 3 months.
However, buying long-life soya milk cartons is a better alternative to freezing them, as it wonāt alter the consistency or taste of the milk.
You Can Freeze Soya Milk for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Soya Milk?
Should you use soya milk in smoothies and certain desserts, you donāt need to defrost it. However, to defrost soya milk, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the fridge. This will take several hours.
Once youāre happy that the soya milk has thawed, you will need to stir it well to help bring it back to its desired consistency.
Can You Refreeze Soya Milk?
Due to the fact that soya milk splits during the initial freezing process, itās not a good idea to freeze it a second time. Also, the high water content of soya milk means that it can go watery during the freezing process, which will affect its sweet taste.
If you only use small amounts of soya milk once in a while, itās better to freeze it in batches, as this allows you to remove only what you need from the freezer, reducing the risk of wasting the milk.
Does Soya Milk Freeze Well?
Soya milk doesnāt freeze very well, and you should only freeze it if youāre worried about wasting an opened carton or if itās about to reach its use-by date.
Instead of freezing soya milk to preserve it, we recommend purchasing long-life soya milk that has a much longer shelf-life and will be good for several months unopened without freezing it.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing soya milk or soya in general, then these may help:
Yes, you can freeze soya yoghurt. Unfortunately, the texture and taste will change a little which means frozen soya yoghurt is only suitable for cooking, baking and smoothies.
Unfortunately, soya cream will not freeze well at all. Like soya milk, when it is frozen, it will split. Soya cream splits even worse. It will become grainy and watery.
Although Alpro hasn’t confirmed either way, it should be possible to freeze their soya milk like you would any other soya milk.
