Can you Freeze Almond Milk

What do you do with leftover Almond milk? Freeze it! It doesn't matter if it's freshly made or canned!

Let's learn how!

Jump to:

• Quick Facts
• Almond Milk
• Why we love Almond Milk
• Why Freeze Almond Milk
• How to Freeze Almond Milk
• Does Freezing Almond milk change it's texture?
• How to Thaw Frozen Almond Milk
• How to use Frozen Almond Milk
• Refreezing Thawed Almond Milk
• What's the best Type of Almond Milk

Quick Facts

Here are some quick facts & answers

Now that you know that Almond milk can be frozen, read on to understand what's the best way to freeze, defrost and use frozen Almond milk.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is the "milky juice" strained out of blended almonds. Making almond milk at home ,though a little messy, is pretty easy.

Today Almond milk is available across the world in below forms

• Canned Almond Milk
• Almond Milk Powder- this when mixed with hot water, makes instant Almond milk
• Almond milk in cartons
• Homemade Almond milk

If I had to choose, I would always buy Almond milk in cartons. Not only do they have a very long shelf life, they are also easy to use.

Why we love Almond Milk

Almond milk is a great dairy replacement. Not only is it Vegan, it's also chockfull of good fats and vitamins.

• Vegan & Dairy Free
• Similar texture and feel as dairy milk
• Plant based
• Free of hormones and chemicals
• Low in Calories
• Doesnt raise blood sugar

Here is the nutrient comparison of almond milk and cows milk.

As you can see the calories and carb values are pretty low which means its a great alternative for people wanting to lower their carbohydrate intake.

	Almond Milk	Cow Milk
Calories	39.3	102
Protein	1.05 g	8.22 g
Fat	2.52 g	2.37 g
Carbohydrates	3.43 g	12.2 g
Vitamin E	over 100% DV	0% DV
Calcium	37% DV	23% DV
Potassium	4% DV	8% DV
Magnesium	4% DV	6% DV
Riboflavin	2% DV	35% DV
Phosphorus	2% DV	19% DV

Why Freeze Almond Milk

If you are vegan or are trying out the vegan lifestyle, this is one of the first pantry ingredients you will buy.

And to say it's costly is an understatement. So it is a given that we want to use the almond milk as effectively as possible.

Almond milk can last for about 7-10 days in the refrigerator. Unlike coconut milk, it does have a longer life in the refrigerator but if you know you can't use the whole carton of almond milk within 10 days, it's best to freeze it.

Freezing the Almond milk

• Reduces Food waste
• Makes sure you almost never run out of Almond milk

I especially recommend freezing almond milk if you drink smoothies or make smoothie bowls often.

How to Freeze Almond Milk

You could just chuck the opened carton inside the fridge and call it a day but it will be a nightmare to use later!

Besides, it will develop freezer burn and not last beyond 1 month at max.

So here are my preferred ways to freeze the Almond milk

1. In Cubes & Blocks
2. In Glass Containers
3. In Silicon Pouches

Freeze Using Ice Cube Trays

Freezer trays are a great way to freeze cubes of liquid that yo would otherwise not be able to consume.

From herbs to juices to spice pastes, you can freeze anything in them.And then save space by transferring them in a freezer bag.That way, while using,you take out only as much as you need.

And they thaw pretty quickly too!

All you need to do is -Just pour the extra Almond milk in ice cube trays, once they are frozen, pop them in a zip lock bag or freezer bag.

This is such a great and easy way to store AND use Almond milk.

You can add the frozen cubes straight to your blender while making smoothies.

Another great option is this portioned freezer tray. You can freeze larger individual portions. It's very convenient especially for curries and broth.

Do this if you have opened a huge carton of Almond milk and you need to use it in larger quantities.

Portioned Freezing Tray

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Freeze using Glass Containers

My go to everyday containers are glass containers with air tight lids. I use them for heating, storing in refrigerator and in the freezer. They are very versatile and frankly the best investment in kitchen!

I have all kinds of sizes and shapes. This is also a great option to freeze leftover Almond milk.

Only, do remember to write the name and date of what you have frozen. You don't want to accidently add frozen white pasta sauce to your curry!

Glass Container

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Freeze using Silicon Pouches

The other very easy and sustainable way is to use silicon bags. They can go into the dishwasher and can be re used. They take very little space and can be stacked as well.

You can also use a combination of ice cube trays an silicon bags. I like to freeze the Almond milk in small cubes which i later transfer to a silicon bag to save space.

Silicon Bags

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Or you could use regular ziplock bags. Though zip lock bags are the easiest option, they do make me very guilty. Even if you re use them, they cant be used beyond 4-5 times.

So I leave this option for only when I have no other way.

Does Freezing Almond milk change it's texture?

The short answer is yes.

When you freeze Almond milk, it separates. The fat settles down and the "water" stays on top. It de emulsifyies just like coconut milk.

When you defrost the Almond milk, it looks split. So yes the texture changes.

But its a simple matter of mixing it up again to get that creamy homogenous texture back. You can use a coffee frother or a hand held blender.

Yes..I admit it's extra work but its way better than letting that milk spoil in the fridge.

How to Thaw Frozen Almond Milk

To use the Almond milk that you have frozen, you will need to bring it to room temperature.

Though you could add it frozen to your drinks if you want. It will work as an ice cube and Almond milk.

To add it to hotter stuff, desserts, dressings etc, you will need to thaw it.

