How long does soy milk last? Soy milk also known as soya milk is plant-based milk.
Gotten by soaking and grinding the soybeans, then bringing the mixture to a boil, and then filtering out the particles.
Soy milk contains some nutrient which has some cancer-fighting abilities, a very good, healthy must-have in the refrigerator.
It is great for school, work, events, during, within and after a meal at any time. It is simple, easy to make and can be added to desserts and dishes.
So, how long does Soy Milk last unrefrigerated?
It is officially recommended that you discard opened soy milk that has been left unrefrigerated at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
After this time frame, it is considered unsafe because bacteria have thrived on it.
However, shelf-stable sealed soy milk can sit on the counter for as long as 3 to 6 months
And till you burst it open but if bought from the store at the refrigerated section, keep it refrigerated even while unopened.
If left out, and opened for too long, soy milk will begin to smell funny and get clumpy too.
Most of it has stayed in overnight and this is solely dependent on the temperature.
It will not make you sick though, but there will be an alteration in the texture and taste.
Soy milk can either be refrigerated or shell-stable depending on the packaging type and how the liquid is processed.
Does Soy milk Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes. Once opened, it certainly needs refrigeration in order to last for a long period of time.
Once opened, refrigerated soy milk should be consumed within 5 days.
For shelf-stable packaging, it should be refrigerated only once opened.
While bottled packaging, keep it refrigerated even while unopened.
After opening, always keep soy milk sealed and refrigerated.
If you cannot reseal the original packaging, transfer it to a mason jar or an airtight before refrigerating.
Before every use, ensure you shake the carton or bottle well before pouring it out.
It is recommended that you pour out so you can notice if anything is off and avoid contaminating the tip of the package.
Recommendation:
- Does cooked prime rib go bad in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- How long does Halloumi last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- Does carbonara go bad in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- How long do unshelled walnuts last in the fridge, freezer, and pantry?
How Long Does Soy Milk Last In The Fridge?
Refrigerated from the store (unopened), soy milk will last only one week extra past the printed date,
But once opened you should finish the bottle or carton within 5 to 10 days from the opening date.
Meanwhile, shelf stability would last for months past the expiry date (unopened).
Most brands make soy milk stay at least 12 months extra after the production date
With proper storage, it will keep for some extra time.
The refrigerator is one good method of storage, especially for opened soy milk.
Be sure to keep it sealed in an airtight container after opening,
And refrigerate in the refrigerator with a temperature less than 40⁰F.
It is recommended that you refrigerate inside the refrigerator and not at the door,
That’s because the temperature will fluctuate there due to opening and closing.
Remember that shelf-stable soy milk does not need to be refrigerated except if they are opened.
How Long Does Silk Soy Milk Last After Opening?
Once opened, store and use within 7 to 10 days only.
Some brands recommend a minimum of 5 days, but silk recommends 7 to 10 days maximum.
The silk soy milk has quite a short fridge shell – life.
The reason why 10 days is the maximum, is that after a while the carton will begin to bloat because of the release of gases.
So for you to consider refrigerated open milk that has stayed for 10 days, the look and smell test will come in handy.
Expired soy milk (not just by date, but in quality), is usually risky, with no benefits.
To avoid such problems, stick to the 10 days maximum of opened soy milk in the refrigerator.
How Long Does Milk Last After Expiration Date?
Shelf-stable soy milk will last for a few months past the expiration date provided
it is unopened and properly stored in a cool, dark area, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
If properly stored, it will last 3 to 4 weeks extra past the printed date,
provided the package is undamaged, with no dent, no bloat, no burst, and no leaks.
The printed date is just the manufacturer’s estimate of how long it will stay of top quality.
If the right method is followed, it will last even longer, if not, it will spoil even before the estimated date.
So, long as soy milk has no off odour, or flavour in its appearance, it is still safe to consume even after the printed date.
Can You Freeze Soy Milk?
Yes. Freezing is the best option for nearly all foods, soy milk inclusive.
