Milk kefir is a healthy fermented milk drink made from kefir grains that contains a specific type of mesophilic symbiotic culture.
That means it’s a great addition to your diet to combat digestive problems and improve your immune system.
Maybe you’ve bought a whole pack of milk kefir on offer since it’s usually quite expensive, and now you’re worried it’s going to go bad before the date on the label.
Don’t worry: you can freeze milk kefir, and we’ll tell you how below.
Want the lowdown and fast? Milk kefir will last 1-2 months in your freezer. The producers don’t recommend freezing it because the texture will change, but you can still use thawed kefir in dishes.
Should You Freeze Milk Kefir?
First things first. You’ve probably searched “Can you freeze milk kefir?” because the label says not to.
The producers don’t recommend freezing milk kefir. The high water content means your milk kefir will separate after thawing.
However, milk kefir is perfectly safe to freeze and thaw. Just stir it afterward, and the texture will restore slightly.
The most important thing is that you use thawed milk kefir in cooked dishes, like soups and stews, or baked goods, like cakes. Don’t drink it like you would non-frozen milk kefir, as the texture won’t be appealing.
If you’ve ever eaten frozen yogurt, expect the texture changes to be very similar!
How To Freeze Milk Kefir The Easy Way
When it comes to the process of freezing milk kefir, you have two options. The first will take 5 minutes max and is good if you have plenty of freezer space.
Simply pour your milk kefir into airtight containers, making sure you measure out a portion size in each so you don’t defrost too much.
Remember: leave space for your milk kefir to expand. You don’t want your container exploding!
How To Freeze Milk Kefir To Save On Freezer Space
This method involves flash freezing. It’s a great way to save on freezer space and ensure easy portioning when it gets to using your milk kefir!
Follow the step-by-step instructions here:
- Give your milk kefir a good shake to ensure everything’s mixed up.
- Pour your milk kefir into deep muffin tins or ice cube trays, leaving a little space at the top.
- Cover the tray in aluminum foil or cling film to protect it from freezer burn.
- Pop the tray in the freezer for 2 hours.
- Now that you have flash-frozen your milk kefir, you can transfer all the chunks to an airtight container without them all sticking together.
Although this method might take a little more time, it can save time in the long run. With these smaller chunks, you can grab a couple and throw them in a soup while they’re still frozen – they’ll thaw in the pot.
How Long Frozen Milk Kefir Lasts
Milk kefir doesn’t last a huge length of time in the freezer, but it will extend the storage life significantly.
Expect your milk kefir to last 1-2 months in the freezer.
Once your milk kefir is thawed, keep it tightly sealed in your refrigerator and try to consume it within a week.
Other Methods For Storing Milk Kefir
So you can be sure you’re picking the right storage method, we’ll run through alternative options below.
If you sip your bottle of milk kefir over a few days, feel free to keep it on your desk. Milk kefir lasts 1-2 days at room temperature.
However, that’s definitely not the best way of storing milk kefir.
By storing a bottle of opened milk kefir in the refrigerator, you extend its storage life to 2-3 weeks. In order to make sure your bottle stays good for the longest time possible, reseal the bottle after use, and don’t drink directly from the bottle. Pour yourself a glass instead and avoid transferring bacteria to your milk kefir!
Now: if your bottle of milk kefir isn’t resealable, or there’s a problem with the bottle, you can always transfer it to an airtight container.
The Summary Of Frozen Milk Kefir
That just about sums up everything you need to know about freezing your milk kefir. Here’s a recap if you need it:
- Your milk kefir will last 2-3 weeks once opened, as long as you store it in the refrigerator. Therefore, freezing your milk kefir might not be necessary.
- Flash freeze your milk kefir in an ice cube or muffin tray, then transfer to an airtight container to save on freezer space.
- Although the manufacturers don’t recommend it, freezing milk kefir is completely safe. However, the texture does change, so you should only use thawed milk kefir in dishes. Don’t drink it on its own!
