Tesco has issued a crucial message to all the people purchasing milk from the supermarket. The store has shared tips on storing the milk so it doesn’t go off too quickly.
The supermarket, which rivals Sainsbury’s and Asda, clarifies that skimmed and semi-skimmed milk freeze more effectively at home compared to full-fat milk.
This is attributed to the higher fat content in full-fat milk, which doesn’t freeze as successfully.
It said: “Milk is a key item on most shopping lists, but with such a short shelf life, it can go to waste if you don’t use it fast enough. You can easily store it in the freezer to prevent food waste and save some money.”
As per the guidance, you need to put the milk in a container that is safe for the freezer and won’t let air in because milk gets bigger when it freezes.
You can keep it frozen for up to six months, but it’s best to defrost it in the first month, reports Birmingham Live.
When you defrost it, do it in the fridge so it stays safe to drink.
Tesco advises: “All you need to do prior to freezing is make some space in the top of the container by using up (or drinking) a small glass of milk, leaving about 112 inches at the top of the bottle.”
They advise that your milk should be fully frozen after approximately 12 hours.
Healthline cautions that if milk defrosts at room temperature for an extended period, bacteria within it may proliferate, potentially causing illness.
They say: “This is because the longer milk sits at room temperature, the more likely it is that any existing traces of harmful bacteria proliferate, potentially causing the bacterial count to become high enough to cause illness from drinking the milk”.
Tesco has a simple solution for thawing frozen milk.
They advise: “How to thaw frozen milk is very simple: get it out of the freezer, and pop it into your fridge door (with a couple of kitchen towels wrapped around it, if you’re concerned about condensation) to defrost overnight.
“The next morning, all you need to do before pouring it onto your cereal is give the bottle a good shake.”
