Evaporated milk has a very short shelf life lasting only 2 to 3 days after opening. If you have a reasonable amount left in the packet what do you do so that you don’t waste it. Well, the answer is you can freeze it and it will last for up to 3 months here we show you how.
Can You Freeze Evaporated Milk?
You can freeze evaporated milk and it will hold its quality for three months (at least) and if frozen well you will actually get as much as six months shelf life. After this period, the quality and therefore shelf life will start decreasing. However, do expect some degradation in quality. It is best to use frozen evaporated milk for baking or blended dishes.
You might also be interested in
How Freezing Affects Evaporated Milk?
The most common effect that freezing has on evaporated milk is that it will separate and possibly in the freezing process form ice crystals.
How to Freeze Evaporated Milk?
Freezing evaporated milk is easy! One of the most important things is to make sure the containers that you are going to freeze it in a clean and sterile. I will usually wash them in the dishwasher prior to freezing. The reason is any bacteria that are in the freezing process will not grow in the freezer but when you take the evaporated milk out to thaw suddenly the bacteria can multiply very quickly.
If you can think your head to what recipe you might be using the evaporated milk in this means you can select the right sized container to freeze reducing any waste. If you are unsure as to what you will use the milk for in the future the best advice is to freeze it in small quantities even freezing it in ice cube format. That way when you’re ready to use it you can just select how many ice cubes or should I say milk cubes that you need for your dish.
Just follow this step-by-step guide.
1. Pour in the Milk
Evaporated milk expands when frozen, so make sure the container is not full. You should leave some space for the milk to expand. Don’t fill up the container completely because it may force the lid off in the freezing process and have the frozen milk distributed around your freezer which is very hard to clean.
2. Choose a Container
The best containers for freezing evaporated milk are freezing vessels that are labeled freezer safe. Don’t use thin-walled plastic containers because they will easily crack. You may not notice the crack and then when you thaw the milk it can run out all over your fridge which is messy to clean up.
3. Label the Container
When you are storing things in the freezer for a long period of time like 3 to 6 months it is always a good idea to label clearly each container because it is so easy to forget firstly what it is and much much harder to remember exactly when you froze it.
4. Put Into The Freezer
Placed the evaporated milk into the freezer and try and have it on a level shelf so that the milk does not leak out if the seals are not strong.
Easiest Freezing Method
The easiest way to freeze evaporated milk is to pour it into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the cubes from the tray to zip lock bags and keep them in the freezer.
How Long Can Evaporated Milk Be Frozen?
Freezing it will preserve its quality and it will last for 12 weeks. You can actually keep it for a further 12 weeks making six months in total however it’s likely the quality will slowly degrade as you approach six months.
Thawing Frozen Evaporated Milk
If you want to thaw frozen evaporated milk the best and safest way is to put it in the fridge using a bowl or plate so if there is any leakage then it is caught in the outside (plate or bowl) container rather than spilling over your fridge.
Uses for Frozen Thawed Evaporated Milk
For frozen and then thawed evaporated milk, in fact, any milk, the best recipes to use it in are those that require mixing or blending because any separation or coagulation will be rendered neutral when you mix it into your ingredients. For example recipes like pancakes or waffles.
How Long Does Evaporated Milk Last in The Fridge?
If you keep it in the fridge. It will last at least10 days in the fridge when the original packaging is opened.
How to Keep and Store Evaporated Milk Extending Its Shelf Life?
If you want to keep your evaporated milk fresh longer, then you should store it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for around two weeks if stored correctly. For any longer freeze the milk.
How to Tell If the Evaporated Milk is Bad or Spoiled?
The best way to tell if the evaporated milk has gone bad is by looking at the color and checking the smell.
Can You Freeze Evaporated Milk in Ice Cube Trays
Yes, you can, in fact freezing evaporated milk into ice trays and small cubes is a good idea because you don’t waste any you only take out from the freezer exactly the amount you need.
How Long Is Evaporated Milk Good for After Expiration Date
After the expiration date, I would only use evaporated milk for cooking and baking where the temperature is going to kill any bacteria that may have grown. So I would not use it any more than two or three days after the expiration date.
How Many Times Can You Freeze Evaportated Milk
You can only freeze evaporated milk one time.