Shelf Life Tips
- How long does milk last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of milk, keep it refrigerated at all times.
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How long does milk last after the sell-by date? Milk will generally remain drinkable for about one week after the "sell-by" date on the package, assuming it has been continuously refrigerated; be sure to keep the temperature of your refrigerator at or below 40° F at all times.
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To maximize the shelf of milk, do not store it on the fridge door, as the temperature is too warm - the milk will last longer when they stored in the main body of the refrigerator, in its original package.
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How long can milk be left at room temperature? If kept at temperatures above 40 °F, milk will rapidly develop signs of spoilage; milk should be discarded if left out for more than 4 hours at room temperature.
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Can you freeze milk? Yes - frozen milk will often become separated and the texture may become somewhat grainy, but it is usually acceptable for cooking and baking purposes.
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Freeze milk in an airtight container and leave at least 1/2 inch headspace at the top, as milk will expand when frozen; thaw in refrigerator.
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How long does milk last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - milk that has been kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How to tell if milk is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the milk: signs of bad milk are a sour smell, an off-white or yellowish tinge to the color and a thick or clumpy texture.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
