Can Almond Milk be Frozen? Find Out here
Almond milk is a delicious and nutritious milk substitute that can be consumed plain, added to coffee, or mixed in recipes. But can this tasty beverage be frozen?
Almond milk can be frozen but almond milk manufacturers advice against freezing it. Freezing almond milk changes the taste and texture, although the nutritional value remains the same. For these reasons freezing almond milk is unrecommended.
This article will discuss why frozen almond milk is not recommended. While storing your almond milk in the freezer can be convenient, you’ll want to be aware of the consequences that come with it. If you need to freeze it, I’ll inform you how and the best way to thaw it.
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What Happens to Almond Milk if It Freezes?
Almond milk is a liquid consisting of 88% water and a combination of tiny almond particles 1. The particles are essentially broken down almonds and include fat, cellulose, fiber and protein 2.
The particles have different chemical compositions than the water in almond milk. Because the components are so different, each of these ingredients has a different freezing point.
The water within almond milk freezes when almond milk is frozen. During the freezing process, the components of the almond milk separate. All water within the almond milk collects at the top of the container, a process in which all other components shift to the bottom.
This phenomenon taking place during freezing is the reason why consistency is affected. The almond particles separate and form a thick substance that doesn’t mesh with the water.
This effect changes the texture and appearance of the liquid. In addition, the separation of components alters the color slightly to have a yellowish appearance.
Why Freezing Almond Milk Is Not Recommended
Maybe you have an opened almond milk that you cannot finish, but you don’t want it to get wasted, so you freeze it. While you can freeze almond milk, it’s not recommended due to several reasons, like:
- Change in texture
- Lack of taste
- Shorter shelf life
I frequently use Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Milk. In their website 3 the question is asked, can I freeze Almond Breeze milk?
Freezing Almond Breeze causes the product to separate irregularly and greatly reduces the consistency of the product upon thawing.
Change in Texture
Once almond milk is frozen, the original texture becomes altered. Thawed almond milk may appear watery, as the ingredients within the milk have separated during the freezing process. This effect can cause chunky consistency since all the water has separated from the almond particles in the liquid.
Texture inconsistency in a dairy-free beverage can be unpleasant when drinking. If you drink almond milk by itself, freezing the liquid is not recommended.
Lack of Taste
Thawed almond milk doesn’t taste as rich as fresh almond milk. The change in consistency also makes the taste less enjoyable than it was when fresh. With the change in texture taking place, frozen almond milk can have a more bland flavor.
The flavorful bits of the almond milk will separate from the water, which leads to a much different taste than fresh almond milk.
Shorter Shelf Life
Once thawed, frozen almond milk has a shorter shelf life than fresh almond milk. Shelf life of 3-5 days is expected for thawed almond milk. In comparison, a new container of opened almond milk has a shelf life of 7-10 days 4.
Freezing almond milk can cause the liquid to be more likely to spoil early on once it’s thawed. Unopened almond milk typically has a shelf life of 3-4 weeks past its use-by date. If you’re seeking a way to store shelf-stable 5 almond milk long-term, you’re better off storing it at room temperature.
Refrigerated almond milk is better stored in the refrigerator unopened until the date on the container, which is typically a few months. Blue Diamond recommends consuming the almond milk before the “best Before” or “Best if Used By” date on the carton 3.
Facts About Freezing Almond Milk
Freezing almond milk can affect the product’s color and texture. If you don’t like drinking thawed almond milk lacking taste and texture, you may want to consider using it for cooking instead. After all, the nutritional value of the almond milk is not lost after the milk gets frozen.
Freezing Won’t Affect Almond Milk’s Nutrition
Although there are some disadvantages to freezing almond milk, the nutritional value of the product remains unaffected 6. Frozen almond milk holds the same nutritional value as fresh almond milk.
Many people prefer almond milk for its nutritional value 7, therefore, freezing almond milk will not affect you.
Frozen Almond Milk May Change in Color
When almond milk is frozen, the ingredients making up the milk get separated, causing the beverage to change in color slightly. The fats within the product start collecting at the bottom of the container.
When the fats collect, the almond milk changes from a creamy white to a slightly yellow color.
You Can Use Thawed Almond Milk for Cooking
Thawed almond milk can be used in place of fresh almond milk when cooking and will not alter the final product in any way. Blending the almond milk before use in cooking will provide the best results.
Because the liquid is mixed with other substances while cooking, the texture of the thawed almond milk is more likely to go unnoticed.
Find out how almond milk compared to cashew milk in my article, Cashew Milk vs Almond Milk: Which is Better? Let’s Compare.
