Does Almond Milk Go Bad

Almond milk is a delicious alternative to dairy that you can buy at the grocery store or make at home. But does almond milk go bad? The answer is yes. Depending on how it’s stored, it can last a few days to a few weeks.

Two small glass jars of almond milk with a heart shaped bowl of almonds next to them.

What is almond milk?

Almond milk is a healthy drink made with almonds.

Nut milk is great for vegans or lactose-intolerant people, and it offers the creamy texture of regular milk but is the perfect alternative for some people and situations.

Does almond milk go bad?

Yes, it does go bad after a while. The amount of time is determined by whether it’s been pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, or not pasteurized at all.

You’ll be able to tell when it’s bad by various indicators, including sight, smell, and taste.

It keeps fresh longer if stored properly, either in the fridge or on a shelf.

How do I know when almond milk is bad?

It will be pretty obvious when it’s bad. Use your senses to determine if it’s still good to drink or if it’s spoiled. If you decide that it’s no longer suitable to drink, throw it out immediately.

Check out my post on how to tell if almond milk is bad and how to tell if milk is bad for the full article and details.

Some clues that it’s bad include:

It has a rancid smell when you open the bottle.
If it has white lumps floating in the milk after shaking the carton, this is a good indication that it’s no longer safe to drink.
You see black spots (mold) on the carton around the top or where the milk touches the sides of the carton.
If the carton is bloated while sealed, this means that bacteria are growing and creating gases that are expanding the sealed bottle.
The milk tastes sour when you take a sip. You’ll be able to tell right away with this one even if you don’t notice any other factors.

How long does almond milk last in the fridge?

It’s important to keep the carton in the fridge after you buy it to keep it fresh longer.

With proper storage, it lasts 7-10 days in the fridge after the carton has been opened.

Or 7-10 days after the expiration date if the carton hasn’t been opened.

If you notice any signs that the milk has gone bad, go ahead and throw it out.

How long does homemade almond milk last?

Homemade almond milk lasts 3-7 days in the refrigerator. This is because it isn’t pasteurized like the store-bought version is.

Shelf-stable almond milk in the pantry section of the grocery store has been ultra-pasteurized, which means it doesn’t need to be refrigerated right away.

Once opened, it needs to be kept in the fridge and consumed in 7-10 days.

You can keep shelf-stable milk for 4-6 weeks after the sell-by date as long as it hasn’t been opened yet.

Check to make sure it hasn’t gone bad before drinking it, especially if you’ve kept it past the expiration date.

How to store almond milk to keep it fresh

This depends on where you bought it in the grocery store. If you buy it from the refrigerated section of the grocery store, or if it’s homemade, store it in the fridge.

If you buy it on a shelf, keep it on a shelf in the pantry until it’s opened. After that, it needs to be refrigerated, and you’ll have around seven days to drink it.

Be sure to keep the carton or bottle tightly sealed.

Store shelf-stable milk in a room with consistent temperatures, like a pantry, not a garage.

Keep the refrigerated milk carton on a shelf of the fridge, not in the door, where the temperature fluctuates more.

The door isn’t a great place for milk because every time the fridge is opened, it’s exposed to warm air, and the milk temperature fluctuates slightly. It’s best to use the door for condiments and canned drinks.

FAQs

You can drink expired almond milk as long as it hasn’t been opened and it’s within a couple of days of the expiration date. Be sure to use your senses before drinking it to ensure it hasn’t gone bad.

If you drink almond milk that has grown enough bacteria, it will make you sick and possibly get food poisoning.

This depends on if you bought it in the refrigerated section or on the grocery store shelf.

If you bought it cold, it needs to stay cold.

If you bought it in a carton on the shelf, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

It goes bad after seven days, and this is the time it takes for enough bacteria to grow in it to make it harmful to drink.

Conclusion

Almond milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and has the added benefit of being made from nuts.

This dairy-free milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-10 days, depending on the pasteurization process it went through.

It can also be stored on a shelf for a few weeks if it is ultra-pasteurized and before it’s been opened.

This delicious drink is the perfect alternative to dairy milk and can even be used in cooking and baking.