Can I Freeze Rice Milk? – The Step-By-Step Guide
Rice milk is a great milk alternative that removes the dairy factor from the milk. It tastes great and it is also easy to make your own. What can you do with rice milk? Tons of things!
Rice milk is very commonly used in Asian cultures but it can be made or used anywhere and it’s well worth the effort.
The question is how can you best store rice milk if you have a large batch of it? Can you freeze your rice milk and preserve it so it doesn’t go bad?
The good news is you can freeze rice milk. You can freeze it in a large container or you can separate it out into bottles and jars that seal well and freeze it that way. Freezing works very well to extend the shelf life of rice milk.
This is a grain-based milk so it has far different qualities than your typical dairy milk but it can be used in the same manners, just as you might use almond milk or coconut milk as a replacement for dairy milk.
We’ve put together a guide to walk you through the process of freezing rice milk, adding tips and some basic information about rice milk so you can fully understand what you are working with as you continue through the process.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about rice milk and the freezing process.
A Guide to Freezing Rice Milk
Freezing rice milk is a relatively simple process. Let’s dive a little deeper into rice milk before we get to the technical steps of the process.
What is Rice Milk?
You’ve heard of almond milk and coconut milk, and of course, you are already familiar with everyday dairy milk, but there is another option you should become familiar with – rice milk.
Rice milk is grain-based milk that is made from brown rice. It can be made from other types of rice, but brown is the most common. Rice milk does not usually require sweetening as it is naturally sweetened by the process.
Since rice is a grain it contains natural carbohydrates that are formed into sugars during the process of making milk. Additionally, rice milk may not contain calcium, but it is quite common for calcium to be added to rice milk so that it will provide that quality for people as well.
Uses for Rice Milk
Rice milk can be used as a milk substitute, much like any other type of milk alternative. Rice milk is rather sweet for milk so that may be something you want to keep in mind when you are using it as a substitute.
If you have any type of allergy to lactose or nuts, rice milk is an extremely valuable option. Rice milk is the milk that produces the least amount of allergic reactions as any other milk option.
Remember that Vitamin D and Calcium are not naturally a part of rice milk but many companies fortify their rice milk with these and if you make it at home you could also fortify your rice milk with these nutrients as well if you want to.
Rice milk has the most comparable flavor to cow’s milk as most other types of milk alternatives.
There are many uses for rice milk. Here are a few examples for you:
- Dairy milk substitute
- Cereal
- Baking
- Coffee sweetener
- Drinking milk
- Soups
- Casseroles
- Desserts
Here are the things you should be aware of that could affect your meal when using rice milk. While it is comparable to cow’s milk, it is not the same so you should understand the variances before trying to fully replace cow’s milk.
- Thin milk that may require a thickening agent when used in some recipes
- Sweet milk that is not ideal for savory recipes
- Contains natural sugars because of the carbohydrates in the grain
- Does not naturally contain Vitamin D or calcium and is relatively low in protein
The uses of rice milk far outweigh the potential cons associated with rice milk, but we feel it is important for you to be fully informed when working with a specific product.
How Rice Milk is Made
We want to spend a short amount of time discussing how rice milk is made to ensure you fully understand what you are working with.
To make rice milk you will need cooked brown rice, water, and dates or another sweetener of your choice. Adding a sweetener or using the dates is optional as rice milk brings its own sweet flavor to the table.
Many people who make their own rice milk also use cheesecloth or a strainer to strain out excess liquid.
This is just a basic walk-through of the process.
- Blend together cooked rice, dates, and water until blended and smooth.
- Strain the blended mixture through cheesecloth (I like these from Amazon!). This step is optional and is purely based on your preferences.
- Store rice milk in the refrigerator or the freezer.
As you can tell, rice milk is incredibly easy to make. Don’t bother buying it from the store as you will spend excessive dollars on something that is super easy to make on your own for far less money.
How to Freeze Rice Milk
The best part about making your own rice milk is you can make up a large batch and freeze it so it will last a while. There are no challenging steps for freezing or for using the milk after it is frozen.
Rice milk is often sold at room temperature. This is fine initially, but once it is opened it should be stored in the fridge. The same goes for homemade rice milk – you should store it in the fridge.
Remember that there was a time when milk was delivered to individual doorsteps rather than bought in a plastic jug or a cardboard carton from the local grocery store. It is perfectly acceptable for milk of any kind to be frozen, and that goes for rice milk too!
It’s so easy to freeze that rice milk. Here are your instructions for doing so.
- Pour the rice milk into a freezer-safe container. It is recommended that you use glass or plastic that seals well. Be sure to leave room in the container as freezing could cause the expansion of the milk.
- Place milk in the freezer for up to 3 months to maintain freshness and flavor. Your milk will not spoil in the freezer. If you happen to freeze it 4 months it should still be ok but the flavor may be slightly off as milk can absorb surrounding flavors
If you store your rice milk in the refrigerator it should store well for up to 5 days.
How to Use Rice Milk After Freezing
If you freeze your rice milk you should be aware that it does require some thawing time before using. It will be frozen to solid form when you remove it from the freezer.
We recommend that you allow the rice milk to thaw in the refrigerator for 2-3 days before using it. You can then expect the rice milk to last about 5 days after it is fully thawed.
If you need the rice milk in a hurry you can try soaking the container in hot water, changing out the hot water every 30 minutes until the milk is thawed well enough to be used. Once the milk is thawed you can proceed to use it as normal. Store it in the fridge when it is not in use.
Related Questions
We hope that you have found this guide to be useful and informative in all areas related to rice milk, particularly freezing your rice milk.
We have compiled a question-and-answer section to provide you with some additional information that could be useful to you. We invite you to take a few moments and check it out.
Is Rice Milk Healthy?
Rice milk does not contain natural Vitamin D or Calcium but most rice milk is now fortified with these minerals to provide you with nutrients that are vital to your body. However, rice milk is one of the simplest milk forms and the least likely to cause allergy-related issues.
Additionally, rice milk is a great alternative for those who follow a vegan lifestyle. Rice milk may not be ideal for someone who is prone to high blood sugar levels or has been diagnosed with diabetes as it contains natural sugars from the grains.
Can You Drink Too Much Rice Milk?
Rice milk can be used or drank just as much as dairy milk is used. It is recommended that you limit or reduce the amount of rice milk used for infants and children as the makeup of the substance could overdose on them if used excessively. It takes a substantial amount for this to be a possibility.
Will Rice Milk Go Bad?
It is recommended that once you open rice milk or if you make it fresh you treat it as though it has an expiration date of about 7 days out.