But there’s a ‘but’, it is recommended to freeze soy milk only if it is to be added as part of a recipe in a dish.
Freezing soy milk after opening will help preserve it and minimize waste.
To freeze soy milk, you can either;
pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze the cubes overnight, then transfer it to a freezer bag and store it in the freezer. Easy!
It can be stored in the freezer for as long as 3 months, an extended shell life than what the refrigerator will give.
Note that soy cubes may get sticky and prove difficult when removed from the ice cube tray.
Another method for freezing is to portion them into containers, label and chuck them into the freezer.
This is best if you’d use it whole without measuring, or leftovers.
You can defrost it by refrigerating overnight, thaw it in a bowl of warm water, or use it in its frozen state, especially as ice cubes in smoothies.
Silk does not recommend freezing their soy milk products because the texture will get altered after thawing.
However, freezing it will not affect the safety or nutritional value in any way.
Frozen and thawed soy milk will be best enjoyed in smoothies, desserts, ice creams, pancakes, and muffins.
Does Soy Milk Go Bad?
Yes. And the first sign to look out for is a bloated carton, due to the bacteria releasing gas.
Drinking bad soy milk will leave a really bad taste in your mouth.
Once the expiration sign shows, discard it immediately.
Discard any opened soy milk left out for longer than 2 hours.
Bad and expired soy milk poses more risks than benefits, so ensure you check out for expiration signs.
Keep track of the date labelled on the freezer bags chucked in the freezer, keep an eye out for spoilage!
How Do You Know When Soy Milk Goes Bad?
Spoilt soy milk is so obvious that it screams, “I’m getting bad, discard me!”
Once soy milk begins to look off or different from the usual white – colour, there is a problem.
Once it begins to smell bad, it is a sign.
And once it begins to have a curdled texture different from the usual runny texture, discard it.
Soy milk should be smooth with a slightly off-white colour,
anything contrary to this is a sign of spoilage and it must be tossed away.
Sour soy milk will have a rancid smell due to the presence of mould and bacteria.
Recommendation:
- How long does bruschetta last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- Do roasted peanuts go bad in the storage place?
- How long does burrata last in the fridge, freezer, and pantry?
- Can pine nuts go bad in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
Does Soy Milk Last Longer Than Dairy Milk?
Yes. Soy milk lasts longer than dairy milk,
Although not forever because it will definitely go bad after some period of time.
It is very natural for people to think that soy milk never spoils, but this is wrong.
Soy milk lasts really long when unopened.
Soy milk is as nutritious as dairy milk but with slight differences in the nutritional content, consistency and flavours too.
All this contributes to the difference in life span as well.
Its origin is traced to China and it became a common beverage first in Europe and North America, before spreading to other parts of the world.
It can be used as a substitute for dairy milk by vegans or lactose-intolerant people.
The protein contained in soy milk is healthy and helps builds up healthy muscles and organs.
It is rich in omega – 3 fatty acid – a healthy necessary fat that the body cannot form on its own.
It has calcium, vitamin A, D, riboflavin and vitamin B12.
What Does Soy Milk Taste Like?
It has a mild and creamy flavour but the degree varies from brand to brand.
Each brand has its uniqueness and signature.
Soy milk is your best option if you want dairy-free milk that tastes like milk.
It is not really sweet, it is more vanilla-ly. The texture is superb – thick and creamy.
Some soy milk has a slight bean flavour and most people prefer this bean-like flavour
They believe that artificial flavours are added to mask the original bean-like flavour.
Note that soy milk may have a trace of grainy thick texture, in its natural form.
It may not be appealing to people who are used to drinking thin milk,
But when flavours are added the soy milk becomes refined and tolerable.
10 Best Soy Milk Substitutes?
They include;
- walnut milk
- quinoa milk
- Cashew milk
- almond milk
- rice milk
- oat milk
- coconut milk
- pea milk
- macadamia milk
- Barista blends
Nuts milk has a creamy texture and sweet taste, especially when added to coffee.
