Can You Freeze Almond Milk: What You Need to Know

Can You Freeze Almond Milk?

The short answer is yes. You can freeze almond milk. Find out the pros and cons of freezing almond milk.

Summary

• After following the proper thawing procedures, you can drink the almond milk directly.
• It should not taste very different from the fresh version, and you’ll still get all the nutrients contained in this healthy nut-based milk.
• Use it as a cooking ingredient.
• If you don’t like the altered texture of almond milk after it has been frozen and thawed, you can still use it as an ingredient in recipes that call for it.
• Almond milk is an excellent alternative to cows milk or any other milk coming from animal sources.
  
• Can you freeze almond milk Although almond milk has less protein content compared to soy milk, it has more than what makes up in this area because of the natural nutrients inherent with almond nuts.
  
• Most almond milk brands will not recommend freezing.
  

Does almond milk go bad?

Like other types of milk, almond milk gets bad or spoiled in storage. The most common solution in stopping or delaying the spoilage of any food is freezing. So to stop almond milk from going bad freezing it would be a good choice. But can you freeze almond milk? 

The Pros and Cons of Almond Milk

Almond milk – (check here on Amazon) is an excellent alternative to cow’s milk or any other milk coming from animal sources. It’s perfect for people with lactose intolerance and serves as an additional option for vegetarians who need milk replacements.

Although almond milk has less protein content compared to soy milk, it has more than what makes up in this area because of the natural nutrients inherent with almond nuts. You’re about to find out.

As sound as it is, there are known almond milk side effects. Some may already have existing allergies to almond so they should avoid this type of milk alternative.

So can you freeze almond milk? Let us look at some of the ways you can freeze it.

The Recommended Storage Options

Freezing almond milk is usually considered as the last option in prolonging its shelf life. There are unwanted changes that can affect almond milk when it is frozen then thawed Click To Tweet These will be discussed later.

It’s a common and recommended practice that you check the label of any product you buy for the ‘best before’ date to ensure that it’s consumed in its optimum freshness and also for the safety of the consumers. When the current date has surpassed the indicated date on the product label, it may not mean it’s already unsafe for consumption.

It merely means that the manufacturer cannot guarantee that the product is still as fresh as it should be. In the case of almond milk shelf life, it could even be safe to drink weeks after the ‘best before’ date.

But I guess that you, like most other people, wouldn’t take that risk.

Some almond milk brands – (see on Amazon) can be stored unopened in shelves and at room temperature while some need to be refrigerated. Avoid the surprise and disappointment by thoroughly checking the label before you buy that almond milk.

Unopened, almond milk can last for months, if not years following the conditions mentioned above. Once you open the box, though, almond milk shelf life is drastically reduced.

Most almond milk brands recommend that you consume the whole content of the box within 7 to 10 days after you have opened it. It’s possible that almond milk is still fit for consumption after the box has been opened for longer than ten days, but you must check for signs that it hasn’t spoiled before you drink it.

Else, you might end up with a sick stomach and even hatred for almond milk.

The Cons of Freezing Almond Milk

Although freezing almond milk can somewhat extend its shelf life, you will need to have it frozen until you need it. There are reasons why some of the more popular almond milk manufacturers wouldn’t recommend you to freeze their products. Can you freeze almond milk and keep it healthy? We will look at that now.

• The process of freezing will have an adverse effect on almond milk texture and consistency. Ice crystals are formed by the water content of the almond milk which breaks its structure.

The substantial component of almond milk is separated from the water. This is very noticeable once you thaw the almond milk and pour it into a glass.

You will notice the solid content separating from its water content. And it will not look very appealing.

• Freezing almond milk also dramatically affects its color and taste. This is also caused by the liquid and solid contents being separated from each other.

Most almond milk brands will not recommend freezing. They want you to consume their products in their best forms and freezing does not allow that.

• When you freeze then eventually thaw almond milk before consuming, it will have an even shorter shelf life than when you open it after refrigeration. As discussed in the previous section, opened almond milk can last 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator.

Thawed frozen almond milk might last only 3 to 5 days. So remember to thaw it when you are planning to consume the whole content in less than five days.

Freezing Almond Milk

You saw almond milk on sale and bought quite a few boxes but then realized you cannot possibly consume all of them within the indicated ‘best before’ date. Then it might be best to freeze some of the boxes which you cannot drink immediately to prevent them from getting spoiled. Of course, you can make your own almond milk juice too using a masticating juicer. Can you freeze almond milk? Here are a few tips on freezing almond milk.

• If the almond milk comes in boxes, freeze them directly so that it’s as fresh as the moment it was boxed before the freezing process. When you open the box, it introduces air and microbes which can significantly increase the rate of spoilage.

  

Freezing boxed almond milk directly prevents that from happening.

• Plastic containers might be too big to fit in your freezer or you simply just don’t want to freeze that massive amount of almond milk. If this is the case, transfer the milk into smaller airtight containers that fit in your freezer.

Not as fresh as freezing directly from the box but it’s the next best option.

• Remember to leave a bit of space in the container. The water content of almond milk expands during the freezing process.

If you don’t leave enough space, your container might burst open or get deformed, and you will not be able to reuse it for future freezing purposes.

• It’s advisable to freeze almond milk in smaller amounts to minimize the negative effects. To do this, pour it into ice cube trays and put in the freezer until it has become solid.

Remove the frozen almond milk from the trays. Put them together in a plastic bag and freeze again. You can use small Ziploc bags-(see on Amazon) to separate frozen almond milk cubes in small groups.

