Everything you need to know about the shelf life of milk
Dairy products are among the most important in the modern human diet.
Milk is indispensable for the body, as it supplies it with calcium and easily digestible protein. In addition, this product is always available.
But is everything known about him? After all, you need not only to know about the beneficial properties of milk, but also to comply with the terms and conditions of its storage.
Content
How and for how long are different types of milk stored?
Each type of milk has its own shelf life. It depends on the processing method to which the product was subjected, on the packaging container and on the storage conditions.
You can find out how long natural, boiled, pasteurized cow's milk can be stored in the refrigerator here.
Cow
Many people buy homemade milk from the same trusted people, farmers. Undoubtedly, such a product is preferable to a store-bought product produced in a factory. Farm milk is considered more valuable and environmentally friendly. This drink is especially necessary for young children., since it is difficult to overestimate the benefits of a natural product.
Raw homemade
However, not everyone is eager to buy a homemade dairy product due to the short shelf life. At room temperature, fresh milk turns sour within 8-10 hours.
In a refrigerator Its shelf life directly depends on the temperature:
- from 1 to 2 °C - 48 hours;
- from 3 to 4 °C - 36 hours;
- from 5 to 6 °C - 24 hours;
- from 7 to 8 °C - 18 hours;
- from 9 to 10 °C - 12 hours.
If ideal storage conditions are met (pour homemade fresh milk into a clean container, tightly close with a nylon lid and put in the refrigerator), then it can last up to 5 days.
However, at the same time Not only clean containers and appropriate temperature are important, but also milking culture, namely:
- The cow does not have any diseases (for example, udder mastitis).
- Clean milk pan.
- Mandatory straining.
And, of course, you cannot drink milk directly from the jar in which it is stored, or use spoons to get into it. If all conditions are met, such milk can be consumed on the 5th day or added to tea (coffee). But it’s better not to cook porridge on it, as there is a risk that the milk will start to curdle.
Read about the terms and methods of storing homemade milk in this article.
Boiled
To keep homemade dairy product fresh longer, it is better to boil it. The only disadvantage of the boiled product: it is no longer as healthy as a living one.. Phosphorus and calcium become poorly soluble and are poorly absorbed by the body. But this extends the shelf life of the drink by 2-4 days.
There is one small but important nuance in boiling - the milk should not be boiled, but only brought to a boil and immediately removed from the stove. This to some extent contributes to the preservation of its beneficial properties.
Shelf life of boiled milk:
- at room conditions – 18 hours;
- in the refrigerator - from 4 to 6 days.
When you are sure that the milk is purchased from clean owners, you can store it raw in the refrigerator for 2 days and then boil it. But it is important to remember that dangerous bacteria get into the product from dirty hands and containers. To ensure that they protect themselves from them, many boil homemade cow's milk immediately after purchase.
Babies should only be given boiled food milk in order to avoid collision of their not yet established gastrointestinal tract with harmful microorganisms.
Ghee
The Slavs invented this method of processing milk. The drink was first boiled and then simmered for a long time and evenly.
Previously, this was done in an oven, now they use an oven, microwave or thermos.
You just need to meet the main condition - the milk must be at a temperature of 85 to 95 ° C for at least 1.5 hours. Baked milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.
Pasteurized
Pasteurized milk is obtained by heat treatment of raw materials (at temperatures from 70 to 100 ° C). In this case, both harmful bacteria and beneficial microflora are partially killed. This is done industrially in special installations to increase shelf life.
Manufacturers set their own deadlines as a rule, it is 10-14 days. Once the milk carton is opened, it is placed in the refrigerator and stored for 48 hours from that point.Read more here.
Sterilized
This milk is obtained by heat treatment at higher temperatures (from 115 to 135 ° C). In this case, microbes are completely destroyed, but almost all microflora is destroyed.
In this regard, the rate of spoilage of the drink slows down significantly (there are no microflora - and the product does not spoil), and the shelf life of milk when closed, they reach 6 months at temperatures from 2 to 20 °C.
Once the package is opened, sterilized milk is stored for 96 hours.
UHT
The minimum temperature at which raw materials for UHT milk are processed is from 125 °C.
According to the production technology, the drink is similar to a sterilized one, that is it contains no living microorganisms (neither harmful nor beneficial).
In closed packages, the product should be stored in a dark place at a temperature range from 2 to 25 °C. Maximum shelf life is from 6 to 9 months.
If exposed to sunlight, the quality of the product may deteriorate. Opened packaging should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours.
Lactose-free
This drink is recommended for therapeutic dietary nutrition people who have lactase deficiency.
The main condition for storing closed packages of lactose-free milk, as for UHT milk, is the absence of direct sunlight. Temperature – from 2 to 25 °C. Shelf life – 6 months.
Goat
Goat's milk is considered very good in terms of absorption by the child's body. It especially helps strengthen the immune system after illness..
This product is not so popular due to the widespread belief that it has an unpleasant taste and smell.In fact, a clean, healthy goat produces a drink that has no foreign odor and has a pleasant creamy taste. And its deterioration indicates improper milking and improper storage conditions.
To extend the life, fresh milk that has just been milked must be immediately strained and cooled to a temperature of 4°C. Due to this, the number of microorganisms in it is sharply reduced.
Store fresh goat milk in a sterilized, tightly sealed container in the refrigerator at a temperature of 5-6 °C. Duration – up to 5 days. Boiling the product extends its shelf life to 10 days. At room conditions, goat drink retains its beneficial properties and does not turn sour for 2 days.
You can find out how long goat milk lasts here, read about the shelf life of kola milk in the refrigerator Here.
Coconut
Such milk is rarely purchased for daily use. More often it is used to prepare various soups, desserts and cocktails.
