The holidays are quickly approaching, which means the demand for dairy products is steadily increasing.
But what if you only need a cup of half and half and the store only sells quarts? What do you do with the rest?
If you’re not one to put half and half in your daily coffee or whip up a quick dessert recipe with those leftovers, you can freeze your half and half to save for later!
We’ll go over any questions you might have about saving your half and half in the freezer for another time.
What We Recommend
The plain and simple answer is yes, you can freeze half and half.
That being said, there are some tips and tricks that will help you, depending on what you hope to use it for.
How to Store Half and Half in the Freezer
Method 1
One way to freeze half and half is by throwing the whole container, unopened, in the freezer.
Method 2
If you’ve already opened the half and half, you can store the leftovers in the freezer in a few different ways.
Take a plastic bag, pour the half and half into it, and make sure to seal the bag air-tight.
Alternatively, you can pour the half and half into an ice cube tray and freeze it into cubes.
For the best quality, use the frozen half and half within 3 months. Otherwise, it will keep indefinitely as long as it’s fully frozen the entire time.
How to Thaw Half and Half
To ensure proper thawing, transfer your frozen half and half from the freezer to the fridge for a couple of hours.
Once it’s thawed, you can whisk it for a minute if it’s still chunky.
What to Do if You Need Half and Half
If you’re in a time crunch and only have frozen half and half, you can take it out of the freezer and place it into cold water for a while. This will speed up the thawing process.
If you’re using it for a purpose that doesn’t necessitate thawing, like iced coffee, then use it straight from the freezer!
FAQs
How long does it take to freeze half-and-half?
It takes around 2 hours for half and half to freeze.
Can you freeze half-and-half in its container?
Yes! You can put the half and half in the freezer in its container if it’s unopened.
Can you freeze half-and-half for coffee?
You can, but be aware that the texture will change once it’s frozen. Frozen half and half works better in baked desserts or other recipes that don’t use it plain.
Conclusion
If you find yourself with a surplus of half and half and don’t want to waste it, don’t sweat it. Just put it in a different container and freeze it! The next time you want to make a tasty treat or an iced coffee, it’ll be just a reach away.
Though freezing can change the consistency of the half and half, you can always stir it once thawed. It will be good as fresh!
Do you have any experience freezing and thawing half and half? Let us know, we’d love to hear how it went.
Claire
