How Long Does Evaporated Milk Last Once Opened?

Shelf Life Tips

• How long does a can of evaporated milk last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep opened evaporated milk refrigerated and tightly covered.
• To maximize the shelf life of canned evaporated milk after opening, covered opened can tightly with a plastic wrap or lid, or with aluminum foil.
• How long does opened canned evaporated milk last in the refrigerator? Evaporated milk that has been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 4 to 6 days.
• Is canned evaporated milk safe to use after the "expiration" date on the package? Yes, provided it has been stored properly, the can or package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially canned evaporated milk will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the evaporated milk will remain at peak quality.
• Can you freeze evaporated milk? Yes - frozen evaporated milk will often become separated when frozen, but it is usually acceptable for cooking and baking purposes when reblended.
• Freeze evaporated milk in an airtight container and leave at least 1/2 inch headspace at the top, as milk will expand when frozen.
• Thaw frozen evaporated milk in the refrigerator and shake or whisk vigorously (or use a blender) to thoroughly blend the milk before using.
• How long does evaporated milk last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 3 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
• The freezer time shown is for best quality only – evaporated milk that has been kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.
• How can you tell if canned evaporated milk is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the canned evaporated milk: if the canned evaporated milk develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, it should be discarded.
• Discard all canned evaporated milk from cans that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.

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