A store-bought drink, unopened, can be stored for quite a long time – from 2 to 3 years at a temperature of 2 to 30 °C.. After opening the milk, you must use it within 3 days and be sure to store it in the refrigerator in a non-metallic container.
A drink prepared independently from coconut pulp can be stored for no more than 1-2 days. If the milk remains unused, it is better to freeze it in order not to throw it away later.
Read about freezing coconut milk Here, about storage - here.
Chest
There are situations when a nursing mother cannot constantly be with her baby. To prevent the baby from going hungry in her absence, women resort to expressing breast milk using a breast pump or manually.
The pumping container must be sterile and tightly closed. The ideal option is a glass container. In room conditions, the shelf life of milk depends on the temperature:
- 25 °C - 6 hours;
- 20 °C - 10 hours;
- 15 °C - 24 hours.
In the refrigerator, the shelf life increases to 2 days. The temperature should be from 0 to 5 °C. Breast milk can be frozen in emergency cases if the nursing mother is hospitalized for long-term treatment. It remains usable for 3 months. Read about storing breast milk Here.
Dry
Powdered milk is a soluble powder. It is obtained by thickening the raw material and then drying it. The product is often used in the preparation of various desserts and in kindergartens for feeding children.
When buying powdered milk, you need to pay attention to whether it is whole or skim. The first product in the composition contains fats and is stored less.
Read about the storage times and methods of dry milk here.
Almond
Another exotic product is now gaining popularity - almond milk. The drink is similar to cow's milk, but has a slight nutty flavor and aroma.
For its production, soaked almonds are used. and regular drinking water. Store-bought product in sealed, sealed packaging in room conditions can be stored for up to 12 months.
Once opened, it must be consumed within 5 days. Just like coconut milk, opened almond milk should be poured into a clean glass container with a tight lid and stored in the refrigerator.
If almond milk is made independently at home, then from the moment of production it must be consumed within 3 days.
Condensed
This kind of milk produced by thickening raw materials at a temperature of 60°C. The longest shelf life for a product packaged in cans is about 1 year. In doypacks with dispensers and in plastic bottles, condensed milk is stored for several months (each manufacturer indicates specifically on the packaging). When unopened, storage temperature conditions are from 0 to 20 °C.
After opening, the product is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days. Milk from a can should be transferred to a glass container or plastic container.
Tara
An important condition for storing milk is clean containers. You can use any containers except metal ones. The best options for preserving the quality of the product:
- Glass jars.
- Clay jugs.
- Enameled cans.
The container must be tightly closed with a lid. First, it must be thoroughly washed, scalded with boiling water and dried.
Plastic bottles are also convenient containers for storage. But they are difficult to wash, so you need to use new ones every time.
Store-bought milk, which is packaged in tetra-packs or plastic bottles, can be stored in the refrigerator in the same form, without pouring, provided that the packaging is intact. After opening, drinks from cans must be poured into a glass container.It is advisable to do the same with a product that is sold in soft packaging (Berta-pack).
As a rule, milk in glass containers has the shortest shelf life due to direct exposure to sunlight - 36 hours. The maximum shelf life of the product in bags and plastic bottles is 3 weeks. The drink is stored longest in tetrapacks (sealed vacuum packaging) - on average up to six months.
Where to store the product in the refrigerator?
The place in the refrigerator door is the warmest; milk should not be stored there. The best option is the middle compartment, where the temperature ranges from 6 to 8 °C.
Since the shelf life of opened milk is not long, it is recommended to buy the product in small packages in order to consume it within 1-2 days after opening.
Do not place milk in the refrigerator next to foods that have a strong odor (smoked meats, marinades). It can absorb their aroma if the lid is not closed tightly.
Can it be frozen?
If necessary, milk can be frozen, but some vitamins will be destroyed and the original qualities are lost.
When sending milk to be frozen, it is necessary to pour it into a plastic container or jar, but not to the very edge, since at low temperatures the product expands. Shelf life in the freezer is up to 2 months.
When defrosting milk, you should not take it directly from the freezer to room conditions. The product must be placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator until completely defrosted. You must be prepared for the fact that the consistency, taste and even color of such a drink may change. Read about freezing milk in this article.
How do you know when the shelf life has come to an end?
The following recommendations should be followedto avoid buying expired milk in a store or market:
- Inspect the packaging carefully. It should not be swollen or have signs of impact or deformation.
- Market traders are required to provide a certificate for dairy products.
- Be sure to check the production date on the store packaging. Don’t give in and don’t be fooled by promotions; most often supermarkets are trying to sell a product with deadlines.
- When buying homemade milk, you can ask for a drink to try. A strange or unpleasant smell should alert you.
What to do if it goes missing?
There is no need to rush to pour out sour milk. By adding special starters to it, you can prepare fermented baked milk, kefir or cottage cheese. In extreme cases, the sour product is perfect for baking pancakes, pancakes, and for cosmetic purposes (you can use it to make useful masks for hair, face, and body).
Useful tips
Some tips regarding milk storage:
In homemade cow's (goat's) milk, it is not the milk itself that begins to sour, but the cream. If you collect them carefully and carefully, the milk will last longer.- If you buy fresh, still warm homemade milk, then you need to cool it directly in the refrigerator in a clean, unopened jar.
Only when the product has completely cooled down is a nylon lid put on the container. Due to this, the milk will be stored longer.
- Coconut and almond milk, which are most often used to make cocktails, are recommended to be frozen in small portions, for example, in ice cube trays.
Conclusion
Such a healthy product as milk should be included in the diet of every person. But whether it will bring benefit or harm will depend only on compliance with the correct conditions and storage periods. You should not spare money if it turns out that the drink is spoiled. Health is most important.