You can then thaw individual plastic bags.

• After you have thawed out a considerable amount of almond milk, you should consume it immediately as it can go bad in only a few days. Never re-freeze thawed out almond milk.

How to Properly Thaw Frozen Almond Milk

When the day has come to use the almond milk that you have previously frozen you should thaw it out before consumption to get it back to its liquid state. But there are a few things to keep in mind when thawing frozen almond milk. Can you freeze almond milk and then thaw it safely? Read on to find out.

• Move the frozen almond milk from the freezer to the refrigerator to let it gradually thaw. Never thaw it at room temperature. The sudden change in temperature worsens the separation of its liquid and solid contents.

Moving to the refrigerator allows gradual temperature change so that the formed ice crystals are slowly melted down allowing it to combine with the solid contents of the almond milk properly.

• Thawing the frozen almond milk in the refrigerator might take several hours to a full day to melt but the waiting time is truly worth it and will give you the best results as far as taste, consistency, and texture are concerned.
• After the frozen almond milk has thawed, give it a good shaking. This step is vital because it re-integrates the solid and liquid contents into each other.

Remember the freezing process separates these two components of almond milk.

Uses for Frozen Almond Milk

Although it may not be as fresh as its original form, frozen almond milk still retain most of its flavor and all of its health benefits, even after some slight changes in consistency and texture. So how do you use frozen almond milk?

• Direct consumption. After following the proper thawing procedures, you can drink the almond milk directly. It should not taste very different from the fresh version, and you’ll still get all the nutrients contained in this healthy nut-based milk.
• Use it as a cooking ingredient. If you don’t like the altered texture of almond milk after it has been frozen and thawed, you can still use it as an ingredient in recipes that call for it. This way, you wouldn’t have to deal with the changes in consistency.

Almond milk is a common ingredient in Paleo diet recipes because of its low carb content with significant amounts of protein.

• Mix with smoothies. Cut fruits like bananas, strawberries, watermelon in cubes and freeze them. Put them in a blender together with the frozen almond milk cubes and give it a whirl for a perfect post-workout smoothie.
• Make your homemade sorbets or ice cream, lactose-free. The frozen form of almond milk means you don’t have to thaw it to make homemade sorbet or ice cream. Almond milk in itself already has a rich, nutty flavor which makes it a perfect ingredient for cold desserts.

Does Almond Milk Expire?

Like any other form of milk, almond milk can get spoiled and go off. As previously discussed, frozen almond milk can go bad faster after thawing than when it was just refrigerated. When that happens, it wouldn’t be safe to consume. Consuming spoiled almond milk can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.

But how do you know almond milk has gone bad?

• It may become lumpy or slimy. To check if almond milk has gone bad, the first thing to look for is the consistency and the texture of the milk. Look for lumps or formation of slime. It will develop a strange consistency that is thicker than it was when you first opened it. And possibly clumps of a whitish goop that floats on the top of the almond milk.

These are sure signs that the almond milk is not fit for consumption. Another way to check for consistency is to pour a bit of it into your sink.

This is called the slime test because spoiled milk can get thick. If you notice that the flow of the milk when you’re pouring it out is not as smooth as it should be, lumps and slimes have formed, and your almond milk has spoiled.

• Bad smell and taste. Spoiled almond milk means bacteria have formed. And when there are bacteria, there’s always that bad smell.

Bad milk may smell sour so take a whiff before you drink. Another way to determine it with your senses is by giving it a quick, little taste.

Here Are Some Easy Ways To Tell If Almond Milk Has Gone Bad

1. Does it smell rancid?
2. Does it look weird?
3. Does it taste weird?

The best way to tell if your almond milk has gone bad is to smell it. If there is a sour, curdled, or spoiled smell to the milk, you should discard it immediately. If the almond milk smells fine, you can look for other indicators. And, if you see mold growing on top of the almond milk, throw it out at once. These are all signs that your almond milk has gone bad. If you notice any of these changes, you should throw the almond milk out.

Spoiled Almond Milk And Food Poisoning

Put a few drops in a spoon and taste it. Bad milk has a very distinct taste. This taste, combined with a sour smell is a sign that you should throw away that almond milk.

The small amount of almond milk you tasted should not be enough to cause food poisoning or make you feel sick in the stomach.

Can You Freeze Any Almond Milk?

Manufacturers have different ways of producing almond milk. They may put in additives to enhance the flavor, introduce additional nutrients, or preservatives to enhance the shelf life.

These differences may affect how each brand of almond milk may react to the freezing process. Some brands will respond better to freezing with very minimal changes while some are better off stored in the refrigerator.

Most brands will not recommend freezing their almond milk because of the changes that can affect the consistency and taste which may be blamed on their products. You should experiment by buying a box from each brand then freezing small samples from each one.

Can You Freeze Homemade Almond Milk?

This will help you determine which one is best for freezing. Making your own almond milk is also recommended because it will be fresher than those that have been lying in the grocery stores for weeks or even months.

The fresher the almond milk is, the better it is to freeze it. So you can freeze homemade almond milk right away.

Wrapping it Up: Can You Freeze Almond Milk?

Putting aside almond milk side effects, it’s still a nutritious and viable alternative to cow’s milk. It tastes great, has good protein content and other nutrients which makes almond the king of nuts.

There are different brands of almond milk-(check Amazon) available in the market, so there’s one to match your taste.

So can you freeze almond milk? The simple answer is yes.

It gets complicated afterward because of the negative effects of freezing on almond milk. It’s also not recommended by most manufacturers.

You should do it only when it is necessary.