Can You Freeze Coffee Creamer? – The Best Way
Whether you are a fan of the original coffee creamer, or you count down the days until the festive coffee creamer flavors are released, it is something that most of us just cannot live without on a regular basis!
You might find yourself with some extra coffee creamer leftover, or if you have found some on a great special at the grocery store, what can you do?
Can you freeze coffee creamer? Yes, you can successfully freeze coffee creamer. While most coffee creamer brands do not recommend freezing if the creamer contains dairy, non-dairy coffee creamer can be frozen and thawed back to the same taste and texture.
So now that we know that coffee creamer can be frozen with good results, it pays to know exactly how to do it. That way, you can keep your coffee creamer fresher for longer, and you are able to save the limited festive season flavors to enjoy throughout the year!
How to Freeze Coffee Creamer in the Bottle
One of the easiest ways to freeze coffee creamer is to keep it in the original bottle. There are some who believe you need to remove a small amount of creamer out of the bottle before freezing, as the creamer will expand and the bottle might explode.Â
However, this isn’t necessary. Coffee creamer will not expand and explode in the freezer, so you do not need to worry about removing any before freezing.
Label the Bottles
It is really important to remember to label the coffee creamer containers, especially when you are freezing more than one. Write the date of freezing onto the front of the bottle, to help you use them before they begin to deteriorate in the freezer.
If you are freezing a few bottles of coffee creamer over time, you should move the older bottles forward, and place the newer bottles at the back.
This ensures that you grab the oldest bottle and the one that needs to be used next, when you need some coffee creamer from the freezer, instead of having one old bottle of creamer stuck at the back of the fridge for years.
Use-by Date
Since the brands do not recommend freezing, it is quite difficult to have a definitive use-by date when freezing coffee creamer.
Through other user experience, it is recommended to use the coffee creamer within 6 months of being placed in the freezer.
It will probably be safe to leave the creamer in the freezer after 6 months, but the quality might begin to deteriorate.
Rules for the Thawing Process
The safest and most effective way to thaw frozen coffee creamer is to leave it in the fridge overnight, or for a good few hours, allowing it to turn back into a liquid state.
Thawing in the fridge means that there is no exposure to high temperatures which might cause bacteria growth, or cause the spoiling of the product.
Shake Well
The coffee creamer might separate when frozen and thawed, so you will need to give it a good shake once it has defrosted fully, and then a good shake before each use to mix it well.
Use Within a Week
Once the coffee creamer has thawed, you should use it within a week. You should also not refreeze the coffee creamer once it has thawed. This will not only mean the quality and taste will deteriorate further, but it could lead to spoiling, which would just be a complete waste of the bottle.
You might get away with freezing the coffee creamer if it hasn’t thawed completely, but this isn’t recommended.
How to Freeze Single Portions of Coffee Creamer
You will be freezing your coffee creamer because you know you will not be able to use it before the expiry date, and if you are the only person using the creamer, you might not be able to use a whole bottle before it spoils.
Luckily, there is a really easy way to freeze individual portions of coffee for you to use in your single portion every morning without having to defrost a whole bottle.
Here are the steps to follow to do this:
- Clean out an ice tray.
- Pour coffee creamer into the small cubes.
- Place the ice tray into the freezer and remove it from the freezer once they have frozen solid.
- Once frozen, remove the coffee creamer cubs and place them into a sealable freezer bag.
- Label the freezer bag with the date of freezing, ensuring you use it before it is not safe to use anymore.
- When it is time to use the coffee creamer, you can pop one or two creamer ice cubes into your coffee.
- If you do not want the ice cubs to cool down your coffee, you can place them in a mug and put them into the microwave until liquid again and heated, and then add it to your coffee.
Using this method, you can keep a good amount of single portions of creamer, and by freezing them in an ice tray before and then placing them into a freezer bag, you can easily remove a single portion of creamer at a time without having to defrost more than what you will be able to use.
Even better, you can use the frozen creamer cubes in a smoothie, a milkshake, or even make some iced coffee. It really opens up many opportunities to add a creamy aspect to many drinks and treats!
What Is Coffee Creamer Made From?
In order to understand how coffee creamer can be frozen, it does help to know what it is made from.
Many coffee creamers claim to be dairy-free, and while they do not contain any lactose, they might contain casein, which is a milk-derived protein. For those with dietary restrictions, it helps to check the ingredient list before making a purchase.
Most often, creamers are used as an alternative to milk, and there are some advantages with using creamer over milk.
Firstly, both powdered and liquid creamers can be stored for a long time, with powdered cream not needing to be refrigerated, and liquid creamer not needing refrigeration until it is opened.
The rich, creamy taste that coffee creamers offer is often the only deciding factor for many, even if there is fresh milk available. To take it a step further, you can get some really great seasonal and festive flavors of coffee creamers, making the holidays that much more enjoyable and tasty!
It is important to note that as most of the coffee creamers are lactose-free, freezing might cause separation.
Many people find success with freezing coffee creamer, but you will need to give it a good shake before using it once it has thawed, to ensure it is properly mixed up together before being poured into your cup of coffee!
Consider the Shelf Life
Powdered coffee creamer has an exceptionally long shelf life, so you should take this into account when deciding whether or not to freeze the creamer.
Liquid coffee creamer shelf life is a little shorter and can vary between a few days to two weeks when kept in the fridge. If you are able to use the coffee creamer before this time, there really is no point in freezing it, but if not, then freezing it is the way to go!
Can You Freeze Coffee Creamer?
While it is not advised by the coffee creamer brands, it is completely possible to freeze coffee creamer to save it for use later on.
You can either freeze the whole bottle of creamer or portion it out into an ice tray and then place the cubs into a plastic bag, allowing you to use a couple of blocks at a time without defrosting all of the creamer.
Make the most of the festive coffee creamer flavors and freeze them, so you can enjoy the incredible flavors throughout the year, even when they aren’t stocked in the stores anymore!
Related Questions
Can You Freeze Coconut Creamer?
Coconut creamer is used very similarly to coffee creamer, and it might be something you would want to freeze at home. It is possible to freeze coconut creamer, however, there will be a change of texture, however, it will still be fine to use in your coffee when you need to.
You can once again freeze the coconut creamer in an ice tray and then place the frozen blocks into a sealable plastic bag, allowing you to remove as much as you need at one time without having to defrost the whole batch.
Can You Freeze Half and Half Cream?
Half-and-half cream can be frozen, but it really should only be frozen if you are going to use it for cooking instead of using it in coffee later on.
There is a chance that it will separate while freezing and then thawing, so you will have to give it a good whisk to incorporate it back together, especially if you are wanting to use it to add some creaminess to your coffee or drinks.
I have about 75 of the little coffee creamers that you get in a Restaurant I cannot use them all , can I throw them in the freezer?
I bought a ton of creamer because it was on sale for only $2… my plan was to freeze it in ice cube trays and then place into bags once frozen. Thought this was a great idea to make my frappes. The problem is, it isn’t freezing solid enough to even get out of the trays… what do I need to do? The temperature is set as cold as it’ll get…. HELP!!!