I froze milk for the first time :)

**Ramona** · 09-24-2011, 12:46 AM

I was at Target the other day and they had an endcap with milk, I chose the whole milk. One gallon was $2.49. I knew we wouldn't use the entire gallon before it turned, so I poured it into two ice cube trays and wrapped them in a freezer bag.

I'm so proud of myself and would never have thought to do this without being a member of Frugal Village!

**Spirit Deer** · 09-24-2011, 12:52 AM

I freeze buttermilk in ice cube trays and store in bags, too. Very handy for small amounts in baking or making salad dressings.

You can also freeze milk in plastic bottles like pop bottles, or in Tupperware. We often do that for camping, so we have ice in the cooler and then when the milk thaws a few days later, we can drink that.

The key to having frozen milk taste good when thawed is to make sure it's completely thawed, with no ice crystals left in it. Otherwise, it can tasty watery.

Some other things you might not think of freezing, but which freeze well, are marshmallows, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds like sunflower or sesame seeds. Juices freezer well, too.

**TigerGirl1226** · 09-24-2011, 03:41 PM

I'd kill for that price! At Target the 2% store-brand milk was $4.29 this morning!

**Ramona** · 09-24-2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by TigerGirl1226

I'd kill for that price! At Target the 2% store-brand milk was $4.29 this morning!

I did notice their other milks on the display against the wall were regular price. This was an endcap in the produce section. It must have been a special purchase. I picked it up on 9/15 and the expiration date is 9/30.

**Birdie** · 09-24-2011, 03:49 PM

I don't drink a lot of milk, but like to have it on hand. So, I buy a gallon and freeze it in pint jars. It defrosts pretty quickly and I don't have any waste.

**Libby** · 09-24-2011, 04:28 PM

I do this too - our milk comes in 3 bags totaling 4L. I have about 16L of 1% & Skim milk frozen for when I want to drink it. Its nice to thaw only 1L as needed vs paying $3.50 + for a 2L carton especially when I paid $3.99/4L.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 09-25-2011, 12:02 AM

I haven't ever frozen milk as we go through it too quickly, but this past week it was on sale for $2.99/gal. This week they have 3 half-gal. for $5 which is a little more expensive than last week (if you look at it as 1 gal. for $3.34 plus an extra half-gallon for $1.67) but still less expensive than buying 1 gal. for $3.79.

**saver** · 09-25-2011, 07:13 AM

I freeze milk in those two quart paper containers they come in, all sealed. I recently got several Smart Balance milks for pennies each and I just put them straight into the freezer, as is unopened. I've used several already and they've done great!

**mom of 3 NC** · 09-25-2011, 08:00 AM

I freeze milk in 1 quart ziplock bags. its great when organic milk is 6 dollars a gallon like where I live. I can buy the milk and freeze what I wont use right away . I really need to try freezing milk in ice cube trays great idea.

**Spirit Deer** · 09-25-2011, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by saver

I freeze milk in those two quart paper containers they come in, all sealed. I recently got several Smart Balance milks for pennies each and I just put them straight into the freezer, as is unopened. I've used several already and they've done great!

Ditto here. We've done that for years. I've frozen milk in both the paper cartons and plastic jugs, half gallon and gallon sizes. I had only one split over the years. I was still able to salvage the milk, so no harm done. If you're concerned, you can always remove a half cup or so to provide some expansion space before freezing.

I've also frozen juice boxes, juice pouches, and other things that are in flexible packaging. I haven't tried stuff in the hard plastic containers yet.

I also freeze oils like cooking oil in its original container. It keeps indefinitely and thaws very quickly. We store margarine in the freezer in original packaging, too. Shortening can also be frozen.

**Ramona** · 09-25-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by mom of 3 NC

I freeze milk in 1 quart ziplock bags. its great when organic milk is 6 dollars a gallon like where I live. I can buy the milk and freeze what I wont use right away . I really need to try freezing milk in ice cube trays great idea.

I have to warn you about the ice cube trays. Mine are white plastic and when I tried to pop out the milk cubes, they would not come out!! I wonder why and I bent that tray every which way

.

The entire tray is defrosting in the fridge and I'll transfer the milk to a clean jar.

**Spirit Deer** · 09-25-2011, 09:25 PM

I don't use the plastic trays. I have carefully sought out the old-fashioned aluminum kind with the lever on them that allows for easy removal once things are frozen. I even scored a mini-cube version, which I didn't know existed, at our new Goodwill store for fifty cents last week.

If you dip the ice tray in a cake pan with warm water in it, I bet that would help the cubes come out easier.

If you use Ziplocs, be sure to set them in a bowl while they thaw in case of leakage. The last bag of broth I thawed had a leak in it, and if it hadn't been in a bowl I would have had a major mess in the fridge.

**Ramona** · 09-25-2011, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I don't use the plastic trays. I have carefully sought out the old-fashioned aluminum kind with the lever on them that allows for easy removal once things are frozen. I even scored a mini-cube version, which I didn't know existed, at our new Goodwill store for fifty cents last week.

If you dip the ice tray in a cake pan with warm water in it, I bet that would help the cubes come out easier.

If you use Ziplocs, be sure to set them in a bowl while they thaw in case of leakage. The last bag of broth I thawed had a leak in it, and if it hadn't been in a bowl I would have had a major mess in the fridge.

I remember those trays! I will be on the lookout during thrifting.