Skim milk vs 'other'

**vintagetvshowlover** · 02-21-2009, 10:41 PM

Freeze or not? Milk is a super bargain, I want to stock up...

**writtenonmybody** · 02-21-2009, 11:08 PM

Yes. Some say it changes the texture of it and sometimes taste different after. I have yet to have this problem with skim milk though. I would say that if they are in plastic bottles you will need to open them and use a small bit to leave room for freezing. You don't want it to explode as it freezes. I've had this happen only once though. We have never kept milk frozen for more than two weeks. I have no idea if that makes a difference or not. Also, I've read and I don't know what is true about it since we've never done it you shouldn't keep milk frozen for more than a month. A month at max.

**tiff** · 02-22-2009, 05:28 AM

I've quite often frozen skimmed milk, its all we use. Definitely do it.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-22-2009, 08:54 AM

We freeze skim milk all the time because when we go out of town, it's at least $1/gallon cheaper somewhere else. There's just the two of us and sometimes we'll buy ten gallons at a time. The ten dollar savings goes a long ways towards paying for the gas it takes to drive out of town. We don't drive just to buy milk, but when we're there anyway it's just a nice way to help offset the gas costs for any trips we do take.

I usually remove a couple cups of milk per gallon and use that fresh. Then freeze the rest. I've never heard of having to use it within a month, which is a good thing since some of ours gets left in the freezer a year or so sometimes. It's never tasted any the worse for wear by doing that.

We have never noticed a taste difference once it's fully thawed, but be warned it takes a LONG time for it to thaw, three days or more per gallon. If you drink it before it's completely thawed, it will taste watery as you get to the bottom. I usually get it out of the freezer and let it sit in the kitchen sink at least a day, then put it in the fridge to continue to thaw. You will easily be able to tell if it's still cold enough to continue sitting out. Then as it thaws in the fridge, I shake it up every now and then to break up the ice chunks. Once you can't hear any ice inside, it's pretty close to thawed and can be used.

It all sounds more complex than it is. The biggest thing is to remember to get it out of the freezer a few days before you'll need it.

**vintagetvshowlover** · 02-22-2009, 11:56 AM

Thank you! I am soo going to stock up! I cannot resist at Aldi's here it is $1.79 for a gallon!! Honestly, I don't remember when milk was this cheap in a long time!

**vintagetvshowlover** · 02-22-2009, 11:57 AM

BTW, I want to stock up because we don't have a car, and I have to always take a taxi home from the grocery, this will save on taxi fare.

**dogmatix** · 02-22-2009, 12:01 PM

I'm wondering if, because skin milk had no fat to go rancid, it can't be safely frozen longer then other fuller fat milks. Either way I freeze mine too if I have extra.

**old_lady_in_the_shoe** · 02-22-2009, 12:09 PM

You can freeze all milk...although the "milk people" will tell you not too. I freeze it all the time. The gallon container will expand so expect that size change. The plastic gallon jugs, usually puff out on the bottome and it seems to be ok, but over all, the just will expand about 5-10%. More rigid contains should not be used.

Whole milk freezes well, but due to the more fat content, it will be the "most noticable" one. When thawing, shake it as often as you can during the thaw and make sure it thaws all the way before you use it. Then shake it before you use it each time.

2% or skim milk works our a bit better for freezing due to the "less fat" in them. I would still shake them well and make sure they are completely thawed before drinking.