Condensed milk, which is also called sweetened condensed milk, remains fresh for a mere three weeks after opening.
Therefore, you’re thinking that freezing your condensed milk might be a good option to extend its storage life.
The good news – you’re right! Sweetened condensed milk is great for freezing.
In this article, we’ll run through how to freeze your sweetened condensed milk and how long you can expect it to last. We’ll also give you a short-and-sweet summary of other storage methods, so you can feel confident that freezing is the right option.
Here’s the lowdown: Freeze your condensed milk in an airtight container. This way, your sweetened condensed milk will last for an extra three months!
How To Freeze Sweetened Condensed Milk
Freezing sweetened condensed milk is incredibly simple.
Just pour it into an airtight container and pop that in the freezer.
Due to the fact that condensed milk has had 60% of its water removed and has a high sugar content, it won’t freeze solid. It will get considerably more viscous (thicker), but it will still be pourable.
That’s another piece of good news: the fact that your condensed will be pourable, even when frozen, means you don’t need to worry about portioning out the right amount into small containers.
When it comes to using your sweetened condensed milk, pour out the amount you need into another airtight container, then leave that in the fridge for 2-12 hours, depending on the quantity.
You know your condensed milk is ready to be used when it’s returned to the same runniness as before you froze it.
Because condensed milk doesn’t go solid when frozen, it’s less likely to separate than other dairy products, like sour cream, which separates because the water turns to ice.
However, you may notice a little separation. If you do, give your sweetened condensed milk a quick whisk, or shake it up in your airtight container.
Now: you shouldn’t re-freeze your condensed milk after thawing. Use it up, store it in the refrigerator, or chuck it!
One last thing – your condensed milk may look slightly paler and less yellow than before. Don’t be alarmed, as this is completely normal and not a sign of spoilage.
How Long Frozen Sweetened Condensed Milk Will Last
Your sweetened condensed milk will last up to three months in an airtight container in the freezer.
Once you have thawed your condensed milk, try to use it up within a week. Or better yet, only portion out the amount you need at one time since it only takes a few hours to thaw!
Other Storage Methods
If you have unopened cans of sweetened condensed milk, it’s probably not the right option to freeze them since unopened cans last for six months.
That’s provided you store your condensed milk in a cool, dark, dry place. In your house, that could be a cellar, pantry, or even a kitchen cabinet that’s not close to any heat sources (think: oven, stovetop).
Once you’ve opened your condensed milk, pour leftovers out of the can and into an airtight container, and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
The Round-Up On Condensed Milk
In conclusion, sweetened condensed milk is an excellent candidate for freezing!
However, it’s not worth opening currently unopened cans of condensed milk in order to freeze them, as the cans will last for six months in your pantry anyway.
The best bit? Since condensed milk freezes as a thick, viscous liquid rather than as a solid, it’s easy to portion out the amount you need!
