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How To Tell If Oat Milk Is Bad?
If the oat milk becomes thick and chunky, or if it smells sour and turns yellowish in colour, then it means that the oat milk has gone bad. Also, if the oat milk is opened for more than 10 days, it must be discarded as oat milk cannot sit fine for a longer time.
Like many other foods and liquids, the most effective way to tell if oat milk has gone bad or spoiled is to check the expiration date and then see if it passes the eye and nose test. As you can see, oat milk can go bad, but you can maintain quality and freshness by extending its shelf life with proper storage.
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Oat milk can be stored at room temperature in the pantry or elsewhere, but only until the shelf life and only before opening the bottle or box. As mentioned earlier, unopened long-shelf oat milk can be used for up to a few months after the expiration date, provided it is stored properly and the oat milk packaging is not damaged or swollen.
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Oat milk will be kept for 7-10 days after opening the bottle or carton if you always store it in the refrigerator. If you haven’t opened it, the refrigerated oat milk you see in the dairy section will last five days to a week after the refrigerated oat milk expires.
The biggest difference is that oat milk is starting to lose some of its flavour, texture and aroma, but under normal storage conditions (refrigerator), use, and environment, you can use oat milk 10-12 or even two weeks after opening. These extra ingredients can change the shelf life of opened oat milk, so some will be fine for four days after opening, and some can last up to 10 days if you store the oat milk in the refrigerator.
| Oat milk | Shelf life |
| After opening | 7-10 days |
| In refrigerator | 10-12 days (even weeks) |
| Unopened | For few months |
Oat milk is stable as healthy and nutritious milk but has a short shelf life. Sealed oat milk should last about 5 days in the refrigerator, but some brands of oat milk have a shelf life and can be stored for 4 to 7 days without refrigeration. Other brands may require refrigeration after opening.
Different brands of oat milk vary widely, but all brands need to be refrigerated after opening, and you can be sure that oat milk has spoiled when it looks thick and thick in texture, and spoiled oat milk is yellow. It’s darker than natural, and if you notice your oat milk doesn’t look the same as when you made it or bought it from the store, it may have gone bad.
What happens if you drink expired oat milk?
If expired oat milk turns sour (spoiled), food poisoning can quickly develop with all the typical symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and fatigue. Expired oat milk is fine to drink, but if you notice mould residue or strange smells, throw it away. If the oatmeal smells pungent or starts to brown, it’s gone bad and shouldn’t be eaten.
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Non-dairy products don’t smell like spoiled milk, so you might not smell anything. The difficulty with non-dairy milk is that the smell doesn’t change much until it actually gets better. Non-dairy alternatives usually don’t smell sour or unpleasant, but if they do, it’s a clear sign of spoilage.
Non-dairy milk alternatives are open for more than 5 days longer than suggested on the label. Spoiled almond milk may contain fewer bacteria than regular milk, but bacterial spores can still grow when the container is opened.
If you want a creamy texture, almond milk might be a good choice, but it has no added sugar. The same goes for all other milk substitutes, including almond milk, soy, rice, coconut, and other plant-based foods.
Labels on most almond milk and other milk substitutes such as soy, oatmeal, and cashews recommend consuming the product within 7-10 days of opening. Although oat milk companies are said to consume an opened packet of oat milk within a week (7 to 10 days) of opening, we have found that oat milk is kept for a few days after the published interval.
After opening the box, refrigerate according to the directions on the package and drink within a week. If the carton won’t seal after opening, consider pouring the leftover milk into a jar or bottle that can be closed.
Make sure there is about an inch of space in the container because milk expands when frozen. The tightness of the liquid will protect it better, but return the milk to the refrigerator as soon as possible.
If it says something like “chill” on the package, then that milk is needed to keep it cold and should probably be thrown away. If you’re not sure if the milk has been out of the fridge long enough to keep warm, take a look at the packaging.
When you pour milk into a bowl, you will notice the uneven consistency of the liquid. If the milk has become lumpy or slimy, smells bad, or has been refrigerated for too long. You want your milk to be fresh because, over time, healthy vitamins and minerals die off. Get why your milk only lasts four to seven days after opening.
Usage means you have tasty milk for up to 3 months with minimal need for refills. You can also use pre-portioned milk before freezing it; this means you don’t have to wait to cook with it. Once opened, you can expect it to last 4-7 days in the refrigerator.
Remember to use a label or marker to write the date of the frozen milk in case you forget the date you put it in and leave it out too long. The good news is that unless you can’t drink creepy-looking coffee, the milk hasn’t gone bad, and you can drink it even if it looks weird but tastes good.
What happens if I drink bad oat milk?
If you consume expired oat milk, you can get sick from drinking it. Bad oat milk increases the chance of food poisoning, leading to intestinal inflammation, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Opened oat milk can be a source of oxidation that can cause rancidity.
What does bad oat milk smell like?
Off-putting odour: Whenever oat milk is improperly stored or maintained for years over its expiry date, it can develop an unpleasant odour that is no longer sweet and nutty, but rather harsh, acidic, or bitter.
Does refrigerated oat milk go bad?
All-time oat milk should be stored in a refrigerator. Shelf-stable oat milk lasts for approximately a few months after its expiration, whereas cold cartons only last a few days. Within four to seven days, finish any remaining oat milk.