Can chocolate milk be frozen? - The complete guide

Milk may not be a favorite for most, but few can say no to chocolate milk, especially children. It is one of those products that we buy just for them even if no one else at home wants to drink it.

The problem is, when it comes to kids, we don’t want them consuming too much sugar and chocolate, right? Similarly, we as adults should stay away from those products to some extent.

Chocolate milk, for example, often comes in large containers or bottles, leaving us with several options: drink too much chocolate milk, get rid of the excess, or find a way to extend its shelf life.

Is there a way to keep leftover milk fresh instead of throwing it away? When it comes to long-term food storage, freezing is always the option that comes to mind.

But can chocolate milk be frozen? Freezing chocolate milk is perfectly fine and does not change the quality or taste. Some of the coloring may separate, but this can be fixed by thawing, which doesn’t affect the milk significantly. 

Keep reading below for a complete guide on freezing chocolate milk and all the other storage options.

Can chocolate milk be frozen?

In general, the freezing process for chocolate milk is identical to that for regular milk. It is direct and simple, but with some subtleties that we will discuss below.

For starters, avoid freezing milk that is no longer considered fresh . In other words, always freeze chocolate milk that is not past its best before date.

It’s not that you can’t do it, but we don’t recommend it, as it won’t keep as long and won’t be as good once you thaw it.

In general, if you store it properly, you can expect chocolate milk to retain its highest quality for up to 4 months frozen.

On the other hand, it’s nice to know that properly frozen milk will stay safe indefinitely when frozen. This means that it will be safe to drink even if you thaw it a year later, but it won’t be as good as it was in the first three to four months.

How to freeze chocolate milk

Although you can freeze the milk as is in the original container or carton, you should drink at least one cup before starting the process. This is because the milk will expand when it freezes , so you’ll need to leave some headspace.

Here’s how to freeze chocolate milk:

• The safest and easiest option is to find a new airtight container to transfer the milk.
• You must make sure that you leave at least ½ inch of space for the aforementioned expansion. If it’s a large amount of chocolate milk, leave an inch or even two if possible. 
• Be sure to shake or stir the milk well before freezing it. This will ensure that the sugar and chocolate milk coloring mix evenly.
• We recommend that you label the container so you know the exact date it was frozen. Last but not least, always place milk in the coldest section of the freezer.

How to defrost chocolate milk

Again, the process is simple and identical to most other products.

Here’s how to thaw chocolate milk:

• Place the frozen container in the fridge and let it thaw for at least a few hours.
• It would be best to leave it overnight, but it is not particularly necessary.
• Never thaw directly at room temperature, as you will encourage the growth of dangerous bacteria that will destroy all the good properties of chocolate milk.

As we have already mentioned, it is common for the coloring to separate once it is thawed.  Fortunately, you can almost completely fix this with nothing more than a simple strong stir-fry or shake.

Never refreeze chocolate milk or any milk that has been previously frozen. Once thawed, you should keep it in the coldest place in the fridge.

In general, it should keep for up to a week, but we recommend using it within a couple of days.

How can milk change after freezing it?

Although the quality of frozen milk does not change, there are certain cases where it may not appear the same. We have already talked about the cases in which it separates and you already know how to solve this problem.

If you store milk correctly , it won’t change its taste, but it can happen depending on what you keep in the freezer. Avoid putting frozen milk near foods that have strong odors.

For example, seafood or meat, in general, should be kept as far away as possible. This is because the plastic container (if you’re using plastic) can absorb odors, eventually causing flavor changes. Nobody wants seafood chocolate milk, right? 

Related questions

Can milk be frozen in the container?

We are aware that there are not always spare containers or you simply prefer to save yourself the effort of moving the milk.

If the milk or chocolate milk comes in a carton, you can safely freeze it as long as you pour a cup to open up a headspace for expansion. 

In some cases, the headspace is not enough, which could cause the container to deform, but that should not worry you.

How long does chocolate milk keep and how should it be stored?

In general, it depends on the expiration date and the storage conditions that are given to it. In most cases, dairy products will stay fresh and drinkable for about a week after this date, as long as you don’t store them outside of the fridge.

That being said, never leave chocolate milk out of the fridge for more than two to three hours. Even if it hasn’t started to go bad after these hours, it’s highly recommended to throw it away anyway or give it one last chance in the fridge. 

Remember, do not put the chocolate milk on the fridge door , as it is the place with the highest temperature in the fridge. The milk will keep longer if you put it somewhere in the main body or in the coldest place.

Can milk be frozen to use as ice cubes?

There was a time when freezing unusual liquids was a fad and people tried to freeze everything. Freezing chocolate milk in ice trays was one of our favorites. 

In fact, freezing chocolate milk in ice cubes rather than in a large container has several advantages.

You can use them later as a sweetener for regular milk.  Instead of drinking the extra sweet chocolate milk, you could add some of its flavor and sweetness to the regular milk and enjoy it.

Also, you could freeze any type of milk this way and use it for cooking. For example, there are recipes that call for a certain amount of milk that makes it pointless to buy a whole container at the store.

Does chocolate milk last longer than white?

It all comes down to pasteurization techniques, which have little in common. White milk is considered a fresh product that is produced in such a way that it cannot have a long shelf life.

On the other hand, chocolate milk, for example, is the opposite. It is usually produced as a product that will have a long shelf life. In other words, pasteurization here is done at significantly higher temperatures and for longer.

If there were no chocolate, this second type of pasteurization could affect the taste of the milk, but in this case, the chocolate masks these changes.

There’s a fun fact about milk: regardless of pasteurization, it starts to change color in about 3 months . In the case of chocolate milk, this process is once again masked by coloring, which is another reason why most types of chocolate milk have expiration dates that are later than normal.

How do you know if chocolate milk has gone bad?

Although the coloration and aroma of chocolate interfere with the ability to tell when milk is expired, the principles are the same as with regular white milk.

First of all, the easiest way to tell the difference is if you notice that the smell has changed . If it seems sour, you should throw it away immediately.

With white milk, you want to look for a color change that is difficult to achieve with brown chocolate milk. However, if there is a difference in texture, you will be able to detect it.  If it seems clunkier than usual, it’s most likely out of date.

Last but not least, you can just give it a try. Not with a whole sip, but with a small amount. If it has gone bad, it will taste sour and you will know it immediately.