How Long Does Oat Milk Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 2 To 6 Days

Many ingredients in this world can be used to cook millions of dishes. Every cuisine has some staple ingredients, but there are always alternatives. One staple ingredient, that is used almost in every part of the globe. Yet, some people abstain from drinking milk or using milk in their dishes. There are certain reasons why people don’t drink milk. For some, it can be related to health conditions, and for some, it can be religious reasons.

Whatever the reason might be, people search for alternative products to use instead of milk. Nowadays, milk is being extracted from all sorts of pulses, grains, and nuts, like almonds and many more. One such type of milk that people now choose as an alternative is oat milk, which is very much affordable and healthy too.

How Long Does Oat Milk Last?

When someone wants to follow a dairy-free diet, it is better if they choose oat milk as an alternative to normal milk. Some people might have some intolerance and allergy issues to dairy products, and at times like those, they can always choose plant-based milk alternatives, which are equally healthy and delicious. Oat milk does not contain any sort of lactose, soy, or even gluten if they are specifically made from gluten-free oats. It is considered “vegan-friendly”, and also has multiple health benefits.

Though oat milk is not as completely healthy as whole oats, it is enriched with nutrients that are necessary for the good health of the human body, like iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamins like D and A. Oat milk contains beta-glucans which is soluble fiber that maintains heart health. Nowadays, oat milk is available online and also in grocery stores.

Oat milk also contains a healthy level of calories, fat, and carbs, it also contains protein, phosphorous, riboflavin, dietary fiber, and much more. Oat milk contains more amount of B vitamins than any other milk.

Why Does Oat Milk Last That Long?

Oat milk is full of benefits, nut, soy, and lactose-free and it will lower blood cholesterol and maintain bone health in a great way. It also contains some disadvantages, as it might sometimes contain a high level of flavorings and sweeteners, and if oats contain gluten, gluten-free oat milk from gluten-free oats.

Oat milk can be used as an alternative in any place milk is used, from primer in a coffee to another option of milk in some desserts. When someone buys a carton of oat milk, they don’t just use everything in a go. There will always be leftovers, so it is necessary to store them in the optimal conditions, at the right temperature, and in the right location. Some brands will tell you to keep the leftover oat milk in the fridge while some say it is better to store them in the open.

There are two types of oat milk based on where they are stored, one type is refrigerated and another is shelf-stable. Unopened shelf-stable oat milk can be stored in the open on the pantry or the countertop for sometimes weeks and even months. On the other hand, once they are opened, they must be used within at least a week.

Conclusion

When refrigerated oat milk is opened, it should be used within 2 to 3 days, and it can be stored in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days. It is certainly a miracle, that the same amount of oat milk, which is available in a shelf-stable form, can last for more than 9 months, even for a year, from the date it was manufactured. Hence, unlike many other products, where shelf-stable products do not last longer than their refrigerated counterparts, it is a completely different case in oat milk.

There are ways to know if the milk is spoilt. The texture will not be smooth and the milk will be lumpy. The color will change, and the spoilt milk will emit a foul taste, and if the milk sits out for more than 5 days after it is opened, it is probably spoilt.

References

1. https://publications.waset.org/9997663/electronic-nose-based-on-metal-oxide-semiconductor-sensors-as-an-alternative-technique-for-the-spoilage-classification-of-oat-milk
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199804)76:4%3C546::AID-JSFA987%3E3.0.CO;2-S