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What Happens to Frozen Raw Milk?

Many people choose to buy milk in its raw form rather than the pasteurized version because of supposed health benefits. Some of the vitamins and minerals are lost or lessened during the pasteurization process, but remain intact in the raw form. Raw milk doesn't stay fresh for the same period of time that fresh does, which leaves many wondering if freezing raw milk to preserve it will have any effects on the actual milk.

  1. What is Raw Milk?

    • Raw milk has not been tampered with in any way. This is milk that is taken from cows, goats or sheep that have been fed a fresh diet of only organic green grass. The milk is quickly cooled to a temperature between 36 and 38 degrees F and then placed in a glass bottle where it awaits purchase by you.

    What Does Raw Milk Contain?

    • Raw milk contains different vitamins, minerals, enzymes and good bacteria. These are all things that pasteurized milk has; the difference is that many of these key health benefits are lost or weakened during the pasteurization process, while raw milk keeps all nutrients intact as when it was first milked from the animal. Nothing is added and nothing is removed. Raw milk also has an abundant amount of calcium, which is said to reduce the incidence of certain types of cancers and lower the risk of developing osteoporosis.

    What Happens to Raw Milk when Frozen?

    • Raw milk in the natural state holds all of its benefits; however, once that milk is frozen, trace amounts of the vitamins and minerals are depleted. A 1983 study in the Journal of Dairy Science showed a 28 percent vitamin C loss in frozen raw milk as opposed to 16 percent that was lost from organic pasteurized milk. Although there is a change in the vitamin and mineral status due to freezing, the enzymes and bacteria in the raw milk simply fall into a dormant state while frozen, and become active again after thawing.

    Fresh is Best

    • If you choose to drink milk in its raw state, its best to buy it and drink it before it spoils to avoid the need to freeze. As you can see, raw milk still holds many of its benefits, but fresh is still the best way to go.

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