Can You Freeze Sweetened Condensed Milk? (Before & After Pics)

Got a half-open can of sweetened condensed milk and want to store it for a prolonged period? Can you freeze sweetened condensed milk?

Freezing sweetened condensed milk is as simple as pouring it into an airtight container and placing it in the freezer.

It doesn’t freeze solid but becomes slow as molasses in January thick, which means you don’t even have to portion it before freezing.

Even though condensed milk lasts for a while after opening, sometimes that period isn’t long enough. If that’s the case, freezing is probably the best solution to the problem.

Want to learn all about freezing and defrosting sweetened condensed milk, and see some before and after photos? Read on.

Can You Freeze Sweetened Condensed Milk?

Sweetened condensed milk isn’t solid when frozen. That’s due to its sugar content. It just gets much more viscous, but you can still pour it, albeit slowly.

(Slow as molasses in January describes it well.)

Here’s how mine looks like after freezing:

And here’s a closeup on the surface:

That’s good news. That means there’s no separation that you have to deal with after thawing. All the issues that you might know from freezing buttermilk or yogurt aren’t present.

Here’s the same sweetened condensed milk after defrosting it:

The only change that you might notice is that it’s slightly paler than before putting it into the freezer. And that’s about it.

The consistency is also back to normal, so you can pour it no problem.

Long story short, freezing condensed milk doesn’t come with any downsides. Maybe besides the fact that you need a few hours of defrosting to get it to its usual texture.

How To Freeze Sweetened Condensed Milk

All you need is a freezer-safe container, and you can get to work. Here’s how you freeze condensed milk:

1. Pour the leftover sweetened condensed milk into the container. Seal it tight, and add a label if you like.
2. Transfer it into the freezer.

That’s it. All it takes is those two steps that take two minutes tops.

Since it doesn’t freeze solid, you don’t have to worry about many containers and measuring exact amounts. You use it as you go.

How Long Will Condensed Milk Last in the Freezer?

Condensed milk should retain great quality for at least 3 to 6 months, possibly much more. Like all foods, it slowly deteriorates when frozen, so your condensed milk that’s frozen for a year already won’t be as good as fresh.

In other words, try to use it within 6 months of freezing for the best results.

Thawing Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk stays liquid (although slow as molasses) in the freezer. That means you don’t need to plan ahead and thaw it if you’re okay with it being thick and super cold.

If you don’t want it that cold and slow, give it a couple of hours in the refrigerator.

As I mentioned, if you don’t need the whole container, scoop and thaw the amount you need and leave the rest frozen. This way, you never need to refreeze it.

Uses For Thawed Condensed Milk

You can use frozen and thawed sweetened condensed milk however you like. Unlike freezing cream cheese, sour cream (read Can Sour Cream Be Frozen? for details), or evaporated milk, there are no limitations here because condensed milk doesn’t separate.

That means that all the classic uses for sweetened milk are viable options:

• sweetening pies and other baked goods
• pouring over pancakes, crepes, ice cream, and the like
• upgrading your coffee or tea
• anything else you use condensed milk in