Here we will talk about oat milk and whether you can say it’s still good or already has gone bad. How long does oat milk last? Does oat milk go bad or not? What is the shelf life of oat milk and how do you store it properly?
Oat milk pairs well with (frozen) fruit and leftovers are easily forgotten in our fridge. How long does it stay good when stored in the fridge?
Are you in doubt about pairing your ripe banana with your oat milk from a few days old?
Does Oat Milk Go Bad
Yes, as is the case for all the foods and drinks we consume, everything will decay eventually. Oat milk is a dairy product and lasts for a few months after its best-by date, depending on the type of oat milk you’ve bought and if you’ve opened it or not.
How Long Does Oat Milk Last
Shelf-stable oat milk can last up to a few months past its best-by date or even up to 6 months. That’s because it contains some additives so it will last longer. Generally it will last up to 1 year after it has been produced.
You’d think that, when refrigerated, it will last longer like chia seeds. Wrong, because oat milk is dairy-based and these things won’t last very long in the fridge when opened. Here we’d say it is still drinkable up to 1 week past its best-by date.
When you’ve opened your pack of oat milk, try to consume it within 1 week. It might last a few days longer than that but don’t take the risk.
Remember, when you’re in doubt, just get rid of it and buy a new carton or bottle of oat milk. There’s no need to take risks with your health and well-being.
Concluding table:
Oat Milk | Pantry | Refrigerator |
---|---|---|
Shelf-stable Unopened Oat Milk | Best-by date + 6 months | |
Refrigerated Unopened Oat Milk | Date + 1 week (7 days) | |
Opened Oat Milk | up to 10 days |
Can You Drink Expired Oat Milk
Is it wise to drink expired oat milk? Probably not.
Expired oat milk means that the oat milk is past its best-by date and it might still be a good idea to drink it, depending on the period it has expired and where you’ve bought it.
- Shelf-stable oat milk: can last a few months up to 6 months past its best-by date or after it expires.
- Refrigerated oat milk: can last up to 1 week after its best-by date or after it expires.
Depending on where you’ve bought it in the store you’ll have a different time period.
The shelf-stable oat milk lasts up to 1 year after it has been produced but don’t let it rest that long to test it out of course.
The refrigerated oat milk will last for a few weeks after it has been produced and is best consumed before the best-by date and 1 week behind it (7 days). Don’t take the risk after 7 days. Remember, dairy-based products are more delicate and prone to spoilage.
It is a general rule. There are different brands of oat milk out there.
Use your senses and look for signs that can tell you if it’s still good or gone bad already. If you’re in doubt, discard it and buy a new pack of oat milk.
How Long Does Opened Oat Milk Last
When you’ve opened the oat milk, it will last up to 10 days after it has been opened, but it should be clear that you’ll consume it as soon as you can, within a few days if possible. That shouldn’t be a problem when you’re in a small family.
As we’ve said before, it depends on the brand you’re consuming but try to consume it within a few days and keep it away from light and heat sources, thus avoiding temperature fluctuations.
How To Tell If Your Oat Milk Is Still Good Or Gone Bad
We will provide you here with an easy checklist on how you can check if your oat milk is still fit for consumption. We need to verify if the oat milk is still oat milk.
- The period after opening: when you’ve opened it, discard it after 10 days. When you open it, label it or write it down on the pack.
- Smell the oat milk: open the oat milk pack and smell it. Do you smell something unpleasant or strange? Discard it, don’t take any chances.
- Check the color of the oat milk: is there anything odd? Do you see something solid in the oat milk? Discard it immediately? This means the bacteria have done a great job already.
- Taste the oat milk: Pour it into a glass and taste it. Do you taste something unpleasant or strange? Spit it out immediately and rinse your mouth with water. Discard it. Oat milk should taste like oat milk!
Tip: When you’ve opened your pack of oat milk, label it on the pack itself so you can follow up on this and make decisions and your life a lot easier.
Use your senses and if you’re in doubt about something, don’t take any risks. I know that throwing away food and drinks you’ve paid for feels great, but don’t overdo it as digesting bad oat milk can have some consequences on your health and well-being. You can easily buy another pack of oat milk for a low price in the store and enjoy that to the fullest!
Enjoy your oat milk!