There are several ways to thaw the chicken

• Overnight Slow Thaw in the Refrigerator
• Thaw on the counter
• Microwave
• Water

Overnight Slow Thaw

All you have to do is shift the location of the Almond milk from the freezer into the fridge.

It will possibly take anywhere from 1-12 hours depending on how big the block of Almond milk it.

Pros

• Handsfree method
• Safe Method
• You can re freeze the Almond milk using this method

Cons

• Needs planning
• Takes time

Thaw on the Counter

You can let the frozen Almond milk sit on the counter, in it's package. It will thaw and come to room temperature in 1-2 hours.

If you have frozen it in cubes, it will take about 15- 20 minutes only.

Though this is also a handsfree method, it is not a method suggested by USDA.

Pros

• Hands Free & Easy to do
• Quicker than slow thaw in the refrigerator

Cons

• Un safe. Bacteria may develop.
• Cannot re freeze

Microwave

If you own a microwave with a thaw option, this is the fastest method. It's also a method recommended by USDA and considered safer than thawing on countertop.

Just place it in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave using the thaw setting for 1-10 minutes depending on how big the block of Almond milk is.

For Almond milk cubes, you will only need about 1 minute.

Pros

• Fastest Way to thaw
• Safe

Cons

• Not handsfree
• More clean up
• If you don't have a microwave or thaw setting, then its not a usable method.

Water Bath

The oldest method to thaw is using the water bath.

To do this, Submerge the bag of Almond milk cubes or pouches in tap water. Let the water do it's thing for 10-30 minutes.

If your Almond milk block is large, you might need to change the water in the middle.

Pros

• Safe
• Easy to do
• Partially handsfree
• Do not need any special equipment
• Takes lesser time than overnight thaw or the counter thaw

Cons

• Have to change the water for larger blocks of Almond milk.

How to use Frozen Almond Milk

So you did the good deed and froze all the extra Almond milk.Now what?

Use Frozen Almond Milk cubes

Here are some ways in which you can use frozen Almond milk cubes without thawing them

Dairy Free Iced Coffee - Use frozen Almond milk cubes instead of ice or milk to make your own iced coffee.

Smoothies - This is the best way to use frozen Almond milk. Use frozen Almond milk cubes instead of ice cubes. Straight from the freezer! It's really what simple.

Overnight Chia Puddings & Oats- Just add enough water to wet the chia or rolled oats. Drop 2-3 cubes of Almond milk. Keep it covered overnight in the refrigerator. Give it a good mix and serve for Breakfast !! Here are 4 ways to make overnight oats for you!

Use Thawed Almond milk

For certain recipes, you will need to thaw and blend the Almond milk before using.

Curries & Soups - You could just add the cubes in the frozen form. But I suggest you thaw the frozen Almond milk , blend it in a blender or using a milk frother and then add it to the curries.

Rice & Pilafs - Add frozen cubes straight away. But only if you now what you are doing.I like to thaw and blend the frozen Almond milk before using in these recipes.

Dairy Replacement in Baking

Refreezing Thawed Almond Milk

I know the popular advice to not freeze thawed food. The reason behind this is that first it changes the texture of the bonds of the food. And the second reason is that certain thawing techniques introduces bacteria to the food making its life in the freezer questionable.

Though you can refreeze Almond milk that's been slow thawed in the refrigerator overnight.

But do note that refreezing Almond milk will further deteriorate the taste and texture. But it is still a great option than throwing Almond milk.

What's the best Type of Almond Milk

Here is my list of the best sources of Almond milk.

1. Homemade Freshly made Almond milk
2. Storebought fresh almond milk
3. Canned Almond Milk
4. Dehydrated Almond powder
5. Frozen Almond milk

Freshly made Almond milk is arguably the best kinds. It requires freshly opened Almond flesh, a high speed blender and a strainer. It takes effort, time and its messy too. But this is by far the best kinds- 11/10 in points!

But the shelf life in the refrigerator is just 3-4 days.

Store- bought Fresh Almond milk is the next best alternative but the shelf life is always questionable.

Canned Almond milk or Almond milk out of a carton is the easiest and most widely used kind of Almond milk. The only flipside is that once opened its shelf life reduces to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Almond milk Powder - Just mix Almond milk powder in warm water and blend it for a uniform texture. This is a great option because you can make the Almondmilk as thick as you please. Plus there is less wastage because you make as much as you can use.

But the taste and texture are not as good as the fresh or canned versions.

Frozen Almond Milk - Whether you have frozen fresh Almond milk or canned version, frozen Almond milk is last on my list for a reason. Not only is the taste muted but the texture is also different.

Fortunately, the texture can be easily solved by blending the frozen Almond milk. Freezing Almond milk is still a great way to reduce food wastage. The best way to use frozen Almond milk is in smoothies.

How long will Almond milk last

Here is a comparison of how long the various forms of Almond milk last

Fresh Almond Milk - 7-10 days in the refrigerator. About 8-10 hours on the counter. Lesser in hot and humid places.

Canned Almond milk - The unopened cans and cartons can last for years or upto their expiry date on the packaging. Any can or carton thats puffed up, has been compromised and is not safe to consume.
Opened canned milk will probably last anywhere between 7-10 days in the refrigerator.

Powdered Almond milk - This will last for years or upto their expiry date on the packaging.

Hydrated Almond milk powder(mixed with water) will probably last anywhere between 7-10 days in the refrigerator.

Frozen Almond milk - If frozen properly, in clean covered containers, the frozen Almond milk could last for 2-3 months.