Oat milk can be a great dairy-free milk alternative, and it’s easy to make at home. But whether you make it yourself or buy it, does oat milk need to be refrigerated? Let’s find out.
Oat milk has a smooth and creamy texture — and can be substituted for cow’s milk in a wide range of foods. But as with most food and drinks, storing it properly is key to a longer shelf life.
Whether you need to refrigerate oat milk depends on how it’s stored at the shop where you buy it, and whether you make it yourself.
In this post, I’ll go over when you do, and don’t, need to refrigerate oat milk. Plus, I’ll reveal the best ways to freeze oat milk.
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Do you need to refrigerate store-bought oat milk?
Different types of oat milk can be made in various ways with a range of preservatives and stabilizers that can affect how it can be stored. Here are some best practices when it comes to refrigerating store-bought oat milk:
- If it’s refrigerated at the store. As a good general rule, if the oat milk is in the refrigerated section at the grocery store, then you should refrigerate it once you bring it home as well.
- If it’s not refrigerated at the store. If it’s kept at room temperature on the store shelf, then you can keep it in a pantry or other cool, dry place out of direct sunlight at home until you open it.
- After you open oat milk. Once you open your carton of oat milk you’ll need to keep it in the fridge, regardless of whether it was refrigerated at the store or not.
If you’re unsure about whether it needs to be refrigerated, it’s a good idea to check the packaging. It will indicate whether you need to keep in the fridge or not, and how long it will keep after opening.
In most cases, store-bought oat milk will stay good for 7-10 days after you open it.
👉🏼 Related: Why Does Oat Milk Curdle in Coffee?
Do you need to refrigerate homemade oat milk?
Making your own oat milk at home only requires rolled oats and water. So you can make a batch in just minutes. But it should be kept in the fridge, as it doesn’t contain the preservatives that are in some store-bought kinds.
Generally, homemade oat milk will last for up to 5 days if kept refrigerated in an airtight container like a sealed glass jar.
How long is oat milk good for?
While homemade oat milk will only keep for a few days, store-bought, shelf-stable milk can last up to 9 months if unopened, depending on the preservatives used. Each brand will be different, so be sure to check the expiry date on the carton so you know when you should consume the oat milk by.
Opened oat milk should be consumed within a week to 10 days after opening.
What’s the best way to store oat milk?
It’s best to keep store-bought oat milk in its original carton. That will give you an idea of when it’s set to expire and it also includes nutritional information in case you need to quickly reference it. After you open it, it should be stored in the fridge, even if it was kept unrefrigerated at the store.
If you prefer, you can also transfer oat milk to an airtight container, like a sealed mason jar, then place it in the fridge. If you do, it’s a good idea to add the date to the container either by writing it on a piece of tape or with an erasable marker so you know when you opened it (and when you should consume it by).
Homemade oat milk should also be kept refrigerated in a dated, airtight container.
Can you freeze oat milk?
Yes, you can freeze oat milk for up to 6 months. Here are a few different ways to do it:
Use the original container
Store-bought, unopened oat milk can be frozen in its original, unopened carton. This is an easy way to do it, but once you’re ready to use some, you need to thaw out the entire container, even if you don’t intend to consume all of it right away.
Use ice cube trays
To freeze smaller portions of oat milk, you can use ice cube trays. Simply pour some into a tray, let it freeze for a couple of hours, then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag and label it with the date you froze the milk.
Use sealable containers
Sealable glass or other airtight containers are also good options for freezing oat milk. Just add date labels, or date the lid with some washi tape and a marker.
Note: Thawed oat milk can be grainy, so straining it with a cheesecloth can help make it smoother. Also, if you plan to use oat milk in smoothies, you can simply add the frozen ice cubes directly to the blender without thawing them first. This should reduce any noticeable graininess as well.
How do I know if oat milk is spoiled?
What if you’ve stored your oat milk properly, but you suspect it may have gone bad anyway? Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for to figure out whether it’s spoiled.
Sour odor
Like with regular dairy products, if the oat milk smells sour or rancid, or if it simply smells off, that’s an indication it has spoiled. By contrast, fresh oat milk should smell, well, fresh — and not give off any strong odors.
Chunky texture
If the oat milk has started to clump or become lumpy, it’s a sign it has curdled, and chances are it’s started to go bad. So if you see chunks in your oat milk as you pour it out of the carton, it’s best not to consume it.
Discoloration
Fresh oat milk has an off-white to very light beige color. But if you notice it taking on a yellow tinge, that may be another warning sign.
If you notice any of these signs of spoilage, your best option is to simply discard the oat milk rather than risk getting food poisoning.
FAQ
Store-bought oat milk has a shelf life of 7-10 days after you open it. But it must be kept in the fridge in order to prevent it from spoiling. Homemade oat milk can stay good for up to 5 days if kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Oat milk from the store will have a best-by date or expiration date which indicates how long it will be at peak freshness prior to opening. For oat milk from the refrigerated aisle, the use-by date is generally a couple of months from the time you buy it. Unopened shelf-stable oat milk can stay good for up to 9 months.
Shelf-stable almond milk can keep for up to one year at room temperature if unopened. Once it’s opened, it will need to be stored in the fridge, where it can stay fresh for 7-10 days. However, almond milk that is kept refrigerated at the store will also need to be kept in the fridge once you bring it home. Homemade almond milk should always be refrigerated.
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