Can You Freeze Coconut Milk?

Coconut milk is a great alternative to dairy. You can use it instead of milk for most things and best of all, you can freeze coconut milk! 

Coconut milk is a great way to add a creamy texture to savoury and sweet dishes. So I always make sure to have some in my pantry. 

However, while you can use coconut as a dairy milk replacement, bear in mind that it's sweeter and can have a slight coconut flavour. 

It's an invaluable ingredient, but you may not want to use a whole can or carton when you open it so keeping the rest in your freezer is a great way to store and preserve it to prevent waste.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about coconut milk and how to freeze it.

• What is coconut milk?
• Can you freeze coconut milk?
• How to prepare coconut milk for the freezer
• The best container to store frozen coconut milk
• How long can you freeze coconut milk?
• How to defrost frozen coconut milk
• Top tips when using coconut milk
• What can I cook with defrosted coconut milk?

What is coconut milk?

Coconut milk is made by combining the grated white flesh of the coconut and water. After its allowed to sit for a while, the flesh is strained out and the white liquid that is left is coconut milk.

The ratio of water to coconut flesh determines how thick the resulting product is. Coconut cream uses less water than regular thick coconut milk and light coconut milk uses more.

Coconut water is another product entirely which is naturally occurring in the centre of a coconut.

Coconut condensed milk is made by adding sugar and simmering the milk to make it thick and delicious.

Coconut cream is sold in cans, cartons and as a dehydrated block. Regular and light coconut milk are sold in cans and cartons. You may also be able to find coconut milk powder.

You shouldn't confuse coconut milk with coconut drinks. These are the drinks often found in the milk and fruit juice sections in stores. These coconut drinks contain coconut milk but are watered down and aren't a suitable substitute in cooking and baking recipes.

Can you freeze coconut milk?

You can freeze all the kinds of coconut we've discussed from coconut cream to coconut water. Some brands will have freezing instructions on the package, so where possible, follow product-specific advice.

I wouldn't recommend freezing a fresh coconut as it could affect the texture of the flesh. Plus, freezing a whole coconut would take up a lot of space!

How to prepare coconut milk for the freezer

There are several ways to prepare your coconut milk for the freezer. 

There is usually no need to freeze coconut milk in its original sealed container as both cans and cartons are designed for long term storage. Once the original package is opened you will need to freeze what is left in another container.

Depending on how much coconut milk you are freezing, this may be a good idea to divide the milk into portions - either single servings or whatever works for you family.

Make sure to freeze your coconut milk when you open the can or carton. If it has sat for sometime, it may have already spoiled before you get it to the freezer.

The best container to store frozen coconut milk

A few containers work really well for storing frozen coconut milk.

To control the amount of coconut milk you defrost, freezing the coconut milk in an ice cube tray is a great option. I would also recommend using an ice cube tray if you want to use frozen coconut milk in a smoothie, as it makes it easier to add it to a blender.

To save room in the freezer, once the ice cubes are frozen in the tray, pop them out into a bag or container so your ice cube trays are free to be reused.

If you want to freeze the coconut milk in larger portions, sandwich bags or airtight containers work just as well. If using sandwich bags, squeeze out any excess air before sealing and lay them flat to freeze. This will take up the least space in the freezer and make them quick to defrost.

Don't forget to make a note of the date and what you are freezing on the bag or container. Permanent marker pens are very useful for this.

Can coconut milk get freezer burn?

Usually, I would recommend ways to freeze your food to avoid freezer burn, but it isn't a huge issue for coconut milk. 

Freezer burn is a form of water loss that affects frozen foods. It's caused by water being drawn from the food into the dry air and freezing in a frosty layer. 

Freezer burn usually happens when you store food inside a large container with excess air. The amount of water loss is often minimal, but it can really ruin some types of frozen food. For example, meat with freezer burn will often end up much tougher.

Avoiding freezer burn isn't too important when freezing a liquid, as the liquid can't turn soggy when it defrosts, unlike a frozen baked good or dry out like frozen meat.

However, you should still make sure you store your coconut in a sealed container to protect it from any contaminants or coming into contact with any allergens.

How long can you freeze coconut milk?

As long as you store it correctly, and in a sealed airtight container, your coconut milk should keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. 

Remember to keep it covered and safe from any contaminants. Even coconut within the 3 month period can decline in quality due to contamination.

How to defrost frozen coconut milk

The best way to defrost your coconut milk is to transfer it to the fridge and leave it in a sealed container for 6-8 hours. 

However, if you're using it in something like curry, you can add it straight to your pan, and it will melt quickly.

Defrosting coconut milk is only necessary if you want to use it in something like a pancake batter. You'll also need to defrost it if you plan to whip it up as a dairy cream replacement.

Top tips when using coconut milk

If you're using coconut as a replacement for dairy milk, you should remember that it has different fat content than dairy milk. So you may need to use less or more accordingly.

Or you could buy a low-fat version of coconut milk. Coconut milk and low-fat coconut milk are usually sold in cans on supermarkets' tinned fruit and vegetable aisle. If you can't find it there, it's also often kept in the 'world foods' aisles.

Just remember to thaw it in the fridge overnight before using it, and give it a good shake before using it in recipes.

What can I cook with defrosted coconut milk?

Coconut milk is a super versatile ingredient. It works in sweet or savoury recipes. For example, it's a common ingredient in South East Asian curries and stews. I have a few recipes on the site that use coconut milk, here are some of my favourites:

Coconut milk is a great ingredient to have on hand, so hopefully this guide has been helpful. If you have any more questions you can always drop me a comment or message on social media!

And that's it! Now you know how to freeze coconut milk!

Happy cooking!