Milk is healthy not only for bone growth but also for maintaining a balanced weight. It is quite handy always to have milk available at home. Freezing the unused milk may save you some money and an extra trip to the grocery store.
If you have accidentally thawed more milk than you needed and you don’t want to waste the thawed milk, you must now be wondering, is it safe to safely refreeze milk?
Refreezing milk is safe; however, it is not preferable in some instances. You can refreeze milk if the ice crystals are still present. Otherwise, improper handling of frozen milk may cause its molecules to separate and have an unpleasant texture. The best approach to follow when freezing or refreezing milk is to divide it into portions.
By doing so, you make sure to only thaw and use the required portion without spoiling the rest of the frozen packaging. You can thus store the properly refrozen milk for almost 3-6 months.
Thus, you need to carefully handle frozen milk in the freezer; even a little bit of mishandling can result in spoiled milk. To avoid such a situation, here is a detailed guide to making sure that you follow the refreezing instructions properly:
Table of Contents
Is it Safe to Refreeze milk?
Refreezing milk is safe if the ice crystals are still present, and keep an eye on the refreezing instructions cautiously. It is because constant freezing and thawing of milk results in the breakdown of essential components of milk which are beneficial in preventing bacterial growth.
Although refrozen milk is safe for consumption, it is essential to know that when you thaw and refreeze milk several times, there is a degradation in milk quality and texture. On top of that, carelessly refrozen milk becomes more prone to the formation of bacteria.
After refreezing, the texture of milk may become grainy. So refrozen milk is better be used for cooking, baking, or milkshakes and smoothies.
If you want to consume refrozen milk on its own, you can put it inside a blender and give it a good blend before drinking. Doing so will help you combine the fats and water components of milk.
Another thing to remember is that the color of milk starts becoming yellow after repeated thawing and refreezing. However, this change in color doesn’t indicate that the milk has gone bad. You can still safely use the refrozen milk within the recommended time.
How To Refreeze Milk?
Some of the best methods for refreezing milk are as follows:
You can refreeze milk following the basic process of refreezing it in a sturdy carton. Just don’t forget to take out some milk before refreezing as milk, like all other liquids, also expands when it’s frozen. After taking out some milk, seal the container properly and put it in the freezer for refreezing.
- You can also refreeze milk in thick freezer-safe bags. This method lets you divide the milk into portions to use the amount of milk needed easily. Pour the milk inside freezer-safe bags, seal them carefully, and let them refreeze.
- Another best way to refreeze milk is by using the ice cube tray method. For this method, start by pouring the milk inside the ice cube tray. After that, carefully wrap the ice cube tray in plastic wrap. Once you have covered the ice cube tray, put it in the freezer and let the milk flash freeze. Next, take out the ice cube tray once the milk has frozen completely, pop out the ice cubes, and put them inside a freezer-safe bag. Now, you are ready to place the freezer-safe bag in the cold corner of the freezer.
How Long Can You Refreeze Milk?
Milk can be safely kept refrozen for 3-6 months. If you store the milk for any longer than that, its texture and flavor will be affected. Also, the milk is no longer healthy for its consumption after this time limit.
You can achieve the above duration efficiently if you follow the ice cube tray refreezing method, so you get to consume only the required amount of milk.
It will save the remaining milk from further degradation of texture that occurs due to thawing and refreezing the milk, again and again.
How to Know if the Refrozen Milk Has Gone Bad?
Please remember if the milk has adopted a yellow tint, it doesn’t mean that the milk has gone bad. Change of color takes place due to the separation of water and fats. When all the fats gather together in one place, they give off yellow color.
You can tell whether the milk has spoiled or not if you notice a rancid smell or has a sour taste to it. Another sign to look for is if the milk has separated and doesn’t mix up even when swirled. If you notice any of these changes, it’s best to discard the milk immediately.
Conclusion
You can ensure safe refreezing of milk by portioning it into bags of ice cubes and by using the method of flash-freezing. It will help prevent the quality of unused milk from undergoing further deterioration.
Refreezing milk is not always recommended, but if you follow the refreezing process carefully, you can safely keep the milk refrozen for as long as 6-months.
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