How Long Does Oat Milk Last?

Have you found yourself wondering how long does oat milk last? Maybe you have made the switch to oat milk and want to know how long it stays fresh? Or are you curious and want to know more? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!

We know how tricky it can be to make sure you are storing your liquefied oats correctly. You can drinking it before it goes bad. Unlike cow’s milk, we don’t get the distinct chunks of milk telling us it has gone bad. How do we know how long it lasts? 

How Long Does Oat Milk Last

With unopened oat milk, it’s easy, you just check the expiration date, but what about opened oat milk? How long does it last? This question plagues you day and night. With so little information online, how are you meant to know how long your liquefied oats will last? 

Well, that is where we come in! Today we are here with all the answers that you need. Just keep reading to find out how long oat milk lasts. Everything else that you need to know about liquefied oats today. 

What Is Oat Milk?

Before we dive into today’s article, let’s have a quick recap for those that need it.

Oat milk, like its name suggests, is milk made from oats! The milk is made with whole or steel-cut oats that are soaked in water before being blended and strained to create a creamy-colored liquid. 

Oat milk has a slightly creamy taste. It works well in warm drinks and any recipe that calls for milk to be used!

You can buy unsweetened milk, fortified with calcium and B12, sweetened, or even a barista blend, which has oil and other ingredients added to help it become frothy like dairy milk. 

Oat milk is a fairly popular choice with those following a plant-based diet as it offers a similar taste to cow’s milk. It isn’t as creamy as soy or dairy milk, so if you are looking for an alternative, it’s a good option to consider! 

You can purchase liquefied oats in most stores these days, although you can also make it yourself at home. There are lots of recipes for oat milk available online, but be mindful that they can take a few days by the time you soak the oats!

Now that we have established what liquefied oats is, let’s move on to see how long it lasts! 

How Long Does Oat Milk Last?

How long oat milk lasts depends on how the liquefied oats you have purchased and how it has been kept. Let’s look at how long these different types of liquefied oats and how long it lasts now! 

Store Bought Unopened Oat Milk 

When you purchase liquefied oats in a store, there are two different types, refrigerated and unrefrigerated. If you purchase unrefrigerated oat milk off the shelf, then it will last unopened until its expiry date.

Usually, the expiry date will be around eight to twelve months, so you have plenty of time to drink the liquefied oats! 

Once you have opened your unrefrigerated liquefied oats, you will want to store it in the refrigerator. We recommend putting it in the refrigerator a few hours before you plan on using it so that it has time to chill. 

Refrigerated liquefied oats usually has a slightly shorter shelf life of around six months from when you purchase it, and it must be kept in the refrigerator at all times whether it is opened or not. 

Opened Oat Milk 

Regardless of how you bought the liquefied oats, once opened, you should drink it within seven to ten days. This does vary slightly depending on the brand you have bought, but ideally, you should drink it within the first seven to ten days.

If you can drink the liquefied oats within the first four to five days, this is when the liquefied oats is the freshest and you will have the best taste! 

Most liquefied oats these days will have a recommended drinking time stated on them. Usually, this is about two to three days, but you will see longer suggestions of seven days on some brands!

Despite the shorter time frame they give you, you should be able to drink the oat milk up to ten days after you have opened the liquefied oats! Just make sure you are storing the liquefied oats correctly. 

How Long Does Oat Milk Last

Homemade Oat Milk 

Homemade oat milk will last for around five days. Make sure that you have kept your liquefied oats in a sealed container in the refrigerator to keep it as fresh as possible!

As you have made the liquefied oats at home, it is likely it won’t have as many preservatives as store-bought liquefied oats so it won’t last as long. 

Make a note of the date you made your liquefied oats to help you keep track and prevent it from going bad before you have a chance to enjoy it!

How Can I Tell If Oat Milk Is Bad? 

So how do you tell if your oat milk has gone off? Well, there are a few signs you can keep an eye out for! We have compiled a quick list for you now that you can use to check if your liquefied oats is safe to drink or not! 

    1. Check how long it has been open. If your oat milk has been open for more than two weeks, bin it. 

    1. Smell the carton to see if there is a moldy or sour smell. If there is, bin it. 

    1. Shake the bottle and pour some into a glass. If the milk has separated, has a slimy consistency, or any change, bin it. 

    1. Taste the milk. If there is a sour taste then it needs to be binned. 

Final Thoughts 

And there you have it! Once opened, your oat milk will last for up to ten days, but unopened liquefied oats can last up to a year!

Just be sure to store the liquefied oats correctly and to use our tips to ensure the milk is safe to drink before you enjoy a splash in your morning coffee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seq1mT5WLNQ

Clara Howie
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