How long does Oatmeal last? This is plant-derived milk, from whole oat grains particularly.
It is obtained by extracting the plant material with water.
Oat milk has a creamy texture with an oatmeal-like flavor, cos why not! Lol! It comes in different flavors – sweetened/unsweetened, vanilla/chocolate.
The origin can be traced to Sweden, but currently, it is drunk all over the world.
Oat milk is ranked second in the general market of the United States, following almond milk and preceding soy milk.
Oat milk provides a lot of nutrients such as; calcium, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, protein, carbohydrate, etc.
Though, note that it is not suitable for people with Celia disease.
You should also know that oat milk is higher in carbohydrates and unflavored oat milk has the highest number of calories, dangerous!
Oat mill provides fewer nutrients than dairy milk, understand this before substituting wrongly.
Ensure you combine and equal the value with good dishes.
DIY oat milk is simply a blend of rolled oats and water, then stir the pulp out. Easy!
So, how long does Oat Milk last once open?
Oat milk will keep for 7 – 10 days after opening the carton or bottle.
Various brands carry different recommendations, however, the least is 4 – 5 days.
So in general, oat milk will last between 4 – 7 days, and up to 10 days if properly refrigerated.
If the quality of the oat milk is questionable, it is safer you don’t consume it.
Your health should be a priority.
Throw out oat milk that has stayed for longer than recommended.
Even at the point of 7 – 10 days, always inspect for smell, taste and look test, to see if it’s spoiled or still safe for consumption.
How Long Does Oat Milk Last Out Of The Fridge?
Oat milk can comfortably stay out of the fridge for not more than 2 hours, anything above that should be discarded.
If you keep it out longer than that, it may probably be fine (you never can tell),
But, the official safety rule is that “shelf stable oat milk can be kept in a cool, dry place at room temperature, so long as it remains unopened.
Once opened, it is recommended that you refrigerate it within 2 hours.
While Refrigerated oat milk must be kept refrigerated at all times – from the store shelf, till it is purchased, till it is opened, and till it is entirely consumed”.
So if you decide to break this rule, it is at your risk.
However, before consuming oat milk that has been left out for more than 2 hours, ensure you are observant and watch out for signs of spoilage
Like the foul smell, discoloration, slimy texture, funny consistency, and lastly, sour taste.
Nevertheless, you might be able to consume oat milk only if the temperature is cool and it is just a little above 2 hours.
In cool temperatures, the chances of spoilage are slim.
Recommendation:
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How Long Does Oats Milk Last After Expiration Date?
Shelf-stable oat milk usually has a long shelf life and can last for a few months extra past the expiration date, due to the quality of ingredients, packaging, and proper storage.
Precisely, it will last 1 – 3 months past the expiration date.
While Refrigerated oat milk lasts for a week past the expiration date, precisely 7 – 10 days.
Oat milk that has stayed past the written expiry date on the package is still safe to eat, but if any ‘off’ is noticed, do not consume it.
Use your senses to determine the freshness, quality, and safety before consuming expired oats milk.
For you to know which oat milk has stayed beyond the expiration date, ensure it has been dated and properly stored.
To vouch for expired oat milk, it must have been properly sealed
That’s because once exposed to air, it will spoil quicker due to bacteria, pollutants, and moisture.
Does Oat Milk Need To Be Refrigerated?
The short answer can either be a yes/no, depending on if it is shelf stable or from the refrigerated section of the store.
Shelf-stable oat milk is already manufactured, processed, preserved, and packaged to suit shelf conditions (while unopened),
So, it does not need to be refrigerated at this point.
Meanwhile, the refrigerated form has been prepared to survive only cold temperatures so you should let it remain at this degree for sustainability and safety sake.
However, both shelf-stable and refrigerated section oat milk must/need to be refrigerated once opened.
This is because, when oat milk comes in contact with air or warm temperature, the growth of harmful bacteria will quicken
Thereby reducing the quality and safety.
How Long Does Oat Milk Last In The Fridge?
Oat Milk should last for around 5 days in the fridge and even more if stored properly.
Once it begins to smell awful, know it has gone bad.
