Yes, You Can Freeze Coconut Milk – Here’s How!

Can you freeze coconut milk? Yes, you can freeze coconut milk for up to three months. Here’s exactly how to do it, whether you’re using a tin or a carton.

If you were to ask me the number one way for people to take action on climate change, then I would always say that it would be reducing the amount of food we waste. Second on my list is switching to an ethical bank, but that’s a story for another day…!

For a start, reducing food waste is easy to do. And unlike certain eco actions, like installing solar panels or switching to an electric car, almost anyone can get involved, regardless of income. In fact, it saves money.

Plus, reducing food waste can massively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. After all, if the food that we waste globally, every year, was a country, it would scarily be the third-highest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China. Cut waste, and we cut emissions.

Actions, like reducing the amount of coconut milk you waste, might feel like a tiny drop in the ocean. That’s why small steps, like using your freezer to freeze things like excess coconut milk all help to eliminate food waste, and are a great step forward.

So, what does this look like in practice when you’re faced with half a tin in the fridge, or milk in a carton that won’t get used up? Here’s exactly how to freeze it so it actually gets used:

How To Freeze Canned Coconut Milk

It is incredibly easy to freeze canned coconut milk, however it can go wrong. Through trial and error, I’ve found the best two methods, depending on how you tend to use canned coconut milk.

If You Use Coconut Milk In Small Quantities

If you tend to use coconut milk in smaller quantities, such as making a sauce or adding it to a smoothie, then freezing in portions will work best for you.

Similar to my techniques for freezing oat milk and freezing rice milk, I swear by the ice-cube tray method.

Simply pour the coconut milk into an ice-cube tray and then pop the tray in the freezer. Once frozen, you can then decant the cubes into a labelled and dated tub or bag in your freezer, ready to grab for when you next need them. This frees up your ice cube tray for whatever you need to freeze next!

Each cube is equal to roughly one to two tablespoons. This makes it much easier to add just the right amount to a dish without defrosting more than you need.

If You Use Larger Amounts In Your Cooking

If you use canned coconut milk for cooking, and you have enough left over to make one of your favourite dishes that contains coconut milk, then you can put the leftover milk straight into a tub or jar. Then simply pop your tub or jar straight into the freezer.

Just remember to leave a little space at the top, as liquids expand when frozen. If you’re worried about freezing glass or are new to the concept, then here’s the best way to freeze food in glass jars to avoid breakages.

I do this when I make my vegan lime and coconut curry – it requires half a can of coconut milk. I freeze the rest of the milk, ready for when I want to make a new batch. Or for when I want to make vegan macaro-no-cheese – a recipe that also calls for half a can of coconut milk.

How To Use Frozen Coconut Milk

How you use your frozen coconut milk depends on how you froze it:

If You Froze It In Small Portions

If you used the ice-cube tray method to freeze your coconut milk, then there’s no need to defrost the milk. Simply drop the desired number of frozen cubes directly into your cooking or your blender, if you’re making a smoothie, and carry on preparing your meal as normal.

If You Froze A Large Portion

If you froze a larger portion of coconut milk in a jar or a tub, then it’s best to defrost your milk before use.

It’s always best and safest to defrost your frozen milk in the fridge – usually overnight. This helps avoid bacterial growth. Once thawed, it can be used much like fresh coconut milk in cooking. It should be used within 2 – 3 days of being defrosted – although immediately is always preferrable.

You might notice that the milk looks a little separated or grainy after defrosting. That’s completely normal. Coconut milk naturally splits when frozen, but heating it and stirring it when you are cooking bring its back together. It doesn’t affect the flavour either.

How Long Can You Freeze Canned Coconut Milk For?

Frozen canned coconut milk can last for quite some time – around 3 months in the freezer. While textural changes are common after defrosting coconut milk, it should still smell fresh. If it develops an off smell after defrosting, it’s usually a sign that it’s past its best and should be discarded.

I find labelling and dating your container before placing it in the freezer helps reduce food waste further. This means that you won’t be scratching your head over what the contents of your tub are, or be left wondering just how long that tub of coconut milk has been languishing in your freezer. It also makes it far more likely that what you freeze actually gets used.

What About Cartons of Coconut Milk?

You can freeze unfinished cartons of coconut milk too. For cartons of coconut milk, I prefer the ice cube tray method. This is because defrosted coconut milk can separate. This causes it to have a grainy texture, and I’ve found it’s not so great to drink or have on your cereal.

Instead, I find defrosted coconut milk works best when cooking, such as in a soup, or whizzed up in a smoothie. Alternatively, you can heat up the coconut milk to have a frothy vegan coffee or hot chocolate. In other words, defrosted coconut milk is best thought of as a cooking ingredient rather than something to drink on its own.

If you use the ice-cube method, there’s no need to defrost the coconut milk. Simply drop the ice cubes into the sauce that you are making, or drop them straight into the blender if you are making smoothies.

Your Top Tips

If you have picked up any more tips on freezing coconut milk, then do let me know in the comments below. I’ll be sure to add them to this article, for Moral Fibres readers to learn from. After all, it’s often these small, everyday kitchen habits that make the biggest difference in helping you waste less food, save money, and make the most of what you already have.