Coconut milk and cream have a rich texture with a unique, smooth taste. They’re a popular ingredient in many dishes, especially Asian desserts.
Yet, the question remains: what do you do with leftovers or when you buy in bulk? Can you freeze coconut cream? Or will it change its flavor?
Here’s the quick answer: yes, you can, and no, it won’t. The catch, however, is when you defrost the cream, it loses its consistency.
There’s no need to worry, though. This post has everything you need to frost and defrost coconut cream.
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Can You Freeze Coconut Cream?
Yes!. In fact, freezing is a great way to keep cream fresh for as long as 2 – 3 months.
On the other hand, if you put coconut cream in the fridge, it’ll only stay fresh for a week at most. So, this option is only viable if you plan on using it within the next few days.
How to Freeze Coconut Cream
There are several methods you can use to ensure this dairy’s safekeeping. Check them out.
Leftover Cream
We’ve all stood there with a half-used container of coconut cream, not sure what to do with it. Of course, the best way to safely store leftover cream is to empty the container into an ice cube tray.
Then, once they’re frozen, remove the tray, and pop out the frosted cubes. Next, put them in an airtight bag or container.
Another way to freeze leftovers is to pour them into resealable plastic bags. Then, lay them flat, so they don’t take up a lot of space.
Just remember to leave a few inches in the bag. This ensures that the liquid has room to expand when it freezes.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you use a marker to write down the storage date. This way, you’ll know exactly when they went and how long they’ll be good for.
Canned Cream
You can’t freeze an opened can of coconut cream. You have to empty the can into an airtight bag or container first. Then, stack up the bags in your freezer.
Again, it’s always helpful to write down the storage date before popping them in the freezer.
Unused Packs
If you have any unopened, unused packs of coconut cream, you will need to allow for expansion when freezing which happens to all liquids. I suggest opening them and using the plastic bag or ice cube method above.
Does Freezing Affect Coconut Cream?
Yes, freezing does affect coconut cream. Especially if you see freezer burn or small ice crystal in the frozen cream when it thaws it can actually become runny, or more liquid.
However, It doesn’t change the flavor much at all certainly when used in baking cakes for example.
How to Defrost Coconut cream
When it’s time to use your frozen cream, you must prepare in advance. First, take out the container and place it in the fridge overnight.
As we mentioned above, the thawed coconut milk will likely have separated with the liquid at the bottom and a thick layer of cream on top. This is completely normal due to the high-fat content of the cream.
To restore its consistency, blend the mixture for about 30 seconds. Then, it’ll be good as new!
We should also mention that you should never re-freeze any dairy product that’s been thawed out. Even though coconut extracts are not dairy the same rules apply to coconut milk and cream.
How to Use Thawed Coconut Cream?
If you want to use frozen coconut cream, follow the instructions above and you can use thawed coconut cream in dishes like
- Curries
- Soup Base
- Cakes
- Pastries