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Did you know you can freeze half and half rather than just let it expire in the fridge? Today, we’re going to tell you how and help you save some money in the interim.
What Happens When You Freeze Half and Half?
The problem with freezing any liquid, especially a fatty liquid like half and half, is that fat and water do not like to stay together when frozen. Once you freeze it, though, the water turns to ice, and the fat separates, so you need to be careful, lest you end up with a fatty layer sitting on top of your half and half.
How To Freeze Unopened Half and Half
If you have too much-unopened half and half, it can be pretty easy to freeze it, as the original container is likely freezer-safe.
Just make sure it actually has a rigid container and not something flimsy and burstable like a thin plastic film.
You also want to ensure that the container has room for the half and half to expand. If the container is too full, the half and half might burst it as it expands during freezing, meaning you will end up with half and half all over your freezer.
So long as there is enough space in the container and it is rigid enough to protect the half and half, you can freeze it as is.
How To Freeze Half and Half You Have Already Opened
The more common problem is discovering that the half-and-half you opened is quickly approaching its expiry date before you get a chance to use it.
The first thing to do is to check if the half and half are actually expiring; most supermarkets will put use-by dates on their products that are more focused on the highest level of quality rather than anything to do with safety.
This means that your half-and-half will probably be perfectly safe to use many days after its expiry. Just sniff it and ensure it hasn’t gone bad, and you can probably use it for a bit longer.
If you want to freeze it to help preserve it, though, you need to decant it into a different container, as the opened container will cause the half and half to get freezer-burned.
The best thing to do is store it in a freezer-safe, resealable container with a tightly fitted lid and plenty of space.
So long as you leave enough space for it to expand as it freezes, you can easily freeze a large amount of half and half for a long time.
Easy Way To Freeze!
A great trick for added convenience is to freeze your half-and-half in an ice cube tray. As long as you keep the frozen cubes covered in the freezer, they will stay good for over six months.
Looking for more great How-To guides? Try these out:
• Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
Happy Cooking
Love,
Karlynn
Lindy says
At today’s skyrocketing prices, when it’s on sale, I buy 3-4 at a time and freeze them. I’ve been doing this for close to 2 yrs now. When I’d thaw it out, I’d shake it up really well, but it still wasn’t quite like fresh Half-and-Half til you got to the bottom 1/3 or so. (It would separate in the coffee, with little specs floating on top….like when it sours) What I’ve started doing once it’s thawed out, is pouring it into a tall container, then taking a hand blender to it for about a minute before I pour it back into the carton. This seems to do the trick.