The freshness and quality of oat milk are affected once it is exposed to air and other perishing factors,
So protecting your oat milk should be your priority.
Ensure you store it in an airtight container or jar and refrigerate it.
Keep on the inner shelf of the refrigerator to prevent fluctuation of temperature that occurs at the door shelf of the refrigerator.
Your milk needs to avoid warmth or heat for it to survive in good quality.
The refrigerator seems like a refuge because, in it, there’s no possibility of microbial exposure, mold, or deterioration, especially when the container is sealed.
Can You Freeze Oat Milk?
Guess what? Yes! You can freeze oat milk.
Although, it gets grainy when defrosted and as such, you will not want to use defrosted oat milk inside the tea, coffee, or cereal.
It can be kept frozen for as long as 6 months in a healthy and safe condition,
Only the texture and consistency will be compromised slightly.
So freeze oat milk only when necessary.
To freeze oat milk properly in order to achieve longevity of life and fewer grains, place the entire carton in the freezer (if it is still unopened).
Or you transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe bottle, leaving at least 1 inch of space at the top.
This is because the liquid expands, so leave space to avoid the breakage of the glass.
Ensure you label the date to keep track, it will last for 1 month.
Note that it is not recommended to refreeze oat milk, so store it in battles, thaw it, and consume it entirely.
To thaw oat milk, keep it in the refrigerator for an ample period of time, at least 8 hours or overnight, then consume it within 10 days.
Thaw oat milk that is to be used for tea can be strained using a cheesecloth, in order to reduce the grainy texture.
Substitutes For Oat Milk?
You’ll need a substitute for cow’s milk due to being lactose-intolerant, having a milk allergy, being vegan ( dietary restrictions), and some potential health risks.
At this point, oat milk is for you,
But what if due for some reason you don’t have access to oats milk, here are some other perfect substitutes.
Many kinds of milk can be used as substitutes, but the dish and type of recipe will determine the best substitute to use.
However, the following are suitable for most dishes and can be added to acid – coffee, tomato sauce, vinegar, etc are ‘acids’ in this context
- Flax milk
- Coconut milk
- Cashew milk
The following should not be mixed with acid;
- Rice milk
- Almond milk
- Hemp milk
Let’s delve in! Flax milk is thick and creamy, perfect as a substitute for coffee and drink.
Note that it has a slightly sweet taste (even unsweetened).
Cashew milk is similar to flax milk. Coconut milk is more common in hot foods and drinks.
Almond milk separates easily when combined with an acid.
Hemp milk is great in cereals too because it’s light, with a mild flavor, and is not suitable as a creamer or thickener.
Rice milk is similar to hemp milk. We hope you’ve found a good substitute that suits you.
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Does Oat Milk Really Expire?
Yes. So much to the extent that it will no longer be safe or advisable to consume.
Typically, oat milk will keep for 7 – 10 days after the first opening and must be properly refrigerated for it to survive this long.
Really expired oats milk will have off smells, bad texture, discoloration, and a sour, unpleasant taste.
At this point, discard it because it is very risky for your health.
You could suffer from food poisoning (ranging from milk to severe) as a result of the bacteria and molds thriving.
How Do You Know If Oat Milk Is Bad?
First thing first, check for the expiry date to enable you to know how long past the date it has been.
The recommended is 1 – 3 months. The next step is to pour the milk into a glass of the sink in order to check out the consistency.
If it becomes thicker than normal, clumpy, or unusual, then it is bad.
Good milk ought to be smooth.
The next stop is the color, spoilt oat milk will be yellowish in color, darker than the fresh shade.
You cannot go wrong with the smell of bad oats milk, it will smell acidic, foul, sour, and bad, very distinguishable from a normal, fresh smell.
If you are still not convinced, then taste the milk to see if it is sour or not.
If it is, spit it out and discard it. Don’t let it get into your system.
How Long Does Oat Milk Creamer Last?
You’ll get optimum quality when oat creamer is consumed within 5 to 7 days and properly stored in the refrigerator.
Under really perfect conditions, it will last 10 – 14 days (really rare).
The written date is the manufacturer’s estimation. If the seal is broken or the package has been damaged, be careful.
