Almond milk is a unique product, and contrary to what it is generally called, it is not actually milk. Almond milk is a concoction chiefly made up of ground almonds and water.
During the manufacturing process, almonds and water are blended into a mixture. The mixture is then strained to remove the pulp, and this leaves behind a smooth liquid which is called almond milk.
Almond milk is very commonly used by the health-conscious community mainly because it is a plant-based milk.
Also, many people just prefer almond milk to regular milk because of its nutty almond flavor and watery ground texture.
It is used commonly in such households, and to always have it on hand, it needs to be properly stored, and from there arises a question; can you freeze almond milk?” keep reading to find out.
Can You Freeze Almond Milk?
Are you one of the people who have got some leftover almond milk and are thinking of freezing it to preserve it but are not sure if you can? Don’t worry, and it’s our job to answer.
It is possible but not at all recommended to freeze almond milk. Why? You may ask, well, because once you freeze almond milk, it separates when you defrost it after freezing.
While freezing produces little to no texture change in dairy milk, the texture change in frozen almond milk is so extremely palpable that it is not at all recommended to freeze it.
Why Should You Freeze Almond Milk?
First of all, it is not all recommended to freeze almond milk, but in certain situations, it may become necessary, for example, in long-term storage.
The principal reason for going against the non-freezing recommendation is almost always storage. The almond milk retains its flavor after storage and can still be used but rather limitedly.
Don’t pour almond milk into cereal or on oats or in any recipe which relies on its creamy texture, but you can use frozen almond milk in recipes that make use of its flavor instead of texture.
Some Uses For Frozen Almond Milk.
Almond milk is a vegetable-based product, so it is a perfect substitute for dairy milk, especially for the vegan demographic. Almond milk is used in a variety of recipes, but its use becomes limited after it has been stored in a freezer.
You can’t use frozen almond milk with cereal or oatmeal because the freezing brings about a very noticeable drop in texture.
Frozen almond milk is principally suited for two things, i.e., for making smoothies and cooking. This is because these two methods of users rely more upon the flavor of almond milk than the texture.
How To Freeze Almond Milk?
Before you can actually freeze almond milk, you’ll have to prepare it for freezing. There are some methods by which you can prepare almond milk for freezing.
- The first one is using a plastic tray. Pour almond milk into a plastic tray but keep its level below the rim of the tray to allow room for expansion. This is because water expands during freezing and is a chief component of almond milk.
- You can pour the almond milk into an ice cube tray and freeze it in the form of cubes. Once the almond milk has frozen into cubes, pop them out, put them in a plastic bag, and label them with the date. This is important so that you don’t mix fresh and expired cubes.
Related readings:
- Can you freeze milk? How long does it last?
- Can you freeze buttermilk? (quickest way)
- Can you freeze yogurt? (a quick guide)
- Can you freeze salsa? (keeping it fresh)
How To Defrost Almond Milk?
Defrosting almond milk is a process that you need to perform some time before you intend to consume your frosted almond milk. It can also be performed in quite some ways:
- Suppose you had frozen the almond milk in a silicone tray; then, to defrost, simply switch its place from the freezer to the inside of the fridge. Leave it overnight, and the frozen almond milk will have turned to liquid by morning. However, it may take more than one night if the amount of frozen almond milk is great.
- If you made cubes, then simply take out the plastic bag with the cubes and place it in warm water. This will safely melt all the cubes inside.
- You can also defrost the ice cubes directly while cooking, but it’s not recommended and results in a dish with an incoherent consistency.
You need to stir almond milk after defrosting it to reestablish its consistency and to reintegrate its texture. Stirring is necessary because almond milk separates during defrosting.
How Long Does Almond Milk Last In The Fridge?
Almond milk, once unsealed and opened, can be refrigerated and will last up to seven to ten days in the refrigerator, but that doesn’t mean that its quality on day fourteen will be the same as its quality on day one. The longer you store it in the fridge, the more likely it is that it is going to suffer quality loss.
Can You Drink Almond Milk After It’s Been Frozen?
It’s perfectly safe to drink almond milk after it’s been refrigerated, but the real challenge comes after it has been frozen. You can freeze almond milk, but when you defrost it, it separates.
So you can drink almond milk, but make sure to blend it before drinking so that its components are re-integrated.
So you actually can drink frozen almond milk, but it’s actually better to drink or consume it before it has been frozen so that you taste it at its best and don’t suffer the loss of quality and texture.
Final Verdict:
In short almond milk can be frozen, but it’s always better to use it fresh. In certain situations freezing almond milk becomes necessary.
Let’s say, for example, you have leftovers that you don’t want to go to waste, and in that it should be prepared for the freezing process appropriately so that the loss of texture which almond milk suffers during freezing is minimized as much as possible.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Does Frozen Almond Milk Taste Good?
Almond milk preserves its flavor even after freezing, and you can drink it on its own, but it requires blending after defrosting to regain its coherency of texture.
So as I’ve said time and time again, frozen almond milk will taste good even after freezing, but it will not be as good as it was before you froze it.
Can Almond Milk Be Heated?
Simply, yes. Almond milk can be heated, and you can enjoy it like regular dairy milk, warmed or chilled.
Warmed almond milk is a favorite ingredient in coffee of many, and since it has no cholesterol or lactose, it is even preferred over dairy milk. You can also defrost almond milk by heating it in a microwave.
How Do You Defrost Almond Milk Quickly?
One of the quickest ways to defrost almond milk is to take the frozen almond milk cubes which you had stored in a plastic freezer and put them in a tub of warm water.
They’ll thaw and become liquid in no time, and you can use the defrosted almond milk in whatever dish you like. Apart from this method, you can also just simply microwave the cubes.
Can You Drink Almond Milk After 14 Days?
14 days or two weeks is a long time, and as such, almost everything will go bad and rot if left in the open. As for almond milk, it depends on its condition.
1: Can you drink almond milk, which has been lying in the open after 14 days? Absolutely Not.
2: Can you drink refrigerated almond milk after 14 days? Probably No.
3: Can you drink frozen almond milk after 14 days? Yes.
Can You Freeze Almond Milk In Its Carton?
Yes, you can freeze almond milk in its carton if the carton is still sealed, but it’s probably best not to. Instead, you should freeze it in a tub or in an ice cube tray.
The reason behind that is that almond is chiefly made up of water, and you must allow it to expand space; otherwise, it’s going to exert pressure on the container and leak.
Can You Use Frozen Almond Milk To Make Ice Creams?
Yes, you can absolutely do that. In fact, things like coffee, smoothies, and ice cream, especially ice creams, are one of the best uses of frozen almond milk because the recipes of such ingredients rely more upon the flavor of almond milk instead of texture. So the drop in quality which almond milk texture suffers during defrosting is masked.