# Frozen milk question???
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 18, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691 "2003-06-18T13:45:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/1 "2003-06-18T13:45:30Z")
We just recently started freezing the three bag packages of milk and noticed a problem when they were thawed out.
It is 1% milk, not sure if that makes a difference but when it is thawed out we shake it up before we put it in the container and sometimes, not all the time, we get a lumpy residue throughout the bag of milk and at the bottom of the glass.
Does anyone know why this is happening or how we can overcome this problem, or is it safe to freeze milk bags?
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### Author:  [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/2 "2003-06-18T13:52:32Z")
Milk can seperate when you freeze it. Try running it through a blender when it is thawed.
(I am assuming that bag milk is just regular milk in a bag?)
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### Author:  [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/3 "2003-06-19T13:40:48Z")
it is regular 1% milk
still looking for other answers
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/4 "2003-06-19T13:46:20Z")
It’s safe to drink. There’s nothing you can do about it; once milk is frozen, the homogenization is destroyed. So, if you don’t like the lumps of milkfat, don’t freeze the milk.
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### Author:  [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/5 "2003-06-19T17:02:22Z")
Q.E.D. many thanks but still wanted om other options…
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### Author:  [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/6 "2003-06-19T17:24:07Z")
Well, seeing how others have answered your “why” question - freezing negates the homgenization question, I can only assume you want more answers to the safety part of it.
I would think 1% milk could be treated the same as breast milk. I know the proper way to freeze and use breast milk. I would think See this web page, about half way down.[link](http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/coll_store.html)
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### Author:  [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/7 "2003-06-19T17:25:26Z")
Well, seeing how others have answered your “why” question - freezing negates the homgenization, I can only assume you want more answers to the safety part of it.
I would think 1% milk could be treated the same as breast milk. I know the proper way to freeze and use breast milk. See this web page, about 1/3 of the way down it explains what kind of bags to use, how long you can keep it, how best to thaw it, how soon to use it after it has thawed.[link](http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/coll_store.html)
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### Author:  [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/8 "2003-06-19T17:27:57Z")
sorry for the double post. ☹
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### Author:  [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/9 "2003-06-19T17:44:02Z")
Okay, since you’re waiting for more answers, here’s mine:
Yeah, what everyone else said.
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### Author:  [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/10 "2003-06-19T19:29:07Z")
Unless you have a homogenizer, there’s no way to prevent this. It’s a natural result of freezing the milk. The best you can do is shake it up really well, or maybe blend it. But the longer it sits after it’s been thawed, the more likely it will separate.
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### Author:  [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/11 "2003-06-19T19:48:38Z")
Milk… in a bag?! :eek:
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/12 "2003-06-19T21:28:42Z")
I freeze both whole milk and skim milk for later use.
I have noticed the separation problem is much worse for skim milk than for whole milk. Usually the skim separates out into a watery upper level -taking up almost half the bottle - , and a clumpy lower level, and the problem cannot be fixed by shaking it. The whole milk, on the other hand, has only a small amount of watery liquid on top, and this can be re-mixed by shaking. I’ve seen this difference many times.
This is the reverse of what I would expect, since the whole milk has most of its fat content and the skim has almost none.
Any ideas on what’s going on here?
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### Author:  [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/13 "2003-06-19T23:08:10Z")
Can I ask why you’re freezing perfectly good milk? My youthful experimentation in the field of milk popcicles convinced me forever that the only solid form milk was meant to take was chocolate.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk-question/182691/14 "2003-06-19T23:36:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Nanoda \*
> \*\*Can I ask why you’re freezing perfectly good milk? \*\*
So I don’t have to go to the store so often. If I buy two quarts at the same time, the second goes sour before I finish it. If I freeze it, I can thaw it when I’m ready to use it.