We all know that milk can go bad after a few weeks, and this can be the same for soy milk. If you have some soy milk in the refrigerator and you don’t think you will be using it any time soon, there is a way to ensure that the milk can last a little longer. You can freeze your soy milk. This can be a great way to ensure that your soy milk lasts just a tiny bit longer.
You can freeze soy milk. Most manufacturers advise that you do not freeze the soy milk because the texture of the milk will change after it has been frozen and thawed. This, however, should not stop you from freezing your soy milk as it does not lose any of its nutritional value by being frozen.
Continue reading to learn more about the shelf life of soy milk as well as how you can go about freezing your soy milk in order to extend that shelf life.
How Long Does It Last in the Fridge?
Like most foods and drinks, soy milk only has a certain amount of time in which it is still good to drink. After this time has passed, it is recommended to throw out the soy milk as it could no longer be safe to drink.
It is best to keep your soy milk refrigerated once you buy it. In the refrigerator, soy milk can last for approximately 7 to 10 days before it will begin to spoil. If you find that your soy milk has a bad or different taste and a different texture, these are signs that the soy milk has gone bad and should be thrown out.
Another sign that your soy milk has spoiled is if it has developed lumps. Lumps are a traditional sign that milk has gone bad, and it is the same for soy milk. It is also possible that if your soy milk has spoiled that the carton will start to expand when you open it. In all of these cases, the soy milk should be thrown out.
It is always best to use the expiration date on the carton to determine by what point the soy milk will spoil. While some products are still okay to use or eat after the expiration date, it is best to throw the soy milk away after this date.
How to Freeze Soy Milk?
Despite sellers and manufacturers recommending that you do not freeze your soy milk, it is perfectly fine for you to freeze the soy milk. Sellers say not to freeze soy milk because it will cause a change in texture of the milk, but this does not impact its nutritional value.
There are two main methods you can use when it comes to freezing your soy milk.
In Ice Cube Trays
Using ice cube trays to freeze your soy milk is the best way to go about freezing the soy milk. If you use ice cube trays to freeze your soy milk into cubes, this makes it easier when it comes to thawing the milk once you are ready to use it.
In order to freeze you soy milk using ice cube trays, you must:
- Pour the soy milk into the ice cube tray
- Place the tray in the freezer. You want to leave the tray here until the cubes are frozen.
- Once the cubes have frozen in the tray, you want to transfer the cubes to a freezer bag.
- You want to place the freezer bag with the frozen soy milk cubes back in the freezer.
In Containers
If you want to freeze your soy milk in containers, this can be a good method when you know how much soy milk you will need for certain recipes. This can be great if you are freezing the soy milk to make a smoothie as the amount of soy milk you need will already be measured out for you.
In order to freeze your soy milk using containers, you must:
- Put the portion of soy milk you wish to freeze into the container
- Place the container in the freezer
This process has fewer steps, but you want to make sure the container you are putting the soy milk in is freezer safe.
What are Some Tips for Storing Frozen Soy Milk?
When it comes to freezing soy milk, you want to ensure you are using the method that is best for how you plan on using the frozen soy milk. Using ice cubes trays to freeze the soy milk into cubes is the most popular option because you can easily determine how much soy milk you are using.
The container method is best for if you have particular recipes that call for frozen soy milk. Freezing the milk in the containers allows for you to not worry about measuring out how much soy milk you will need.
You want to keep the frozen soy milk in the freezer until you plan on using the soy milk. Once you decide that you want to use the soy milk, you want to make sure that you properly thaw the milk if you need to thaw it.
How to Defrost Soy Milk
After freezing your soy milk, you may want to thaw or defrost the soy milk before using it in a recipe or drinking it. This process can be just as important as the process to freeze the soy milk. If done properly, the soy milk will become easy to use in certain recipes as well as smooth enough to drink, if you choose to drink the once frozen milk.
There are a few different methods that you can choose from when it comes to defrosting or thawing your frozen soy milk.
Overnight in the Fridge
Thawing your soy milk overnight in the refrigerator is a common method for defrosting the frozen soy milk. This is also a common method for thawing most frozen foods or drinks.
By thawing or defrosting in the refrigerator, this allows for the soy milk to stay cool while thawing. This also allows for the milk to not spoil immediately once it has been taken out of the freezer.
In Water
Putting your frozen soy milk in water can be another great way to defrost or thaw it. Putting the frozen soy milk in warm water will allow for the milk to defrost quicker than if you put it in the refrigerator. This can be a good method for defrosting if you plan on using the frozen soy milk the day you plan to defrost it.
Throw It in Frozen
For some recipes, you will not need to defrost the frozen soy milk. For example, you can put the frozen soy milk in the blender to make smoothies, and this will allow for the smoothie to stay cool, while the soy milk defrosts to the perfect level for the smoothie.
What are Some Potential Health Benefits of Freezing Soy Milk?
Drinking soy milk can have many health benefits. Out of the many different types of milk that are plant-based, soy milk has a nutritional value that is the most similar to cow’s milk.
When comparing soy milk to traditional cow’s milk, it has been found that cow’s milk does tend to contain more calcium. However, soy milk is a great substitution for cow’s milk because it has a lot of protein and tends to be low in saturated fats.
It has also been found that drinking or consuming soy milk can aid in fighting diseases. Soy milk, like most plant-based milks, tends to help lower the risk of developing diabetes as well as developing heart disease. This type of milk has also been known to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower your body weight, and lower your blood pressure.
If you or someone you know is going through menopause, drinking soy milk can help to alleviate the symptoms. All of these are benefits of drinking or consuming soy milk. None of the benefits are impacted by freezing the soy milk.
Freezing your soy milk can help you to experience these benefits for longer as freezing the soy milk can help to extend the shelf life, making it where you can use the soy milk for longer.
Conclusion
Soy milk is one of the best plant-based milks that you can use as a substitute for traditional cow’s milk. When kept in the refrigerator, soy milk can stay good for approximately 7 to 10 days before it starts to go bad. It is always best to check the expiration date on the container to know the exact time in which the soy milk will still be good to drink or use.
While most sellers and manufacturers will recommend that you don’t freeze your soy milk, freezing your soy milk is fine to do as it does not impact the nutritional value in a highly negative way. The best way to freeze your soy milk is to freeze it into cubes using an ice cube tray, but you can also freeze it in a container. Both of these methods make it easier to use the frozen soy milk in recipes.
