You can make milk last much longer09:23, 22 May 2026Milk is a key staple in fridges up and down the country, but it does have a short shelf life. If you don't use up your milk carton fast enough, it can go to waste. To cut down on food waste and stop your milk from going off, a simple storage switch can make it last for months longer. It can save you some money and trips to the shop.‌Milk can be frozen, where it will last for up to three months. It will be safe to drink once it's defrosted.‌When it comes to freezing, it depends on the type of milk you have. According to Tesco, skimmed and semi-skimmed milk are more suited to home freezing than full-fat milk.‌The higher fat content makes it difficult to freeze properly, but it can still be done. Simply recombine the fats and water by giving the milk a vigorous shake once defrosted.How to freeze milkMilk freezes at 0.5°C, so make sure it is not in a very chilly fridge, as ice crystals might start to form. The milk needs to be in a freezer-proof and plastic container so it doesn't shatter.‌It also needs to be airtight as milk can absorb odours and flavours from other foods. You can freeze milk in the plastic bottle it comes in from the shop.However, you need to remove around a small glass of milk from the bottle as milk expands when frozen. Then, label the bottle with the date you froze your milk and put it in the freezer.It should freeze solid after 12 hours. For smaller amounts of milk, pour it into ice cube trays. This method is best for quickly freezing milk, as it only takes about 4 hours.‌Cover the ice cube tray with plastic wrap to prevent it from absorbing the smells of your freezer. Ice cube tray milk is great for smoothies, shakes and iced coffee.How to defrost milkMilk can be frozen for three months, but Tesco says it is not wise to freeze milk for more than one month. Milk can separate and go grainy the longer it is in the fridge.Yet, if this does happen, you can put the milk in a blender, and it'll be good again.‌To defrost milk, remove it from the freezer and place it in your fridge door to defrost overnight. The next morning, give it a good shake, and it will be ready to use.Tesco said: "Defrosting in the fridge is the safest way to defrost milk, as the cool temperature hinders bacterial growth, but it can take up to 12 hours."If you need it in a stitch, the best way to defrost milk quickly is to submerge the bottle in a bowl of cold water. After 30 minutes, pour away the water and replace it with fresh cold water, to stop the water warming to an unsafe level. One hour of cold water immersion should be enough to defrost your milk."Article continues belowDon't defrost milk in the microwave or by leaving it at room temperature. The supermarket warned: "Defrosting it slowly in a warm environment will mean that any bacteria in the milk that existed at the time of freezing will quickly increase, which can make it unsafe to drink."Defrosted milk will stay fresh for the number of days you had between the date you froze it and the expiry date. If you put it in the freezer a day before the use-by date, it will only stay fresh for one day once defrosted.