How Long Is Evaporated Milk Good After Opening
Evaporated milk can last in the fridge for up to four days after opening. Evaporated milk loses its freshness sooner if it is stored in hot or humid conditions. To store evaporated milk, you can pour it into a jug and store in the fridge. But, the milk will remain fresh for up to six months in the can.
As long as you keep the product correctly, evaporated milk will keep about one week in your fridge once opened. How long evaporated milk will last depends on several factors; if it is normal milk in an unopened can, it may last for anywhere from three months to one year after the best-by date. Properly stored, an unopened can of evaporated milk typically stays at good quality for around 18 to 24 months, though generally will still be safe for consumption beyond this time.
Properly stored, longer-lasting milk will retain its best quality for about 3 months, but it will stay safe past that point. Evaporated milk will maintain best quality for at least 1.5 to 2 years past its best-by date if stored correctly. Most likely, your evaporated milk will still be good a few weeks to months after the date on the can because of shelf life used prior to that.
At this point, I would suggest throwing out your canning milk, even though it seems safe to use. If you believe your canned milk is expired, here are spoilage indicators that you should be looking out for. To make sure the canned milk is still safe for consumption, then all you have to do is to pop open the cap and look at the color.
| Types | Fridge | Freezer |
| Openend | 3-5 days | 3 months |
| Unopened | 5 days | 3 months |
I would not try it at this stage, and likewise, if you see some mould at the top of the milk then do not be tempted to skim off of that and use the untouched part. Since milk does not have the same consistency once thawed, you are better off just refining it for use in baking and cooking. It is just going to take adding some water to a roasting pan once thawed, and you have got a milk you can keep using whenever you need it.
If you do end up with some milk left over, you can safely store it in your freezer for a 6 week period without real problems. While canned milk will last much longer than uncondensed milk, you still have to use it in six months. Because of the higher sugar content, condensed milk will keep longer after you open it than evaporated milk, but you should optimally use either one within five to seven days of opening. You can freeze condensed milk in a clean, airtight container (note it will not freeze solid because of its sugar content) for up to 3 months.
Set condensed milk toward the back of your refrigerator, rather than the doors, where it is cooler, and use it within five days. While the method for evaporating is similar in both types of milk, condensed milk has added sweetener.
Unlike condensed milk, evaporated milk does not have any sugars or some other sweeteners, but it is shelf-stable compared to cows milk, so you can use it longer. You may want to add some water before getting your usual milk, but generally, this is a component you can use for making tasty meals without changing the texture. Evaporated milk generally works best when stored in a cool, dry location, though this depends on the container you are using, and whether or not it is opened. When you open cans of evaporated milk, bacteria and other contaminants may be trapped, which is why the milk within lasts longest in a refrigerator.
If you’re interested in Can I Substitute Ketchup For Tomato Paste, take a look at my other article.
This happens when milk is not stored at a suitable temperature, which allows the bacteria to grow quickly. If temperatures are above 40F, bacteria can begin to grow in the milk, and that is what causes rot and odor. If there is an overhanging lid on your tin, that means that the bacteria that causes botulism, or food poisoning, may be in your milk.
You can fix the milks supposed skin problem fast by heating up your milk and stirring it until you get it to your desired texture. Heating takes off about half of the water in the entire milk, concentrating the remaining solids to form a thick paste. Both evaporated and condensed milks undergo the heat treatment for sterilisation, giving them quite long shelf lives.
Once your milk has solidified in your ice molds, you can take them out and store in a zipperlock bag or sealed container in your freezer. Because milk solids may sink to the bottom, you should make sure you rotate stored cans every few weeks. Once opened, the evaporated milk must be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for the above-mentioned times, no matter what the best-by date is.
If you’re interested in Can Whiskey Go Bad, take a look at my other article.
Of all of the products in your fridge, you will find that milk typically has one of the shorter best-by dates. Most manufacturers recommend using powdered milk, otherwise known as dried milk, for up to 18 months, but this is really only the Best By Date. While there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation, most studies show that, as long as properly stored, unopened milk typically stays good for 5-7 days after the listed date, and opened milk stays good for at least 2-3 days after this date (3, 8, 9). It is equally important to be aware of how long a can of evaporated milk will last once opened, and learn ways to store it so it stays fresh.
We are going to talk about how long evaporated milk will last when opened vs. unopened, why it stays fresh for such a long time, and whether or not you can use it beyond the expiration date. This shelf-stable milk has 60% less water content than full fat milk, and like full fat milk, it is a dairy product that has an expiration date. While canned milk has relatively long shelf lives, shelf lives for this dairy vary by brand. It is also important to check its expiration date while purchasing, since that varies too, and not every grocery store is on top of updating its supplies.
Can you get sick from old evaporated milk?
The shelf life of unopened evaporated milk is steady. Generally, food is safe to eat if the packaging is undamaged and there are no signs of rotting. Given that the quality might have declined over time, you might anticipate a difference in taste or flavor.
How long can you keep leftover evaporated milk in the fridge?
In the refrigerator, you can store leftover or opened evaporated milk for up to 4-5 days. Instead of placing your evaporated milk in its original container, you should transfer it into another sterilized, air-tight container with a closed lid. This will prevent a film from forming on the milk.
How do you know if evaporated milk has gone bad?
You can tell if your evaporated milk has gone bad by looking at the changes in smell, taste, and appearance. The color usually changes to yellow when evaporated milk is spoilt or lumps begin to appear at the surface. A sour smell and taste are also signs of discarding the evaporated milk.