How long can dairy products be stored? At what temperature should milk be kept? Can milk be frozen? How about cream and butter, can these products be frozen? There are many things to take into consideration when it comes to dairy products. Hopefully, this article will provide precious tips to keep your dairy product fresher longer, naturally.
Whenever possible, dairy product should be consumed fresh, in the next few days following purchase. However, if need be, it is possible to freeze dairy products. Freezing process won’t affect nutritional value of dairy product. Texture and aspect could differ from what you are used to. Any dairy product that has been thaw should be consumed in a short period of time.
Milk
First it is important to know that milk is a fresh produce that contains no preservative. Our Fine-filtered and Organic milks as well as our Lactose free line-up are filtered through a process that results in products with a purer taste that stay fresher longer, naturally. Our 1L and 2L carton with the "fresh-seal packaging" stamp also helps preserve the delicious, fresh taste you know.
Tips to store milk
- Milk and milk products should always be stored at a temperature between 1°C and 4°C. Temperature control is the most important factor in retaining the quality of milk.
- Place milk product back into the refrigerator quickly when your done using it. Even short periods of time at room temperature can cause off flavors and spoilage before the ‘‘best before’’ date.
- Avoid placing milk in the refrigerator door as temperature varies too much.
- Milk is sensitive to odors, store it away from strong-smelling food.
Once opened, milk should be consumed before the expiry date and within seven to ten days.
Can milk be frozen?
Yes, it is possible to freeze milk if the product is sealed.
Freezing process could affect milk texture and aspect. Milk should not be frozen for more than six weeks; it must be thaw in the refrigerator and well shaken before consumed. Even if frozen, milk should be consumed before the best before date. Most importantly, once thawed, milk should be consumed within days.
Can flavoured milk be frozen?
Just like regular milk, we recommend consuming flavoured milk fresh since freezing could affect texture and aspect. If frozen, flavoured milk should be kept no longer than six weeks before thawed in the refrigerator and consumed quickly.
Cream
Cream is a fresh product and contains no preservative, just like milk. Cream should be stored at a temperature between 1°C and 4°C and consumed before it’s expiry date.
Once the container is opened, cream should be consumed within seven to ten days.
Can cream be frozen?
Fine-filtered, organic, Lactose free all in all, we do not recommend freezing cream. Its texture
will be significantly different upon thawing. Instead of having a smooth, silky texture of fresh
cream, thawed cream will tend to separate. This product should also be consumed before the best before date, even if frozen.
Lactose free whipping cream should not be frozen under any circumstance or it will lose its efficiency. It is possible that thawed whipping cream won’t whip properly or won’t hold its shape because it’s too liquid.
Butter
We recommend that you keep Natrel Butter in the refrigerator in its original foil covering. Natrel Salted and Unsalted Butter should be consumed within 3 weeks following purchase.
Can butter be frozen?
Yes, butter can be frozen without any problem. Un-opened Natrel Unsalted Butter will keep for three months and un-opened Natrel Salted Butter will be good for a full year. When you are ready to use it, leave your Natrel Butter to thaw in the refrigerator for a few days to obtain the best possible texture. Butter should be consumed within three weeks.
Other Dairy Products
It is not recommended to freeze cottage cheese or sour cream because freezing would affect texture making the product too liquid and grainy.
For more information regarding dairy product storage and freezing, we suggest you visit the Health Canada website.