Whether you’re vegan, plant-based, or just love the taste of almond milk, this drink is a great plant-based alternative to cow’s milk. It’s full of vitamins and minerals, like calcium, essential for strong bones.
One problem. Your almond milk is uncapped, and you’re sitting there thinking: “does almond milk go bad?”
First things first. Almond milk does go bad.
You can know if your almond milk is OK to drink and how to store it properly to prevent spoilage.
How To Tell If Almond Milk Has Gone Bad
Almond milk keeps way longer than cow’s milk. Therefore, unless you’ve completely forgotten about your almond milk for weeks, your almond milk is probably fine to drink, just really not very nice.
- Smell. If your almond milk starts to smell foul, you know it’s time to chuck it.
- Consistency. Is your almond milk starting to form clumps or thicken? This doesn’t make for good tea. Pour it down the sink!
- Taste. If you’re unsure about your almond milk, check if it tastes sour. Don’t worry – sipping a little is unlikely to make you ill, though it may be a little unpleasant.
- We don’t recommend eating the clumps of white in the milk, though some sources may claim that this isn’t dangerous. It’s your risk to take!
How To Store Almond Milk
Before your almond milk is opened, you can store the carton in a dark and cool area, such as a cupboard or pantry. Otherwise, if you’ve got space, put the almond milk in the fridge.
Even before you’ve opened your almond milk, ensure you keep it away from heat and light sources, which will speed up aging and fermentation.
To protect your almond milk’s shelf life once opened, make sure you store it properly. That means tightly sealing the lid and putting the carton or bottle in the refrigerator.
Make sure not to put your almond milk in the freezer, as this can cause separation. Freezing and then thawing the milk will leave you with gritty-textured milk.
Type Of Almond Milk & How Long They Last
How you store your almond milk and how long it lasts depends on its pasteurization.
Shelf-stable almond milk, once opened, should be stored in the refrigerator and should be used within 7-10 days.
Commercially made almond milk is usually ultra-pasteurized, meaning its shelf-life tends to be longer than, for example, homemade almond milk.
Homemade almond milk only lasts for up to 4-5 days, so it’s best to keep it in the refrigerator and the cap screwed on tightly.
Remember: always check the best before and expiry dates for specific storage timeframes.
For example, although shelf-stable almond milk lasts the longest because it’s ultra-pasteurized, it has likely to have been on the shelf for a few days already.
So, Does Almond Milk Go Bad?
Unfortunately, almond milk does go bad.
However, there are plenty of ways to extend how long your almond milk lasts, including storing it in a dark, cool cupboard, pantry, or fridge and opting to buy commercial almond milk instead of making homemade almond milk.