Watch out for bad smell (acidic) and discoloration (yellowish).
To store unopened oat creamer, keep it in an undamaged package, in a cool and dry cupboard.
While opened oat creamer will be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 7 days to prevent exposure to air, debris, and moisture.
Ensure you store rightly after every use.
Do not freeze oat creamer.
Oats creamer is what some people add to coffee or black tea, instead of milk.
It is healthier and non-dairy.
What Happens If You Drink Expired Oat Milk?
You’ll get sick. Food poisoning leading to intestinal inflammation – whoa! Bad right?
Yes, even vomiting and diarrhea. So be careful out there because it will be bad to drink such.
The flavor of terrible illness is quite uncomfortable to pass through your throat.
So why will you take the pains to drink such spoilt milk? Once the food is no longer appealing, discard it rather than force yourself onto it.
By virtue of it becoming unappealing, it is a clear sign that it is not good for you.
Oats Milk that has expired and spoilt oats milk are two different things.
Spoilt oat milk is not just a result of the expiry date, it has no nutrients in it at all, and vitamins and minerals have decayed over time.
What To Do With Expired Oat Milk?
There are quite a number of things to do with expired oats milk (not expired to the extent of being detrimental).
Expired here can only be on the date.
Of course, milk does not go bad in the stroke of an “o’clock”, it is a gradual process.
So you can still make the most of your oats milk by;
Sweetening it. As the date goes by, it declines gradually in taste,
So, you can sweeten it and use it for recipes that call for sugar, a lot of it
You can also use it for baking if you cannot stand the taste of tea or drink it directly.
It will do very well in your batter and dough.
What Does Bad Oat Milk Taste Like?
Bad oat milk will taste sour, different from usual, taste stale, and unappealing.
Fresh oat should taste creamy and yummy, not otherwise.
If you purchase a carton of this fresh milk that doesn’t taste right, it is best you return it right away.
Also, if it has been purchased in good condition and improperly stored, it will still go bad and taste sour.
So here’s it, if your fresh milk no longer tastes sweet and nutty, something is wrong.
It has a unique taste that cannot be overlooked or mistaken.
Bad milk speaks louder, or in this case, tastes sourer.
How Long Does Chobani Oat Milk Last?
It will last 60 days from the manufacturing day (unopened).
Chobani are manufactured without artificial preservatives or additives,
So their lifespan is solely natural, and in due time, they will go bad.
If refrigerated, the fresh milk will last till the written date and it is recommended that you consume entirely once opened, instead of restoring it.
Chobani fresh milk is shelf stable and can be stored in a cool, dark place like the pantry.
It doesn’t need to be refrigerated only if the temperature is too humid.
Do not keep if exposed to light or heat.
How Do You Make Oat Milk Last Longer?
You’ll need to right all wrongs in order to have your oat milk last for a long.
For refrigeration, ensure it has stabilizers or emulsifiers in the milk, to prevent it from separating.
Use a clean jar, with a tight-fitting lid to store fresh milk in order to prevent the entry of air or other contaminants.
Another factor in keeping milk fresh for a long is to ensure that room temperature is cool enough for unopened.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Always recall from what section of the shop you purchased your milk (whether shelf or refrigerator section), and endeavor to store it in the same place at home.
You can also freeze milk in an ice cube tray but the end result after defrosting turns out grainy.
However, cooking it will make the graininess barely noticeable.
So if you can’t use defrosted milk in tea, you can cook with it.
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Conclusion
The milk is sweet, oat is delicious and nutritious.
It’s a good option for varying your delicacies, or as a substitute for dairy milk.
This article is stacked with how to preserve and store, how to know it’s bad, the shell life of oat, and how to use it.
Always bear in mind that once opened, the leftover must be refrigerated.
In order to preserve your leftover oat milk, follow these steps;
The carton is not really resealable once it has been opened, so store it in a plastic container or glass jar after opening it and seal it tightly.
Never drink straight from the carton (unless you’re going to finish it entirely)
Shake the bottle or carton before pouring it into your glass and keep the rest back in the fridge immediately.
Enjoy your cup!