Coconut milk is a key ingredient when preparing Indian and Asian-inspired curries, stews, and other dishes. Adding coconut milk to your meals and smoothie recipes can give it a unique flavor you will definitely love.
But what do you do with the leftover coconut milk after preparing your favorite dishes? If you are like most people, you may be considering preserving the leftover milk so that you can use it at a later date.
Can you freeze coconut milk?
As you likely know, the most effective way to preserve dairy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk is to freeze them. But how exactly can you freeze coconut milk? Well, it may surprise you to know that freezing leftover coconut milk isn’t as difficult as you think.
Read on to learn some effective ways to freeze canned coconut milk.
One thing you should keep in mind is that you don’t need to make elaborate preparations to freeze coconut milk. All you need to freeze any quantity of cartoon or canned coconut milk is a good refrigerator, some containers, and ice cube trays.
Why do manufacturers say you should not freeze it?
Many coconut milk manufacturers don’t recommend buyers to freeze leftover coconut milk. The reason for this isn’t because freezing coconut milk is difficult, rather it is because frozen and thawed coconut milk undergoes texture change. The texture issues arise because the freezing processes separate the fat and protein from the liquid.
The texture change may seem like a serious issue, especially for people who plan on using their coconut milk leftovers to prepare frozen drinks. But you shouldn’t be bothered by this because there are some practical ways to fix the texture issues, regardless of the brand of canned coconut milk you have.
How to freeze Coconut milk
As previously mentioned, freezing coconut milk isn’t difficult. In fact, you don’t need to make elaborate preparations or buy any special equipment to freeze your leftover coconut milk.
Below is a step-by-step guide on freezing coconut milk for stews and curries.
Equipment needed
- Multiple Airtight containers with lids
- A good freezer
- A freezer bag
Step 1: Pour a good portion of your coconut milk into each container. Seal tightly with a lid. You can use clingfilm as an alternative if your containers don’t have lids.
Step 2: Put the containers in freezer bags to make them more secure.
Step 3: Label the freezer bags and store them in your refrigerator
The next time you want to make curry or stew, take out one of the bags, thaw the milk, and add it to any curry recipe.
How to freeze coconut milk for smoothies
Equipment needed
- Ice cube tray
- A good refrigerator
- A freezer bag
Step 1: Carefully pour your coconut milk into an ice cube tray.
Step 2: Put the tray in a refrigerator and leave it for a few hours to freeze.
Step 3: Put the cubes of frozen coconut milk into a Ziploc bag and label it.
When you are ready to use the coconut milk, you can go to the fridge and grab a few cubes of frozen coconut milk and add them to your smoothie recipe.
How to thaw frozen almond milk
Thawing coconut, almond, and nut milk aren’t as difficult as you think. Below are some practical ways to defrost coconut milk.
Warm water
Take the Ziploc bag containing the frozen milk out of your freezer and put it in a bowl of water. The frozen milk will defrost fully after a couple of hours.
Put in a fridge overnight
All you have to do here is to take a portion of the frozen milk you want to defrost and put it in a fridge. It may take 4 to 6 hours for the frozen milk to completely defrost using this method.
Microwave
Of course, the above methods are great, but if you are in a hurry and want to defrost the milk as quickly as possible, you should try this method.
All you need to do is to put the portion of the frozen milk you want to defrost in a microwave.
Use frozen
If you plan on adding coconut milk to your soup and curries, you may not need to thaw the milk before using it. The heat of the soup will melt the frozen milk. The same goes for when you want to add ice milk to your smoothies and frozen drinks recipes. If you have any of the best milkshake blenders on the market, you can be confident of getting an ultra-fine result even if you are working with tough ingredients like ice.
Tips on defrosting your coconut milk
The following tips will help ensure that your thawed coconut milk turns out great.
Sauces and curries
Of course, you have the freedom to use frozen coconut milk to prepare any drink and dishes. To ensure that you get a pleasing result, you should only add them to your sauces and curries, as they can effectively mask the textural change of the milk.
Slow down the defrosting process
Trying to thaw your frozen milk as quickly as possible is by no means a good idea, as it can cause the fat to separate from the liquid, leaving you with an inconsistent and grainy result.
An effective way to prevent this is by allowing your frozen milk to thaw as slowly as possible. A great way to do this is by taking your milk out of your freezer and putting it in a fridge overnight. Alternatively, you can place the container containing the frozen milk in a bowl of warm water and allow it to defrost slowly.
Blending after defrosting
Regardless of the method you use, you are still going to get a slightly grainy result. A simple way to fix this is by blending your thawed coconut milk. You can use either a high-quality hand blender or a countertop blender.
FAQ on Freezing Coconut Milk
How long can you freeze coconut milk?
Like other milk, coconut milk cannot last for a very long time regardless of how you preserve it. So even if you freeze your coconut milk, it is still going to deteriorate. On average, your frozen coconut milk may last for two to three months. Ensure that you add it to your curries and smoothie recipes within this period.
Can You Refreeze Coconut Milk?
Never should you refreeze a thawed coconut milk. Ignore this, and you are going to end up with a lumpy and grainy result. Refreezing thawed coconut milk completely destroys its texture.
How To Fix Separated Thawed Coconut Milk?
One way to fix texture changes in thawed coconut milk is by blending it with a hand blender or a bullet blender.