Rice milk is most suitable for baking and cereals, it is a perfect substitute for soy milk.
It is thinner in consistency and far sweeter in flavour.
Oat milk goes well best when eaten with sauce, or in smoothie recipes.
If used in coffee, it gives a dark appearance which may not be too appealing.
Coconut milk is often used in ice creams, cereals and baking, giving it a creamy texture.
How Long Does Soy Milk Last Unopened?
Unopened, soy milk will last as long as the manufacturer has estimated by the printed date,
And even one week after the date (for refrigerated conditions), while it will last for months after the date (for shelf-stable conditions).
Soy milk has a long shell life due to the pasteurization process which kills unwanted bacteria,
unrefrigerated soy milk undergoes even ultra-high temperature sterilization.
Just be sure to store them rightly, sealed and you’ll see that soy milk can keep for long in healthy condition.
Always watch out for spoilage before consuming to avoid food poisoning.
Shelf-stable soy milk has proven to last 12 months after the production date, unopened.
What To Do With Expired Soy Milk?
Discard! It is best to toss away spoiled milk.
Expired on just the date? Then you can keep it for 1 more week in the refrigerator, unopened,
But once opened consume it within 5 to 10 days while still stored in the refrigerator.
After these days of grace, discard soy milk.
To prevent this waste, purchase only the amount you can consume within the safe period, or store it in the freezer
(if you don’t care much about the altered texture, or if you’re gonna be adding it to a recipe).
What Does Expired Soy Milk Taste Like?
Expired Soy milk will have a putrid, rotten and sour taste, with off flavours.
The extent of the irked taste will depend on the degree of spoilage.
Definitely, if it does not look good, it won’t taste good either.
So appearance and smell matter a lot, you don’t need to ingest spoilt milk if it already looks, smells and feels bad.
Just discard it to avoid food poisoning.
What Does Soy Milk Smell Like?
It has a vanilla and chocolate smell. Mmhm, yummy! However, this is for fresh soy milk.
Bad soy milk will smell Rancid and disgusting. You’ll definitely pick out the smell of bad soy milk.
It’s just like growing up to know your name, wonderful right? Once you smell anything off, toss it out.
Soy milk bad a smell peculiar to it because it is fermented.
The fermented result of soybeans is soy sauce and is good too. Fermented foods aid digestion.
How Do You Store Soy Milk?
You should know the category your soy milk falls under at the time of purchase.
If it’s shelf-stable soy milk, it should be stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
It should be refrigerated once it is opened and consumed within 5 to 10 days.
While, the other category is refrigerated soy milk, right from the store.
When purchased, it must be kept refrigerated even though unopened.
And when opened, still keep refrigerated and consumed within 5 to 10 days.
Another form of storage is freezing,
But this is optional and not really recommended because the texture of milk is altered after thawing.
Except, if it wants to be added to a recipe for any dish, then you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and use soy cubes.
Recommendation:
- How long do tortilla wraps last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- Do bread crumbs go bad in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
- How long does paneer last in the fridge, freezer, and pantry?
- Can uncured ham go bad in the fridge, pantry, and freezer?
- How long does beef tallow last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature?
Conclusion.
This is just one of many consolations for vegans and lactose-intolerant people.
Soy milk enables them not to miss out completely on milk,
it is so much similar to dairy milk in taste and nutritional value, although slightly different.
Soy milk, however, is not restricted to vegans only, everyone can enjoy it.
A shelf-stable package is usually airtight so it can be kept at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Most shelf-stable soy milk comes in cartons, and refrigerated (even unopened) comes in bottles.
However, such is not the case for all brands. An unopened carton can last a month past the expiration date unrefrigerated.
But once opened, it will have to depend on several factors – how old it is, the temperature of the storage, how many bacteria have entered from when it is opened and how much air has gotten in.
This article is to enlighten you more on the various categories and how to store them both.
You don’t need to be monotonous with dairy milk only, go explore!
Remember, how long does soy milk last unrefrigerated?