Can Almond Milk be Frozen? Find Out here

Let’s take a close look at, if almond milk can 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.

What Happens to Almond Milk if It Freezes?

Homemade almond milk at home. — Homemade almond milk

As a Certified Health Coach many clients ask me about food storage including almond milk. I also consume and store almond milk daily. Therefore, I have researched this topic in the past and present. Let’s examine the methods closely.

Almond milk is a liquid consisting of 88% water and a combination of tiny almond particles¹. The particles are essentially broken down almonds and include fat, cellulose, fiber and protein².

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 it is frozen. During the freezing process, the components of the almond milk separate. All the water 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 it, it’s not recommended due to several reasons, like:

Change in texture
Lack of taste
Shorter shelf life

I frequently use the Blue Diamond Unsweetened brand. In their website³ 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. When thawed it 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 it by itself, freezing the liquid is not recommended.

Lack of Taste

Thawed almond milk doesn’t taste as rich as fresh. 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 will separate from the water, which leads to a much different taste than fresh.

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 opened container has a shelf life of 7-10 days⁴.

Freezing almond milk can cause the liquid to be more likely to spoil early on once it’s thawed. Unopened it typically has a shelf life of 3-4 weeks past its use-by date.

If you’re seeking a way to store shelf-stable⁵ 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 it before the “best Before” or “Best if Used By” date on the carton ((Blue Diamond: Frequently Asked Questions)).

Woman with celiac disease snacking on almonds with almond milk. — Woman with celiac disease snacking on almonds with almond milk

Facts About Freezing Almond Milk

Freezing almond milk can affect the product’s color and texture. If you don’t like drinking it thawed lacking taste and texture, you may want to consider using it for cooking instead. After all, the nutritional value of the milk is not lost after it 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 unaffected⁶. Frozen almond milk holds the same nutritional value as fresh.

Many people prefer almond milk for its nutritional value⁷, therefore, freezing it 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, it 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 when cooking and will not alter the final product in any way. Blending it before use in cooking will provide the best results.

Because the liquid is mixed with other substances while cooking, the texture of the thawed 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. Although the final product will not be as rich as fresh milk, it’s the next best thing. To blend almond milk after thawing follow these steps:

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 it 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:

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.

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

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 it on the counter or place the package into lukewarm water.

Depending on the purpose and recipe, it may be possible to place the milk directly into the dish while it is cooking.

If you have any questions to ask me about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.