It’s deceptively difficult to tell when almond milk has gone bad. More than once, I’ve grabbed a carton out of the back of the refrigerator that I’d forgotten was in there, and checked the date only to find that it was out of date by two or three days.
But then, when you give it an experimental sniff, it seems fine. You pour a little into a glass, and it still seems fine. You dip a fingertip into it, give it a cautious lick. It still seems fine.
So you drink it, and once you’re done and you’ve thrown that carton in the trash, only then do you find yourself wondering, ‘How long does almond milk last, and does it actually go bad?’
First off. Does almond milk go bad?
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Yes. Almost milk absolutely goes bad. It loses flavor, consistency, and taste, and after a few days is definitely unsafe to drink again.
But the signs for whether almond milk has gone bad or not are generally pretty obvious, once you know what you’re looking for.
How to tell if almond milk has gone bad
First off, if you’re still sitting on an unopened carton of almond milk that’s run over its best before date, the best way to tell if it’s gone bad is to see if the carton is unnaturally bloated.
If it is, it’s likely that the almond milk inside is starting to go off, so be careful when opening it.
The next big signifier that almond milk has gone off are the changes in color and smell. Almond milk starts to go off color quickly when it’s going bad, so this is a sure sign. And if it starts to smell a little like off milk, then you know it’s gone off.
Third, check consistency. Almond milk starts to clump up as it goes bad, and can also start to get small grains in the bottom of its container.
Lastly, check the taste. If it tastes off in any way, you can be absolutely sure it’s gone off.
When does almond milk go bad?
The best answer to this question is always to check the best before date on the label. If you’re unsure, then always go with this as a first order. Whilst almond milk may usually be safe to drink for a couple of days after the date on the packaging, if you’re concerned in any way, this is the safest way to know.
The main concern when you’re asking when almond milk goes bad is whether the container is open or not.
If the container is closed, then like we said earlier, check the sell by date.
If the container is open, the date on the container is irrelevant. Once opened and exposed to the elements, almond milk becomes susceptible to bacteria and other environmental concerns.
Correctly stored, almond milk will last around a week after being opened. However, incorrectly stored, this drops down to as little as 24 hours.
The best way to store almond milk for long term use
The single best, and realistically the only way to store almond milk for long-term use is to refrigerate it.
Some manufacturers may recommend that you keep unopened cartons of almond milk at room temperature. If this is the case, feel free to follow their instructions, but remember to place it in the refrigerator once it’s opened.
What if it separates?
I’m sure you’ve come back to some almond milk that you haven’t touched in a day or two and seen layers in it, like water and oil.
If you didn’t know what it was, likely you threw it out after this, but this is, in fact, a completely normal thing that any almond milk will do over time.
It’s nothing to worry about, as strange as it looks. Simply give it a shake, leave it for a minute to settle, then it’s good to drink again.
How long does almond milk last: The Final Verdict
Stored properly, almond milk will easily last long enough for even one person to comfortably finish a carton. This applies for all types of kitchen ingredients such as:
As long as you pay close attention to the signs, and know what you’re looking for, there’s absolutely no reason why you should ever have to worry about whether you’re drinking bad almond milk. Just follow the signs in this article, and you can feel free to keep drinking your favorite beverage, absolutely worry-free.