Almond milk can be a great refreshing drink, but sometimes you’ll find a carton in your refrigerator that is for some time past its best-by date. How long can almond milk sit out?
Is it still good or has it already gone bad?
Whether we’re talking about a full carton or a partial carton, we’d rather not throw it away and try to figure out if you can still drink it without panicking.
Almond milk is not the same as regular milk, it is non-dairy milk. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about shelf life, storage tips, and spoilage.
Enjoy the read
How Long Can Almond Milk Sit Out
It depends on the type of almond milk we’re talking about: shelf-stable or refrigerated and if it has already been opened or not.
If you let almond milk sit out for a few hours, it is advised that you get rid of it as soon as possible but it depends on the situation and factors like temperature change and so on.
If it was refrigerated almond milk, don’t hesitate to immediately discard it, if it is shelf-stable it will probably be fine.
We’ve all been there before, starting our work day, and forgot to put the pack of almond milk back in the fridge, if that’s the case, discard it instantly!
Does Amond Milk Go Bad
Yes, of course, it does, just like all foods and drinks eventually will be spoiled. Although almond milk is made of ground almonds, it has an expiration date. How long can almond milk sit out?
It depends on where you’ve bought the almond milk in the store.
When it comes to milk, you should be cautious and interpret the signs to discard it. When you’re in doubt, always discard.
On GoodOrGoneBad.com we always say that if you’re in doubt, don’t try to be a hero and consume it. It doesn’t make sense to take some extra risks for your health and well-being, toss it away and buy another pack of almond milk for a fairly low price.
Shelf-life Of Almond Milk
The shelf-life of almond milk depends on whether it has been opened already and/or where you’ve bought it in the store.
Shelf-stable unopened almond milk that’s 3 months past its best-by date: toss it away.
Refrigerated unopened almond milk that’s 2 weeks after its date.
Almond milk that’s opened for more than 10 days to 2 weeks: toss it away without thinking.
From the moment you’re outside these indicative periods, toss it away. If it’s within this period, you can study the signs of almond milk and finally make your decision.
A lot of people don’t know that almond milk, or products in general, go bad, even if they’re unopened. Since we’re talking about milk, that period won’t last long.
Signs To Look For
There are some signs or cues you can follow to judge the condition of the almond milk, only when the date is within a respectable timeframe to consume it.
- 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.
- Take a look at the carton/pack of almond milk: if you see the carton is a bit expanded or it’s leaking, toss it away. No need to take risks.
- Check the color of the almond milk: is there anything odd? Do you see something solid in the almond milk? Is the color a bit different, do you see black signs? Discard it immediately! This means the bacteria have done a great job already.
- Smell the almond milk: open the almond milk pack and smell it. Do you smell something unpleasant or strange? Discard it, don’t take any chances.
- Taste the almond 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. almond milk should taste like almond milk.
Generally, you should, when you consume almond milk and open the pack for the first time, label it and write it down, the date of opening. Because this will make your life much easier and the process of making decisions on if you should discard it or not.
Should You Refrigerate Almond Milk
This depends on if you’ve opened the pack of almond milk and/or where you’ve bought it in the store.
Shelf-stable almond milk has a longer lifespan because of the additives added to it. It is advised though when you open it, you store it in the refrigerator or it will go bad faster.
Refrigerated almond milk, thus bought in the refrigerated section of the store, must be refrigerated at all times.
What’s The Difference Between Refrigerated And Shelf-stable Almond Milk
The main difference is the way of packaging and the added additives to it.
Shelf-stable almond milk is packaged in aseptic packs. Aseptic packs protect it much better against microbes, light, and temperature changes.
The refrigerated almond milk isn’t packaged in aseptic containers and is much less protected from microbes, light, and temperature changes. That’s why we need to refrigerate it as soon as we’re not drinking the milk.
On GoodOrGoneBad.com, we don’t choose one type before the other as this is a personal decision that you should make. Some people are more fond of refrigerated almond milk, while others prefer shelf-stable milk.
If you’re not an avid milk drinker, you can try shelf-stable milk.
What Happens If You Drink Spoiled Almond Milk
There are some consequences if you’ll drink spoiled almond milk, but this is not the same for every one of us. It depends on the state of the milk and what signs you’ve seen.
People think that if you don’t feel sick, you can keep drinking spoiled almond milk, but be cautious with that!
Every human has another constitution and is more resistant to certain substances than others. But eventually, you’ll see signs of nausea, bad stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and so on…
Mold is never good and will almost always cause one of the above signs of sickness, but again, some people will be sick and others won’t feel sick at all.
How Long Does Almond Milk Last
We start with a nice summarising table for you to follow along with:
Almond Milk Type | Pantry | Refrigerator |
---|---|---|
Shelf-stable unopened | Best-by + 2 months | |
Refrigerated unopened | Use-by + 5 to 7 days | |
Shelf-stable opened | 7 days up to 2 weeks | |
Refrigerated opened | 7 days | |
Homemade almond milk (not pasteurized) | 3 days |
As we’ve described before, shelf-stable almond milk can last up to 1 year and will be good for a few weeks past its best-by date, while refrigerated almond milk will last for 7 days to 2 weeks after opening.
Some people even make almond milk at home, then you need to be more cautious and consume it within 3 days! The main difference is that this milk isn’t pasteurized.
Pasteurization is a process whereby products are treated with heat in order to eliminate pathogens that contribute to food spoilage.
How Should You Store Almond Milk
Shelf-stable almond milk needs to be stored in a dark place and at room temperature, safely away from any sources of heat.
After you’ve opened the pack of almond milk, be sure to refrigerate the milk. This is the same for refrigerated almond milk and shelf-stable almond milk.
Make sure you seal everything thoroughly when putting it in the refrigerator, as there will be a lot of other foods and drinks in your fridge, and all of these are possible threats to your precious almond milk.
You can try a resealable carton or put them in an airtight container, but you need to be able to seal it well.
Try to put the milk in the back of your refrigerator if possible, as close to the cooling elements as possible. A lot of people place them on the fridge door, where it is a bit warmer.
Can You Freeze Almond Milk
Yes, but it is not advised to do so if you’re going to drink it up after thawing.
We don’t advise drinking this on GoodOrGoneBad.com because you need to limit the risks whenever possible.
A lot of people freeze leftovers and almond milk is not an exception, just try to use it in other recipes and don’t use it for consumption. If you use it as a substance or ingredient for another dish it will be part of something bigger and not have a large effect on its quality.
So to conclude: you can freeze it, not for direct consumption.
Enjoy your almond milk!