Can You Freeze Milk? How to Freeze, Thaw, and Bake With It

In Short

Can you freeze milk? Yes, as long as you pour off a little first to leave about an inch of headspace, since milk expands as it freezes. It keeps its best quality for 1 to 3 months, depending on the source. Thaw it in the fridge and shake it well, because thawed milk can look grainy, and use it for baking, cooking, and smoothies.

How to Freeze Milk

Milk is mostly water, and water expands when it freezes.

A full jug can bulge or pop its cap.

The University of Illinois Extension says to pour milk into smaller airtight containers and leave an inch at the top.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension also recommends small containers, which thaw faster too.

1. Freeze it while it's fresh. Freezing won't rescue milk that's about to turn.
2. Portion it. Pour it into containers in the amounts you bake with.
3. Leave about an inch of headspace. That's the room it needs to expand.
4. Seal and label. Write the date and the type of milk.
5. Freeze at 0°F or below. Lay bags flat until they're solid.

Jug, Carton, Bag, or Ice Cube Tray

• Plastic jug: Fine, as long as you pour out a cup or two first.
• Freezer containers: Tight lids, with that inch of space at the top.
• Freezer bags: Laid flat, they freeze into thin slabs that stack and thaw fast.
• Ice cube trays: Small portions for coffee, sauces, and smoothies. Pop the cubes into a freezer bag once they're solid.

Skip the paper carton.

The National Center for Home Food Preservation says cardboard milk cartons don't block moisture well enough for long freezer storage.

Lining one with a freezer bag fixes that.

An opened carton is easy to pour into a jug or bag instead.

How Long Milk Lasts in the Freezer

This is where the sources split.

Illinois Extension gives milk 3 months at 0°F for top quality.

UNL Extension says to use frozen milk within a month for best quality.

I recommend aiming for the month.

Three months is still fine, but the texture holds up better the sooner you use it.

These times are about quality, not safety.

Illinois Extension says food kept at 0°F stays safe as long as it stays frozen.

Here's how milk compares with other dairy on the Illinois Extension chart and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension freezing guide:

Almond, Oat, and Other Plant Milks

The extension guides cited here don't give plant milks a freezer time.

Check the carton first, since brands give their own storage advice.

If you do freeze one, treat it like dairy milk and use it for baking or smoothies.

How to Thaw Frozen Milk

Thaw milk in the refrigerator. UNL and NDSU Extension both say so.

Set the container on a plate or in a bowl to catch drips.

Plan ahead, because a big jug takes much longer than a flat bag or a small container.

• Never on the counter. Milk is a perishable food, so it thaws in the fridge.
• Use it soon. NDSU says to use thawed dairy soon after thawing, just like fresh.
• Don't refreeze it. NDSU says not to.

Why Thawed Milk Looks Separated

UNL Extension says frozen milk may separate or be slightly grainy when it thaws, because the fat separates from the water.

You might see small yellow flecks or a watery layer.

That's normal, and it's the main reason some people say not to freeze milk at all.

Give it a hard shake. NDSU says stirring or shaking helps bring the smoothness back, and a few seconds in a blender works even better.

If thawed milk smells sour, toss it.

Best Ways to Use Frozen Milk

UNL Extension says frozen milk works best for cooking, though you may find it's still fine for drinking. A creamy skillet dinner like my homemade hamburger helper is a perfect fit.

Once it's mixed into something, any graininess disappears.

• Pancakes and waffles: Thawed milk works in batter just like fresh.
• Muffins and quick breads: Nobody will taste a difference.
• Creamy soups: Stir it into my copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup if the soup gets too thick.
• Cheese sauce: My baked mac and cheese is a great way to use up a frozen container.
• Homemade buttermilk: Stir a little acid into thawed milk using my buttermilk substitute ratios.
• Oatmeal, smoothies, and coffee: Ice cube portions go straight in.

Stacie's Tricks & Tips

• Pour Off a Cup First: Before a full gallon goes in the freezer, pour off a cup or two and bake with it today.
• Freeze Flat: Bags laid flat on a sheet pan freeze fast and thaw overnight.
• Measure Before You Freeze: Freeze milk in the exact amount your favorite recipe uses. Then thaw one bag and go.
• Shake, Then Measure: Shake thawed milk before you measure it so the fat goes back in.
• Don't Skip the Label: Write the date on every container.

Key Takeaway

Next time you won't finish a gallon before the date, pour off a cup, cap the jug, and freeze it.

Saturday morning, thaw a bag and get the griddle hot.

My fluffy homemade pancakes are the ones you'll make again and again.