Should you be in search of a non-dairy alternative for your morning latte or a delightful afternoon drink, oat milk might just be the ideal answer.
Made from oats, oat milk has been around for centuries, but its popularity has recently increased due to the growing number of people who are following a vegan diet.
Here we will explain what oat milk is, how to store it, and whether it goes bad.
How long does oat milk last?
When stored in a cool place, unopened oat milk will stay fresh up to three months.
However, once opened, the shelf life of oat milk decreases rapidly.
Oat milk should be consumed within one week after opening, as the longer the product stays open, the more likely bacteria will grow.
To prolong the shelf life of oat milk, keep it refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
For best results, use oat milk within 3 days of opening.
However, if you have some left over, you can freeze it for later consumption.
Once thawed, oat milk can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
To avoid spoiling, make sure you consume the milk within 10 days of freezing it.
You can also store oat milk in a glass mason jar.
The container must be tightly closed with a tight fitting lid to prevent oxygen from entering the jar, which could cause the milk to go bad.
If you don’t plan on using the milk right away, you can store it in the fridge for several months.
If you want to drink it cold, add ice cubes to the bottle before storing it in the freezer.
This way, it won’t spoil as quickly.
Does oat milk need to be refrigerated?
Oat milk can be stored at room temperature.
However, if you plan on drinking it immediately after making it, it’s best to keep it refrigerated.
This way, you can keep the bacteria that cause food poisoning at bay.
You can also freeze oat milk to use later.
Just make sure to let it thaw before using it in recipes.
While the shelf life of oat milk depends on the brand, most brands have a one to three month shelf life.
However, some brands can have longer shelf lives than others.
For instance, Trader Joe’s oat milk has a six month shelf life.
Can oat milk be frozen?
Yes, oat milk can be frozen, so long as it’s stored properly.
You should never freeze oat milk if it contains any other ingredients, especially if they contain sugar.
Sugar changes when it freezes, which makes it difficult to thaw out later on.
However, if you want to freeze oat milk, do not add water.
This prevents ice crystals from forming while the milk is freezing.
The best way to freeze oat milk is by adding powdered milk instead.
Just put the powder into the milk before freezing it.
When you defrost oat milk, stir it well, because clumps of powder tend to form during freezing.
If you don’t want to use powdered milk, you can still freeze oat milk without it by using dry ice, which will also prevent ice crystals from forming.
But note that this method isn’t recommended, as dry ice causes severe burns.
Another thing to keep in mind when freezing oat milk is that you shouldn’t leave it in the freezer for too long.
The longer you leave it there, the more likely it is to turn brown.
You can avoid this problem by placing the container in the fridge for a few hours after you take it out of the freezer.
What does oat milk taste like?
Oat milk tastes rich and creamy with hints of nuts and grains.
You can find it with different flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, caramel, and strawberry.
It contains no cholesterol, so it’s great if you have heart problems.
The protein in oats helps to reduce inflammation and improve digestion, while also being a source of fiber.
The high amount of soluble fiber found in oats makes them a good option for those who suffer from constipation or hemorrhoids.
This type of fiber absorbs water and forms a gel that slows down the movement of food through the digestive system, which can help prevent bloating and gas.
This is why many people choose to drink oat milk instead of regular milk when they want to lose weight.
How do you know if oat milk has gone bad?
As with any food, oat milk should be stored in a cool, dry place.
The ideal temperature range is between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (4 and 10 degrees Celsius).
If you have left your oat milk out at room temperature, it might start to ferment, which means that bacteria is starting to grow in it.
This is not necessarily a problem unless the milk starts smelling sour.
When the milk starts to smell sour, it is time to throw it away.
You can also use a pH test kit to check whether the milk has gone bad.
However, this method is only accurate if you have a large amount of the milk.
Since oat milk contains no lactose, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
But if you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it.
And don’t forget to wrap the container tightly so that condensation doesn’t form on the outside.
Once frozen, the milk will stay fresh for about six months.
Can you drink oat milk after 7 days?
Yes, you can drink oat milk even if it’s stored for more than seven days.
In fact, many health experts recommend drinking oat milk up to one month after purchasing it.
But as with most food products, there are some exceptions.
The best way to check if your oat milk has spoiled is by tasting it.
You should also avoid opening the container and sniffing the milk.
Instead, open the container and smell the milk with your eyes closed.
If it smells off, discard it immediately.
However, if the milk is still fresh and doesn’t have any unpleasant odors, then you can keep it on the shelf without worrying about spoiling it.
If you want to know when the milk went bad, it depends on the type of oat milk you purchased.
Here are three types of oat milk that you can buy online:
- Liquid: This kind of oat milk is available in both cartons and bottles.
- You can use it for cooking or drinking.
- Pasteurized: This oat milk contains no added sugar, and it’s usually sold in glass containers.
