Freezing milk?

[Norasmomma]

I know there was a thread on this awhile back, but I cannot find it. Milk is on a really good sale, and I want to stock up and buy like 8 gallons to have at home here. I know my MIL used to freeze milk for the sake of saving $$$(she had to with 7 kids). So do I just put it in the freezer and then pull it out the day before to thaw. Any answers would be appreciated, TIA, Erin

[chel]

I can only buy the kind I like in a 1/2 gal, but I can't use it all before it goes bad. So I split the container, and freeze half in a nalgene bottle. The only down part is it takes several days to thaw in the fridge.

So I would wonder how to thaw a full gallon, but otherwise it tastes normal.

[Norasmomma]

Well I Googled freezing milk and found numerous sites saying varying things, some said it's great for 1 month others said 3. One woman said her family always does this and that it lasts 3 months and there never is a problem, she freezes whole gallons and doesn't take any out, but she said it works best with those gallons with the indentations, I don't think the kind I would be getting has those, so I *may* need to take some out. This sure would help us save some $$$, and that would be a great thing.

[b&c'smama]

I have wanted to do this too, but I am concerned about chemicals leaching from the plastic into the milk when it freezes.

[Norasmomma]

Isn't the cloudy plastic(#2) considered on of the "safer" plastics? Plus I thought that it more of a concern of heating up plastic, not cooling it down, IDK maybe someone could enlighten me.

[Patrick's mummy]

I live miles from the nearest store so freeze milk regularly. However, I do it in smaller quantities than a gallon. To defrost, I put it in a bowl of water at room temperature for a few hours and then let it finish defrosting in the fridge. It may take awhile for a whole gallon to defrost, but that's the only problem I see.

[boobybunny]

We buy milk at costco..every week even if we do not need it right away. It is only 7.00 for 2 gallons of organic. I also buy a half gallon of half and half and two lbs of butter every week. (all organic)

We have a good size deep freeze. It takes about a day for the gallon to defrost on our counter... put a towel under it to catch the condenastion. The half and half separates, but a shake or two of the container seems to help. The butter does not seem to change.

I also buy the tillamook shredded cheese in 7 lb bulk, and we freeze it, but break it down to 1 lb packages.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by boobybunny

We buy milk at costco..every week even if we do not need it right away. It is only 7.00 for 2 gallons of organic. I also buy a half gallon of half and half and two lbs of butter every week. (all organic)

We have a good size deep freeze. It takes about a day for the gallon to defrost on our counter... put a towel under it to catch the condenastion. The half and half separates, but a shake or two of the container seems to help. The butter does not seem to change.

I also buy the tillamook shredded cheese in 7 lb bulk, and we freeze it, but break it down to 1 lb packages.

But do you do anything to the milk before freezeing it? Do you have to remove some to allow room to expand when it freezes?

[Norasmomma]

I always freeze butter, and cheese shreds and never have had a problem. I buy butter when it's on a super sale, and I buy like 8lbs, and put it in the freezer. I am going to get some milk and do the freezer thing, maybe with just a couple of gallons.

[Billie]

We freeze just about everything BUT milk. Milk that has been previously frozen just tastes different to me for some reason. I could probably get away with using it in cereal or cooking, but I just can't stand to drink it.

[Purple*Lotus]

We keep about 6 gallons at my job in the freezer all the time. We stick the whole jug in there. It takes about two days for it to thaw in the fridge. I sort of like icy milk, myself. But some don't.

[Semi_Crunchy]

I've always wondered the same thing every time I'm at the grocery store and see a really good sale. I freeze all other dairy without problems (cheese, butter, yogurt) but never tried milk. I did hear someone say that its okay but that it tastes different after its been frozen. Is it wrong of me to want to go out and buy milk and experiment?
What about kefir, does anyone freeze it? The grocery store has it on sale plus I have some coupons and would love to buy it and freeze it if it does well.