Can You Freeze Almond Milk? (& What It’s Good For)

You know that fresh almond milk doesn’t last a super long time in the fridge, but can you freeze almond milk for later use? The short answer is yes! — with a few caveats. Follow this easy method of freezing almond milk so that you can use it past the expiration date marked on the carton.

Add the frozen almond milk to your DIY Smoothie Bar or stir it into Crock Pot Hot Chocolate prior to serving to take the edge off. Defrosted almond milk is great to use in Vegan Baked Oatmeal or stirred into Protein Overnight Oats.

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Almond milk, an alternative to dairy milk, is made from ground almonds and water. Whether you make homemade almond milk or buy it at the store, you know that it adds a creamy, nutty flavor to recipes with fewer calories.

It can be made into almond milk ice cream or almond milk creamer and it’s also a great substitute for regular milk in baked goods. When my daughter was eating vegan, it was my go-to milk for baked goods.

While a great option for lactose-free milk, a carton of almond milk is supposed to be used within 7-10 days of opening, a pretty short shelf life. While you might not notice signs of spoilage, it’s always best to use it up before that time frame and avoid potential risks of food poisoning.

You can follow one of these milk recipes to use it up quickly or freeze extra almond milk for a later date.

While the texture of almond milk changes during the freezing process, it’s still good to use in baking as you would fresh milk. For best quality for drinking, get fresh almond milk or make your own. But for sure stretch your purchase of larger quantities by freezing it for baking.

Why Do This

Freezing leftover almond milk helps you avoid food waste. No good crying over milk you can’t use up in time. If you’ll use it eventually in baking, why not freeze it to use later and buy yourself some extra time? It may lose some of its creamy texture, but the texture changes won’t affect your baked goods, so freezing is the easiest way to stretch your purchase.

It will save you money. Avoiding food waste is a great way to save money on food you’ve already purchased. Freezing is the best option, especially if you know you’ll use almond milk in smaller portions than it’s sold in.

It can be more convenient. If you don’t go shopping very often, it can be handy to have some almond milk in the freezer. Frozen cubes are super convenient as you can easily add them to smoothies, iced coffee and tea drinks, or hot soups and sauces.

How to Freeze Almond Milk

Freezing milk in its original, plastic or paper container, when done properly, can prove to be very convenient for using it after thawing, if you know you will use the whole container.

To freeze: Liquids expand when frozen, so you’ll need to remove some of the milk and leave adequate headspace (room for expansion) in the container of almond milk. Pour off at least an inch of milk from the container prior to placing it in the freezer. Replace the cap a little loosely. You don’t want it to bust its seams.

Store the container in the freezer.

To use: Transfer the container to a rimmed tray and place in the refrigerator. Allow the frozen milk to thaw on its own in the fridge. The tray is to catch any drips or leaks. Shake well before using. The almond milk separates when it thaws so it won’t have the best texture for drinking.

To freeze in cubes or a separate container

Freezing almond milk into cubes or smaller containers is the best way to freeze a small amount of milk or if you want a small amount of thawed almond milk. 

The almond milk ice cubes can be used in smoothies as well as iced drinks that you might add milk to anyway, such as iced coffee. Frozen almond milk cubes are also good for adding to a child’s hot cocoa, hot oatmeal, or hot soup to help cool things done while adding a bit of flavor.

You can also use the thawed almond in baking recipes.

To freeze: Pour the milk into an ice cube tray or smaller container and place in the freezer. Once firm, remove the cubes from the trays and store in a freezer-safe container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer. Small containers can be stored as is.

To use: add milk cubes to a blender for making smoothies, or to glasses of iced coffee, iced tea, or other cold drinks that benefit from a bit of milk. Milk cubes also work well to cool too-hot oatmeal for kids.

To use in recipes, thaw the number of containers or cubes you need in the fridge for 2-3 hours or at room temperature only if you’ll use the milk right away. Give it a good stir before adding to your recipes.