The Safe Way To Freeze And Thaw Liquid Coffee Creamer
Whether it's because you've simply bought too much or because you want to stock up on your favorite holiday creamer that's only sold seasonally, you may have found yourself wondering if you can freeze liquid coffee creamer to make it last longer. Coffee creamer generally only lasts a few weeks to a few months in the refrigerator, and freezing it before it goes bad can help extend its life. If you're in a pinch, you can even freeze your coffee beans, too.
Whether it's dairy or non-dairy creamer, many coffee creamers don't typically have an exceptionally long best-by date, and often, people find themselves dumping a lot of creamer down the drain. Thankfully, it is safe to freeze and thaw liquid coffee creamer. You can freeze a whole container in a freezer-safe bag or use an ice tray to freeze individual portions. When it comes time to thaw your creamer, do so in the refrigerator, and use it within 48 hours.
Can you freeze liquid coffee creamer?
Before you freeze your liquid coffee creamer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Unfortunately, you can't just throw the bottle in the freezer and call it a day, as the original container is not designed to be frozen. As the water content in the creamer freezes, the water molecules form a net that takes up more space, thus the creamer expands. The original container may not have enough room to account for that, so use a freezer-safe plastic bag to avoid any explosions. The process for this is simple: Shake the creamer to combine the components, pour it into a freezer-safe bag, remove any excess air, seal the bag, then label it with the name of the creamer and the date you are freezing it.
Another handy way to freeze your coffee creamer is the ice cube tray method. Shake your creamer like you would with the bag method, then pour individual portions into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once it's frozen, pop out the cubes, put them in a freezer-safe bag or container, remove any excess air, and label the container with the name of the creamer and the date you are freezing it. You can safely store your creamer this way for up to three months.
Thawing liquid coffee creamer
Once you're ready to use your coffee creamer, take the bag out of the freezer and put it in a bowl or other container to thaw in the refrigerator — just in case there are any holes in the bag. If you're using individual cubes, take one out at a time. You can either plop them right into your coffee or put them in a mug in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. This way, it'll be ready to go in your mug in the morning. You can also use creamer ice cubes to make iced or blended coffee. Either way, from a food safety standpoint, it's important not to let your creamer thaw on the counter, and definitely don't let it sit out for more than two hours. After your creamer is thawed, use it within 48 hours. Because of this rule, it's a good idea to use the single-serve method unless you'll use the whole bottle within that timeframe.
When you're ready to use your creamer, give it a good swirl or shake, as most types of creamer will separate a bit after freezing. Different types of creamer thaw differently. You'll probably notice some separation from any type of creamer, and you might also notice a bit of graininess if you're using almond milk or oat milk creamer. Regardless of which method and which type you use, you can definitely freeze your liquid coffee creamer to extend its life and enjoy that perfect cup of coffee in the morning.