Questions about dealing with milk (pandemic-related)

[lostforgottensoul]

Ok, so after having to dump out an entire half gallon of milk, I want to freeze half of the gallon of milk I just opened to try to make it last longer. I have a pitcher being cleaned in the dish washer right now that I'll be putting the milk in to freeze. Or maybe will put what I want to use in that in the fridge and freeze the half in the gallon jug. Not sure which is best. This will be the first time trying to freeze milk. I know people do this all the time and I watched videos and most state to shake it as its defrosting in the fridge. Any other tips before I do this?

This is an attempt to make what I have last longer so I dont have to go out and buy another gallon.

I'm using flour tortilias instead of bread and threw all 10 packs in the freezer and been taking them out to defrost when one is done. But never thought to freeze the milk and so it went bad. Just trying to make this gallon last longer so I dont waste it and have to buy more and and that will leave more for others in the stores.

Any tips on freezing milk?

 

[LuckiLee]

When we're at the end of a gallon we pull the next one out. Set it on the counter for most of the day then put it in the fridge to finish thawing. Give it a good shake every once in a while.

I freeze everything. If I open a can of tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, chili peppers and dont use the whole can I put the rest in baggies and toss in the freezer. I can then use as needed. Cut off a chunk as I go.

I buy and freeze day old bread from the bakery and cut into serving sizes then freeze.

I stuff peppers and freeze, thaw then bake as many as I need....

Options are endless.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

When we're at the end of a gallon we pull the next one out. Set it on the counter for most of the day then put it in the fridge to finish thawing. Give it a good shake every once in a while.

Well, I think I will do exactly that when I go back out for milk but I want to only freeze some of it and just to make this gallon last longer.

I have these tupperware that have screw on lids. It would hold probably enough milk for two bowls of cereal. I was thinking of filling those up and freezing those so that I can only use what I need at a time.

Certianly I will put the next gallon of milk in the freezer and may still go out and get some this week or next so I can do that but to make this last longer, I am trying to think up ideas.

What do you think of the indiviual tupperware bowl screw on lid idea. Would it freeze and defrost ok in something like that?

ETA: I waa thinking of the smaller tupperware things so that I can defeost what I need and then still have the rest frozen.

 

[LuckiLee]

I think that would work good.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Thank you @LuckiLee! You helped a ton!

 

[blackemerald1]

@lostforgottensoul = re milk. Maybe consider buying full fat powdered milk rather than fresh? It's not completely the same but very close & it is so economical. It can be made up in a jug (as per instructions) every day or so as needed.

I've got it in the cupboard for those weeks when getting out is beyond me. One packet for a single person would last... a month if you were a heavy user of milk.

When you open anything like this - always try to store it in a food safe, tightly lidded plastic container. & cut the label & instructions off the box, wrap in some Glad wrap or similar & put in the container with it. :) Then you'll never struggle to find them.

If you choose to freeze anything liquid - only fill the container two thirds of the way. Liquid increases in volume when frozen. If you don't leave enough room it will likely bust open the lid & spoil by freezer burn or whatever. Not nice. Just leave room (1/3) in your container.

Same goes if you choose to use snap shut plastic bags - leave plenty of room for expansion.

Make sure your containers/bags are food safe?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Maybe consider buying full fat powdered milk rather than fresh? It's not completely the same but very close & it is so economical. It can be made up in a jug (as per instructions) every day or so as needed.

I haven't done that only because when I was a kid, my sister (an adult) would get powered milk cause it was cheaper and it would make me really sick. Not sure why but I havent touched powered milk since.

If you choose to freeze anything liquid - only fill the container two thirds of the way. Liquid increases in volume when frozen. If you don't leave enough room it will likely bust open the lid & spoil by freezer burn or whatever. Not nice. Just leave room (1/3) in your container

I left about an inch or so at the top and here they are frozen solid:

The round ones still have lids on screwed tight. Some of them the milk made it to the top but none of them are expanded, including the top. The round ones are much thicker plastic then the top one so will defrost the top one first. It is much more likely to get frost bite then the round ones. And then when I get milk, I will get enough to have one frozen.

This is how much milk in the fridge that I left myself:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@lostforgottensoul JMHE but you can easily freeze milk even in the gallon directly, though you likely wouldn't need so much to defrost at one time. The gallon will swell (but I have never seen burst), while frozen you will see yellow where the fat separates but it returns to 'normal' when defrosted.) Ideally you would leave space (all liquids or products with liquid in them, sauces etc) when freezing for expansion. Like someone said leave out o/ night, it will sweat but is fine. Shake up, wipe off, vent air and put in fridge.

A person with 3 degrees in dairying and front line processing experience he told me save your money on 2%: in terms of nutritional content he said buy skim or whole (homogenized (~4%) & cut that down with water if you prefer). In the old days (pre Boost and Ensure drinks etc), hospitals used whole milk.

Lovely tidy freezer btw. :):hug:

Yeah, a video I watched about how to make food last on a very cheap budget said to buy whole milk and then cut it with water. Not sure how much but may do just that before freezing next time. Not so much that it tastes like skim milk. Cause skim milk tastes like watered down milk and I cant stand it. But a little bit to make it more like 2% (which is what I buy). Or even 1% which I can stand. Just cant stand skim.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes @lostforgottensoul the cutting down is just to your taste and budget (if you have to stretch it farther). I end up buying 2% because it's cheaper too, but if I can buy whole I cut it down if I drink it but don't cut it down for say, cereal, or if it were for coffee. Actually if you add cold water out of the tap you get bubbles. ;):tup: FWIW it can carry a person a long way and if not lactose intolerant easy on the guts.

Anecdotally, for me personally, though I drink very little (hope to change that) I find it really helpful if I have a few sips after eating something that doesn't agree with me, or that I would react to or am allergic to. Or even after eating junk. Doesn't work to prevent an allergic reaction but definitely seems to tone it down a bit (for me), especially hives.

 

[whiteraven]

Maybe consider buying full fat powdered milk rather than fresh?

I use shelf-stable milk alternatives...I put one in the 'fridge and keep the others in the pantry until I need them. They last a long time; I can't imagine using anything else.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Ok, lets talk about milk again. I went onto Amazon and there is some powered milk there. I thought, why not? I don't have to use it unless or until milk is no longer avail in stores. There is some higher prices but not as bad as it was listed in the comments. But, which one to get? I mean, I am like lost in a sea of unknowns here. I want it to not make me sick. To taste as close to normal milk sold as liquid as possible. Mix well. But have a high shelf life (since I may not need it right now). What brands of powered milk do y'all get? Also, how do you mix it in quart and gallon containers (since all the mixing instructions for most brands seem to be per glass).

Help!

 

[Freida]

what about canned milk? the evaporated or condensed milk? Easy to store on a shelf and has a long experation date. Or the box milk? I use the soy or almond ones, but I think you can also get regular milk that way too.