How to Freeze Dairy Products
When you get home from the grocery store and realize your partner or housemates also stopped to purchase dairy products, you don't have to fret about whether or not the excess will spoil. Simply store most cheese, milk and butter until the refrigerated supply runs low. Though some products do change slightly in the freezer -- and there are a few that don't freeze well at all -- you can use freezer wrapping or their own containers to freeze most dairy products with no ill effects.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Select the food items you plan to store in your freezer. Milk can be frozen directly in the carton, as can heavy cream. Half-and-half and light cream don't do as well in the freezer, so it's best to avoid freezing them. Store leftover portions in plastic containers labeled with the item and date before placing in the freezer.
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2
Wrap sticks of butter in freezer wrap either individually or grouped together. You can also place the entire four-stick carton inside a plastic freezer bag for easy identification.
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3
Freeze cheeses by wrapping 1/2 lb. sections into individual foil wrap, freezer wrap or a freezer bag. Cream cheese, cheese products, ricotta and cottage cheese can be frozen directly in the containers for each product. Note that cottage cheese -- creamy or dry -- ought to be used within a month after freezing.
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4
Freeze ice cream in the original container, but add a layer of plastic wrap beneath the lid to avoid discovering changes like icing on the surface. You can also wrap the kind that comes in boxes with plastic wrap or fit them into large freezer bags for long-term storage. Note: Yogurt is a cultured product and freezing it is not recommended, aside from those types strictly produced as "frozen yogurt."
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5
Freeze eggs by removing them from the shells and mixing the white and yolks together. Place the mixture into freezer bags, plastic containers or ice trays for future use. Allow about 1/4- to 1/2-inch head-room or airspace within a container. Some people add 1 tbsp. sugar or 1/2 tsp. salt per cup whole eggs to help prevent the graininess that can occur when thawing.
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Tips & Warnings
Buying dairy products in bulk is cost-effective if you have a freezer for storage.
Mark or label all packages for identification and date of freezing.
Keep the freezer set to zero (0) degrees Fahrenheit.
Frozen food loses quality the longer it is stored, though most foods can be frozen for several weeks or up to a year.
Always use clean hands when handling foods.
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