- Pasteurized oat milk is good for eating plain, but it can turn rancid quickly if not refrigerated properly.
- Instant: This type of oat milk is designed for quick consumption.
- It contains high levels of sugar and fat, which makes it less nutritious than other types of oat milk.
Here’s a chart showing the expiration dates of different types of oat milk.
1. Instant oat milk
Instant oat milk was first introduced in the 1930s.
It’s available in boxes, cans, and plastic jugs.
Most brands of instant oat milk expire within four to six months.
Because they contain high levels of sugar, instant oat milks typically do not have preservatives, so they need to be kept refrigerated.
2. Liquid oat milk
This kind of oat milk is available in cartons and glass bottles.
Like instant oat milk, liquid oat milk does not have any preservatives.
Because these products are not pasteurized, they can spoil easily and should be consumed within five weeks.
3. Pasteurized oat milk
Pasteurized oat milk is a good choice for those who wish to consume oat milk regularly.
These products don’t have preservatives, and they can last for several years in the refrigerator.
When buying oat milk, make sure to choose a brand that has at least 75 percent whole grains.
Also, look for milk that is labeled “non-GMO.”
Can you drink oat milk after 10 days?
It depends on how you make it.
Oat milk should not be stored at room temperature for more than two weeks because that would ruin its taste and texture.
The best way to store oat milk is in the fridge in glass jars or plastic containers with tight lids.
If you have bought a carton of oat milk, it should be refrigerated right away, as it won’t keep well for longer periods.
You can also freeze it if you want to use it later.
In fact, freezing oat milk helps preserve its nutrients, so making sure it’s frozen before storing in the freezer is recommended.
There are many health dishes made from Oat Milk you can try to cook like Oat milk Pudding, Cocoa Oat Milk, Oat milk Ice Cream, Oat Milk Pancakes,…
Can expired oat milk make you sick?
The short answer is no.
Oat milk doesn’t contain any preservatives that could potentially make you sick.
However, you should still avoid drinking expired oat milk because it contains bacteria that could cause food poisoning.
In order to understand why this is true, we need to look at the process of making oat milk.
Unlike other types of milk, which are pasteurized, oat milk is not treated with heat during production.
Instead, it is fermented, or cultured.
Because of this, oat milk contains naturally occurring microorganisms called bacteria (lactobacilli) that help ferment the milk.
When these bacteria produce lactic acid as they feed on sugars in the milk, they create a sour taste and smell.
This is the reason why oat milk tastes and smells different than regular cow’s milk.
The only way to stop the fermentation process is by heating the milk above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
This kills off all the bacteria present in the oat milk, so it won’t spoil.
This also means that if you buy oat milk in a carton (as opposed to a glass bottle), you don’t have to worry about keeping it cold.
Once you open the carton, the milk inside will start to ferment again, and it will continue to do so until you get rid of the bacteria in the milk.
So, how long does oat milk last?
The shelf life of oat milk depends on where you purchase it.
In some countries, like the US, oat milk is considered fresh when it is sold within two days after opening.
But in other countries, such as Europe, you can keep oat milk for up to four weeks.
To find out how long it lasts in your country, check the expiration date printed on the carton.
If there isn’t one, ask the store employee for advice.
For example, if the oat milk was purchased within the past week, then it probably shouldn’t be consumed more than three days after you opened the carton.
You can also use a digital scale to determine how much oat milk is left in a carton.
Just pour a little bit into a bowl, weigh it, and subtract the amount of milk from the total weight of the carton to calculate how many servings are left.
There is another thing to consider when storing oat milk: temperature.
Because oat milk is fermented, it needs to be kept between 40 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it gets too hot, the bacteria in the milk will die off and the milk will spoil.
So, if you plan to refrigerate your oat milk, make sure you do it right away.
If you want to freeze your oat milk, you can do so without worrying about spoiling it.
Just place a portion of the oat milk in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer.
You can thaw it later by placing it in a microwave or running warm water over it.
There is also a special container designed specifically to freeze oat milk.
One final note about storing oat milk: you should never mix it with other liquids.
Doing so will prevent the oat milk from solidifying properly.
This is because the oat milk contains proteins that act as natural stabilizers.
To avoid this problem, just shake the milk before using it.
Oat Milk Ice Cream Recipe: The Perfect Summer Snack
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 oats
- 1 milk
- 1 sugar
- 1 vanilla extract
Instructions
- Making oat milk ice cream is super easy!
- Combine the oats, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Then, pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once frozen, transfer the ice cream to a container and store it in the freezer for up to two weeks.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
- Do Pop Tarts Expire? - April 25, 2024
- Does Jello Go Bad? - April 25, 2024
- How To Preserve Fruits In Sugar Syrup? - April 25, 2024