Easy Ways to Safely Defrost Frozen Milk

Having milk in the freezer is great in a pinch! If you took advantage of a sale on milk or wanted to freeze it in case of an emergency, knowing how to safely defrost the milk is crucial. Fortunately, thawing milk is pretty hands-off as long as you give yourself some time.

1

Plan on defrosting milk within 1 month of freezing.

  1. Image titled Defrost Frozen Milk Step 1
    The sooner you defrost and use the milk, the better the texture will be. If you've ever drunk milk that was frozen, you might have noticed its grainy texture. This is because the longer milk is frozen, the more the fat separates from the liquid. For the best quality, aim to thaw the milk within the first month of freezing it.[1]
    • If you don't get around to using the milk within a month, don't worry! You can safely freeze milk for up to 4 months.
    2. Advertisement
2

Thaw frozen milk in the fridge overnight.

  1. Image titled Defrost Frozen Milk Step 2
    Give the milk 1 to 2 days to defrost for the best quality. There's no need to transfer the milk to a different container—just stick it in the fridge! Defrosting at a steady temperature over a day or two gives the milk a smoother texture than if you defrost it quickly.[2]
3

Defrost frozen milk in cold water.

  1. Submerge the frozen milk in cold water to thaw the milk in a hurry. If you forgot to stick the milk in the fridge, it's totally fine! Fill a large bowl with cold water and put your frozen milk in it so the water covers it. Then, put the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes. Replace the water and refrigerate the milk for another 30 minutes so it thaws completely.[3]
    • This works best for cartons of milk that are smaller than 1⁄2 gallon (1.9 L) in size. If you're trying to defrost 1 gallon (3.8 L) of milk, it may take a few hours using this method.
    2. Advertisement
4

Microwave small amounts of frozen milk.

  1. Stick ice cube-sized portions in the microwave for the fastest way to thaw milk. If you need just a little milk and you froze it in an ice cube tray, pop out a few frozen cubes and put them in a microwave-safe dish. Then, microwave the milk in 15-second intervals until they're liquid.[4]
    • When you microwave the milk, you're heating it up, which helps bacteria grow. Plan on drinking or using the milk right away instead of leaving it out at room temperature or sticking it back in the fridge.
5

Avoid defrosting milk at room temperature.

  1. Image titled Defrost Frozen Milk Step 5
    The USDA warns that thawing milk on the counter can cause bacterial growth. This is because bacteria multiply between temperatures of 40 to 140 °F (4 to 60 °C). Instead of taking the chance, stick frozen milk in the fridge, a bowl of cold water, or the microwave.[5]
    2. Advertisement
6

Shake or blend the thawed milk before you use it.

  1. Mix the thawed milk so it's smoother to drink. Most milk is homogenized which means that the fat in the milk is mixed with the liquid under extreme pressure. This is why you don't have fat floating to the top of the milk. Unfortunately, defrosting frozen milk separates the fat. To make the thawed milk more appetizing, whisk, shake, or blend it until it's smooth.[6]
    • Drink the milk quickly after you do this since the milk fat will separate again as it sits.
7

Drink or use the thawed milk within 2 to 3 days.

  1. Image titled Defrost Frozen Milk Step 7
    Label the milk with the date that you thawed it so know when to toss it. Since you won't be able to use the expiration date printed on the milk container, it's important to use the milk within 3 days of the date you took it out of the freezer.[7]
    • You can only freeze milk once so use it or pitch it after you've thawed it.
    2. Advertisement
8

Use grainy milk in baking or cooking projects.

  1. Bake or cook with milk if your milk is still a little grainy. If you can still tell that the milk isn't completely smooth even after you've shaken or blended it, don't throw it out! Use the thawed milk in your next baking or cooking recipe that calls for milk—you won't notice the graininess at all.[8]
    • You can also use the thawed milk in smoothies or milkshakes.

You Might Also Like

Freeze Dry Food Without a Machine
How to
Freeze Dry Food Without a Machine
Thaw Frozen Fish
How to
Thaw Frozen Fish
How to
Freeze Raw Salmon
Freeze Spinach
How to
Freeze Spinach
How to
Freeze Dry Strawberries
Defrost Bread
How to
Defrost Bread
How to
Freeze Green Peppers
How to
Freeze Leeks
How to
Freeze Carrots
How to
Freeze Eggs
How to
Freeze Quiche
How to
Freeze Turnips
Freeze Pizza
How to
Freeze Pizza
Freeze Parsnips
How to
Freeze Parsnips
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/knox/freezing-milk-and-cheese/
  2. ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/tips-keeping-frozen-food-fresh
  3. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/frozen-milk-cubes/
  4. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/frozen-milk-cubes/
  5. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/big-thaw-safe-defrosting-methods
  6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/got-too-much-milk-freeze-it-for-later-184693
  7. ↑ https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/milk/
  8. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/a32067757/can-you-freeze-milk/

About This Article

Jessica Gibson
Co-authored by:
Jessica Gibson
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Jessica Gibson is a Writer and Editor who's been with wikiHow since 2014. After completing a year of art studies at the Emily Carr University in Vancouver, she graduated from Columbia College with a BA in History. Jessica also completed an MA in History from The University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 20,881 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: January 17, 2022
Views: 20,881
Categories: Freezing Food
Article SummaryX

To get the best out of your frozen milk, plan to defrost it within a month of the date when it was frozen. While you can safely drink milk that’s been frozen for up to 4 months, the texture and flavor won’t be as good. When you’re ready, simply take the container of milk out of the freezer and put it in your fridge. You’ll need to give it 1 to 2 days to thaw completely. If you’re in a hurry, fill a large bowl with cool water and submerge the container of milk in it. Then, set the bowl in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Replace the water and put the bowl back in the fridge for another 30 minutes. Keep doing this until the milk is completely thawed. Depending on how big the container is, this might take a few hours. If you want small amounts of milk that you can defrost quickly, freeze the milk in an ice cube tray. When you’re ready to use it, put the cubes in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave them for 15 seconds at a time until they’re thawed. If you use this method, drink the milk right away instead of storing it again, since the heat from the microwave can encourage bacteria to grow. It’s also important to avoid thawing your milk at room temperature, since doing so will give bacteria a chance to multiply, possibly making the milk unsafe to drink. Milk tends to separate when it’s been frozen, so shake it up, whisk it, or put it in a blender for a few seconds to remix it and improve the taste and texture. For tips on how to use grainy thawed milk in baking or cooking projects, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement