Non Dairy milk has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Consumption of plant-based milk, on the other hand, is not a recent concept. The point is obvious: it is not only completely vegetarian, but it is also free of everything that appears to be harmful in the guise of animal-derived items. This includes gluten as well as dairy.

The trend is slowly but surely catching up with growing toddlers too. People all around the world have started to explore vegan milk alternatives for babies and even vegan baby formulas to fortify their plant-based options with necessary toddler nutrients. Vegans, however, do not abstain from gluten or lactose without making appropriate substitute arrangements.

Handling vegan milk can be difficult in the same way that it is difficult to handle regular milk. But, does vegan milk require the same storage conditions as dairy milk? Is it possible for vegan milk to spoil?

So, in order to clear up any confusion, we’ve written this article to answer all of your questions.

How Long Does Oat Milk Last

Does oat milk go bad? Well, of course, like all other perishable food items. Sealed shelf-stable oat milk keeps for at least a few months after the expiration date, whereas refrigerated oat milk only keeps for a few days after the expiration date. Both keep their quality for about 4 to 7 days after being opened.

Shelf-stable oat milk has a “best-before” date that ranges from 9 months to a year from the date of manufacture. However, the same period is only a few weeks for the refrigerated variety.

How Long Does Oat Milk Last After Opening

Various brands add extra ingredients to make the liquid denser or a sprinkle of a sweetener to augment the flavor and texture.

These same subtle additions of ingredients and packing may affect storage life, especially for open oat milk.

As a result, some manufacturers advise that when the seal is broken and the packet is opened, oat milk becomes perishable and can no longer be used for a long time. The pack should be tightly sealed to reduce exposure to air and moisture before being stored in the refrigerator, where the oat milk will remain fresh for up to five days.

How To Check If Oat Milk Has Gone Bad? 

Does oat milk expire? What are the best ways to determine if your oat milk has expired if date labels are not a concrete determination examined as fact? Finally, we suggest depending on your senses to determine the quality and freshness of the beverage.

The color of fresh oat milk is milky, light brown, or cream-like. Any color difference could be caused by mold growth inside the storage container. The milk should be flushed before proceeding.

When oat milk is improperly stored or kept for years past its expiry date, it may develop an unpleasant odor that no longer resembles a sweet nutty aroma, but rather a foul smelling, sour, or bitter odor.

Mold can grow on liquid, though it takes longer in most cases. Airborne bacteria can enter the container when it is opened. The bacteria can grow and appear on the surface if left alone for an extended period of time. If mold is present, it should be discarded right away.

Throw out any oat milk that is lumpy, thick (difficult to pour), or slimy.

It is common to see oat milk separate, so this is not a negative factor. Shake the container vigorously to re-emulsify the oat milk. 

How Long Does Coconut Milk Last

The shelf life of coconut milk varies according to the type, how it is stored, and whether it is opened or sealed. But generally speaking, how long is coconut milk good for?

All coconut milks have a shelf life of about a week after being opened, with canned milk which can last up to ten days.

Sealed shelf – stable coconut milk can be kept in good condition for up to 5 years if properly stored. Packaged coconut milk typically has a best-by or best-before date that represents the product’s approximate high point quality milk.

Unopened Coconut milk in carton packages have a shelf life of six to twelve months and can be stored for up to 30 days after the written expiry date.

How To Tell If Coconut Milk Has Gone Bad?

How to tell if coconut milk is bad? Mold is a clear indicator that your coconut milk has gone bad. If there is mold in the milk, it has clearly gone bad.

Other indicators include small pieces in the milk, black, gray or dark milk, if the milk ferments, or if it smells sour. This is how to tell if coconut milk is bad.

Dense milk separation, on the other hand, is common and must not be misinterpreted as a sign of spoiled milk! To get the milk together again, shake everything gently (while it’s closed!) or swirl it a few times. Finally, if a coconut milk packet appears to be enlarged or bloated, discard it.

Related Read: Check my Vegan Milk Chocolate Recipe that uses coconut milk in all its richness.

How To Store Coconut Milk?

The shelf life of canned coconut milk varies from 2 to 5 years. Always keep sealed canned coconut milk in a kitchen or a dark, cool place with low humidity. Mold thrives in humid environments. You can also store sealed cartons or cans of coconut milk in the fridge.

When using coconut powdered milk from a bag, keep it in a tightly sealed pack or in an airtight container. Coconut milk has a two to three-month shelf life in the freezer before it needs to be discarded. Make a note of the expiry date on the storage container so you remember how long you can leave it in the refrigerator.

How Long Does Soy Milk Last?

Shelf-stable soy milk can be stored for several months after the expiration date. Refrigerated soy milk, on the other hand, has a shelf life of about a week after it has been opened.

No matter what type of bottle or carton you open, you should finish it within 5 to 10 days. Shelf-stable soy milk has a best-by date that is at least 12 months from the time of manufacture. And, assuming it’s unopened, it keeps for at least a couple of months past the printed date, thanks to the aseptic packaging.

Refrigerated soy milk, on the other hand, has a use-by date that can be up to a couple of weeks from the date it was produced which can last for a couple of days to or perhaps a week past that date. This is how long soy milk last in fridge but it’s more than a week past its expiration date, it’s undoubtedly best to throw it out. It isn’t necessarily ruined, but it is no longer safe for human consumption. 

How To Tell If Soy Milk Has Gone Bad

Does soy milk go bad? How do you know if soy milk is bad? The symptoms of spoiled soy milk are very similar to those of spoiled cow’s milk. The smell and texture of bad soy milk are two indicators. If you notice the liquid and that something doesn’t smell right—soy milk, like regular milk, will start to smell sour—probably it’s time to throw it out. This is how you know if soy milk is bad. When you do not put an unsealed carton of refrigerated soy milk in the refrigerator for one overnight, it will usually emit a sour odor.

Sour foods and beverages, particularly liquids, can turn rotten and always have a curdled consistency. As a result, soy milk should be smooth and faintly off-white in color. Pour the soy milk into a transparent glass to check its consistency before using it in a recipe. Another thing to keep in mind is that when your opened soy milk expires, the carton will begin to expand due to gas released by bacteria.

Does Soy Milk Need To Be Refrigerated?

Some cartons and cans of soy milk must be refrigerated, while others do not. Knowing the distinction between the two will make everything else much easier.

Shelf-stable soy milk can be stored on the counter until opened. Once opened, soy milk must always be refrigerated and consumed before seven days. Soy milk, on the other hand, does not need to be chilled before being opened and has an unrefrigerated shelf life of at least a year.

Soy milk comes in two varieties: refrigerated and shelf-stable. The primary distinction between the two is in their packaging. Some manufacturers make it easier to distinguish between varieties by packaging shelf-stable ingredients in cartons and refrigerated products in cans.

The shelf-stable types is sold in aseptic containers and is protected with ultra-high temperature (UHT) to extend its shelf life. When these two factors are coupled, you get a product that doesn’t need to be refrigerated until you open the carton. The refrigerated variety, which comes in a can, must be kept refrigerated at all times. It also has a significantly shorter shelf life.

How Long Does Almond Milk Last?

Assuming optimal conditions, shelf-stable almond milk can last up to 7-10 days. Among the optimal conditions are consistent refrigeration and a tight lid. And, under these conditions, the chilled shelf life of almond milk after unpacking can be much longer than 7-10 days.

The longer any product is open, the worse the taste and quality become, including milk alternatives. It’s important to remember that the longer a package is opened, the more likely it is to spoil. Plant-based milks can easily absorb flavors and smells from other foods in your refrigerator, giving them an unappealing flavor.

The shelf-stable almond milk is packaged in aseptic (near-sterile) containers and is processed to ensure that microbes are not present. Furthermore, shelf stable almond milk, being highly pasteurized, protects the milk from light and air, assuring the flavor and nutrient benefits last for months.

The refrigerated cans and cartons are not sealed in the same way and are not protected from outside elements. As a result, refrigeration is required.

One variety isn’t always superior to another. It all comes down to individual choice.

Producing products which last longer is beneficial to manufacturers and supermarkets, but it is not always beneficial to your health. Certain additives and preservatives may cause gastrointestinal, making you feel bloated and constipated. So if you’ve been consuming almond milk and wondering if almond milk is causing you bloating or constipation, it’s probably just because of the preservatives you’ll find in store-packed varieties. If you drink it frequently, go ahead and get the refrigerated version. However, if you are only a occasional consumer, the shelf-stable version is your better option.

Does Almond Milk Go Bad? How To Tell If Almond Milk Has Gone Bad?

Almond milk, like regular milk and all other milk substitutes, spoils. But how long is almond milk good for? Even though the shelf-stable variant lasts significantly longer than the refrigerated type, both inevitably go bad. Another thing to keep in mind is that even unopened almond milk spoils. This is especially true for the chilled variety, which typically does not last beyond the use-by date. The shelf-stable one lasts a lot longer after its expiration date, but its taste will degrade sooner or later, and you’ll have to throw away it for quality reasons.

There are numerous signs of spoiled almond milk that are easily discernible through a cursory examination. Throw out the milk if the carton has become bloated, puffy, or leaky. The dairy-free milk isn’t essentially degraded, but something is seriously wrong here.

Examine the area for any dark spots or discolorations (which could be mold) as well as anything else that appears skeptical. Examine the texture of the drink as well. Almond milk isn’t thick, and it’s not supposed to be thick unless it’s homemade and also the pulp is left in. The consistency of store-bought almond milk is very similar to that of milk. Throw it out if it’s slimy or lumpy.

Almond milk has a nutty, fresh aroma to it. When you take a whiff of your almond milk, you should notice this. It’s time to get rid of anything that smells sour, old, or funny. Also, pour your almond milk down the drain if it tastes sour or off in any way.

Does Almond Milk Need To Be Refrigerated?

Once opened, almond milk should be kept in the refrigerator. If the almond milk is still not opened and is of the shelf-stable species, it should be fine at room temperature for a couple weeks. However, even if unopened, some types of almond milk must be refrigerated. Another query people seem to have if they can freeze almond milk. I’ve answered it in great detail in another article of mine.

Shelf-stable almond milk only needs to be refrigerated after opening the container, whereas refrigerated and homemade almond milk must be stored in the fridge at all times.

Homemade almond milk is unpasteurized and therefore should be kept refrigerated at all times in an airtight pitcher. Depending on the almonds used in the recipe, it can be stored for 3-5 days. Almond milk must be refrigerated and consumed before seven days after it has been opened and partially served. Shelf-stable variants can keep for up to ten days. Some almond milks do not contain additives and therefore should be refrigerated after opening to avoid spoilage.

Conclusion

Vegan milk is among the nutritional and healthy substitutes to dairy milk that is being promoted all around world right now. There is just so much variety in vegan milks these days, with different tastes, textures and nutrient profiles to choose from, you’d be stoked to notice. The only drawback is its preservation, particularly since the general consensus is that because it is sealed and stored on cabinets, unlike dairy milk, it will last longer.