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pouring half and half into an ice cube tray
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How to Freeze Half and Half

Prep Time5 minutes
Freezing6 hours
Total Time6 hours 5 minutes
Course: Drinks
Keyword: Freezing Half and Half

Equipment

  • airtight container
  • marker or pen
  • freezer bags
  • Ice Cube Tray

Ingredients

  • Half and Half

Instructions

In the carton

  • Not a highly recommended method, but is super fast.
  • Simply toss the carton straight into the freezer.
  • Notes:
    1) The liquid will expand a little upon freezing. So be aware that the carton may bulge or tear. To prevent this, you could open it and pour a little out first. But then you may as well dump it into a freezer bag, container or ice cube tray.
    2) If you want to provide a little extra protection, you can toss the whole carton into a freezer bag before putting it in the freezer.

In a freezer bag or airtight container

  • Portion it out in the amounts you will need upon thawing.
  • Pour the portions into individual freezer bags or airtight containers.
    Note: if using a container, make the size so that there is only 1 - 2 inches of space between the lid and the half and half.
  • Carefully press all air from the freezer bag and zip it shut. Or, press the lid down onto the container.
  • Write the date with a marker on the bag or container and toss it into the freezer.

In an ice cube tray

  • Pour the half and half into each hole in the ice cube tray. Make sure to leave a little space in each for it to expand upon freezing.
  • Pop the tray into the freezer for a few hours until the half and half is solid.
  • Remove from the freezer and pop out the frozen cubes.
  • Toss the frozen cubes into a freezer bag or airtight container.
  • Seal the package:
    airtight container: press the lid down on top of it.
    freezer bag: carefully press all air from the bag and zip it closed.
  • Jot the date on the outside of the package and place it into the freezer.

Notes

Fresh: freeze it as fresh as possible to help it maintain the best quality once it has been defrosted.
Use for baking:  frozen and thawed half and half changes in texture and taste and isn't great for drinking.  Plan to use it in baked dishes or smoothies where the texture change won't be noticeable.
Portion: decide how you will use the thawed half and half and package it in the appropriate portion sizes for that use.  That way you can just defrost the right amount you need at a time.