There are many uses for evaporated milk. Evaporated milk can be added to smoothies to add some body. It can also be used to thicken and sweeten coffee, to add creaminess to soups, sauces, or to replace condensed milk in desserts.
It is made from 60% of the milk’s water, which gives it an amazing creamy texture and only 25% of the fat of normal cream.
It’s always a good idea to have some evaporated milk on hand in case you need it. Can you save the rest of the cans or packs if you don’t use it all?
Can you freeze evaporated dairy milk? You can freeze evaporated milk. However, it is not recommended. When thawed, it may separate or curdle. Although you can use the milk in recipes once it has thawed but not the original texture, there are very few things that can be done to restore the evaporated milk to its original texture.
Learn how to make the most of your leftover evaporated milk and whether you should freeze it.
How To Freeze Evaporated Milk
Freezing evaporated milk can prolong its shelf life. You will need to prepare it first.
The wrong way to freeze milk can cause crystallization, major separation, curdling, or even spoilage.
It is important to ensure that the milk is frozen ready and that it can be thawed and frozen again. These are the steps you need to take to freeze evaporated milk.
1. Select a container
Before placing the frozen evaporated milk in the freezer, you need to transfer it into a freezer-friendly container. Don’t put a sealed container of evaporated milk into your freezer
Tin cans are not as good as freezer containers. They have a high chance of burst if left at low temperatures.
To ensure that the evaporated milk flows freely, make two holes in the lid when pouring it into a freezer container.
These are your best options for freezing evaporated milk.
- Plastic container-Plastic freezer friendly containers are great for freezing because they can be used repeatedly. To hold a can full of evaporated milk, you don’t need to use a large container. You should make sure that the container is sealed tightly.
- Freezer bag – If you want to freeze small amounts of evaporated milk, freezer bags are a good option. Once you have poured the milk into the freezer bags remove as much air from the bag as possible. To save space, lay the bags flat on the counter.
- Ice tray – If you love to use evaporated milk in smoothies, oatmeal, or other single-food items, then you might consider freezing it in a freezer tray.
It’s easy to use freezer trays if you don’t have any idea! In single cubes, pour the evaporated milk into an ice tray. This should be placed in the freezer for at least one hour. Transfer the cubes from the tray to a plastic bag.
It’s easy to pick up just one or two cubes later. You don’t have to defrost a whole can of milk if you don’t use it. Evaporated milk can’t be refrigerated once it has thawed. Therefore, portioning is better.
2. Add the milk
Once your container is ready, pour the evaporated milk into it. You should make sure the containers are clean.
You should not fill the containers to the top, whether you are using plastic freezer bags or plastic freezer containers. Allow the liquid to expand by leaving a little space. You might find that your freezer explodes with evaporated milk.
3. The Container should be labeled
Label the container with the date of freeze and the contents. This is important so that you can identify the frozen milk and when you should use it.
4. Freeze
You can store your evaporated milk in the freezer once it has been sealed tightly and placed in a freezer container.
Keep the milk in the back of your freezer. This protects the milk from temperature fluctuations caused by frequent opening and closing the freezer door.
How Long Can Evaporated milk Be Frozen
Evaporated milk can be stored in the freezer for 3 months if it is properly stored. After this time, it will still be good to use.
The quality of the product will decrease, and it won’t be as rich and creamy as you would like.
It is best to use it within three months so that you can still enjoy the high quality evaporated milk.
Why You Should and Should Not Freeze Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk can separate when frozen and then thawed. Because of its post-freezing texture, it won’t work well with many meals or drinks.
You can learn what you can and shouldn’t use frozen evaporated dairy milk for to help you decide if you should freeze it and how to best use it.
Uses of Frozen Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk is not usable after it has thawed. Here are some uses for frozen evaporated milk:
Whipping cream-Thawed evaporated dairy milk can be separated and whipped into cream. Thaw the evaporated milk until it becomes liquid but not too cold. The evaporated milk should be beat at high speed until it forms stiff peak.
To sweeten the mixture, you can add sugar or whipped cream to it. Then, use it right away with a dessert.
The beating at high speeds helps to incorporate the ingredients. They haven’t separated much because the evaporated milk wasn’t allowed to thaw completely.
Use in cooking -Evaporated Milk is an excellent replacement for milk and half-and-half. It is great for cooking as it doesn’t curdle at high temperatures.
Evaporated milk can separate when frozen or thawed. Using it in cooked recipes hides the separation and prevents the milk from going to waste.
You can use any evaporated milk left over to make mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, soups and stews.
Baking –Frozen and thawed evaporated dairy milk can be used in baking. It can be used in place of milk in bread recipes, as well as used to make delicious cakes, cookies, or pies.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Frozen Evaporated milk
The thawed evaporated dairy milk becomes inedible for some recipes, drinks, or meals. Once separated, it can be difficult to reintegrate the milk solids and liquids. It is usually impossible to conceal this when it is added into cooked dishes.
These are the reasons you wouldn’t be able to use frozen evaporated dairy milk:
Smoothies & drinks - You will not be allowed to thaw evaporated dairy milk in smoothies, tea, and coffee. Drinks with separated milk solids or liquids would taste terrible and have an odd texture. Coffee that is chunky is not what people like.
Oats- Some people like to add evaporated milk to their oatmeal, but it is not recommended if the milk has been separated from being thawed. This will make your oatmeal taste bland and may even cause you to give up your favorite breakfast.
Similar Questions
This is a quick and easy guide on how to freeze evaporated milk. We hope you find it useful. We’ve included some related questions for those who might need additional information.
How long does evaporated milk last in the fridge?
Evaporated milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up until 6 days maximum. The evaporated milk should not be opened once it has been opened. Instead, keep it in an airtight container or wrap with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
How do I Thaw Evaporated Milk Frozen?
Frozen evaporated milk should be left to cool in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. This is the best way of thawing evaporated milk. This will prevent it from being exposed to temperatures that can cause bacteria growth.
How can you tell if evaporated milk has soiled?
It is best to take a good look at evaporated milk to determine if it has gone bad. It should be thrown out if it has an unusual odor, a strange flavor, or a change in appearance.
Sometimes, evaporated milk may form a film or milk skin on top of the milk. However, this does not necessarily mean that it has spoiled. To remove the skin, you can whip the evaporated milk together.
Is it possible to make your own evaporated milk?
If you don’t have enough milk for a recipe, you can make your own evaporated milk. Below is a tutorial by Bigger Bolder Baking Channel about making evaporated milk.
Freezing Evaporated milk - Summary
You can freeze any leftover evaporated milk you don’t want to spoil. Remember that evaporated milk liquids can separate once it has been frozen and thawed.
If you plan to use the thawed evaporated dairy in baked or cooked recipes, this separation can be acceptable. It should not be used in smoothies or other dishes that do not require cooking as the separation is obvious.
It’s also a smart idea to freeze evaporated milk in small amounts or cubes. This will save you the hassle of defrosting it all again, and reduce the risk of wasting some milk.
Do not refreeze evaporated Milk. It will lose its texture and may cause bacterial growth.