Tips for Freezing Almond Milk
If you decide you want to freeze almond milk, use these tips to get the best flavor and texture from it:
Blend Almond Milk After Thawing
Blending thawed almond milk can help eliminate any textural changes that took place after freezing. The blending can help to reincorporate any separation that occurred.
You can blend thawed almond milk to achieve a taste very similar to fresh almond milk. Although the final product will not be as rich as fresh almond milk, it’s the next best thing. To blend almond milk follow these steps:
How to blend almond milk after thawing:
- Once thawed blend the almond milk for 20-30 seconds.
- It can blended in a glass with a spoon, whisk, shaker or in a blender.
Only Freeze Almond Milk Once
Since freezing almond milk messes with the consistency, it’s important to remember only to freeze it once. Freezing almond milk more than once can unpleasantly alter the texture. Even blending won’t be able to fix almond milk that’s been frozen more than one time.
Leave Room for the Almond Milk to Expand
Similar to any liquid, almond milk expands when it is frozen. Be sure to leave room for this expansion when freezing the milk. Use a container larger than the amount of liquid you have preventing any issues with expansion.
Forgetting to do this can cause the container to burst, making a terrible mess in the freezer.
How To Freeze Almond Milk
If you find it necessary to freeze almond milk, follow the tips above and the steps below:
Steps To Freeze Almond Milk:
- Determine what individual serving sizes you’ll need.
- Depending on the serving size, pour the almond milk into a plastic food storage container safe for the freezer.
- Ice cube trays may be used if the cubes satisfy the serving size needed.
- Leave one inch of head space in a container to make room for expansion when freezing.
- Date the container and place into the freezer.
- If using ice cube trays, place the tray into the freezer until the milk freezes. Remove the tray and place the milk cubes into a freezer bag or container. Date the package and place into the freezer.
Smoothie Tip: I add frozen almond milk to my smoothies. Also, adding frozen fruit, instead of ice, enhances the flavor and nutrient content. The secret to an easy smoothie with frozen items is having a blender powerful enough to handle the workload.
The blender I recommend has a 6 blade, multi-tiered blade, check it out and the current price on Amazon, Nutri Ninja BL685 with Auto-iQ Technology.
Find out how almond milk compared to skim milk in my article, Almond Milk vs Skim Milk: Which is Better? A Comparison.
How To Thaw Frozen Almond Milk
What is the best way to thaw frozen almond milk? The best way to thaw frozen almond milk is removing it from the freezer and placing it into the refrigerator. The amount of time need to thaw out depends on the size of the frozen milk.
Defrosting in the refrigerator can take a long time. If you need to thaw it out faster, you can place the almond milk on the counter or place the package into lukewarm water. Depending on the purpose and recipe, it may be possible to place the almond milk directly into the dish while it is cooking.
FAQs
Why does it say not to freeze almond milk? It says not to freeze almond milk because freezing separates the ingredients and changes the texture, taste and shortens its shelf life.
Can you freeze almond milk for popsicles? Almond milk cannot be frozen for popsicles. The freezing process separates the contents irregularly and changes the texture and tastes of the almond milk.
Can you freeze almond milk to make ice cream? It’s unrecommended to freeze almond milk for ice cream because the freezing process separates the contents of the milk. This process adversely changes the texture and taste of the almond milk.
Can I freeze homemade almond milk? Homemade almond should not be frozen. The freezing process separates the contents of the milk and changes the texture, taste and shortens the shelf life.
Wrapping Up The Frozen Almond Milk
Hopefully, this article has helped you to determine whether it’s viable for you to freeze almond milk. Although it is physically possible to freeze almond milk without interfering with its nutritional value, there can be unwanted consequences, like the almond milk lacking taste and texture.
Blending thawed almond milk can help avoid any textural changes that occur, but overall, frozen almond milk will leave you with a lower-quality beverage with a shorter shelf life.
Only freeze almond milk once and always leave room at the top for expansion.
Read Next – More Food Storage Articles!
Will Almond Milk Break My Fast?
Can Almond Milk Cause Constipation? (We Find Out)
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- California Almonds: Almond Milk, from Orchard to Carton[↩]
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Analysis of the Cariogenic Potential of Various Almond Milk Beverages Using Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Model In Vitro[↩]
- Blue Diamond: Frequently Asked Questions[↩][↩]
- Washington Dairy: Milk or Almond Beverage: What’s the Difference?[↩]
- Silk: All About Shelf-Stable[↩]
- Wikipedia: Almond Milk[↩]
- University of Florida: Plant-Based Milks: Almond[↩]
