How Long Can Almond Milk Sit Out And Does It Go Bad?

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People who look for an alternative to cow’s milk prefer almond milk because of its rich flavor and texture. Ground almonds are the main ingredient for the preparation of almond milk; the almonds and water are blended and strained to leave behind a smooth liquid.

Commercial almond milk includes preservatives, flavors and thickeners to improve the shelf life and quality of the almond milk. It is rich in vitamin E and contains vitamin D and calcium but is not a reliable source of protein. As almond milk is not a dairy product, it is marked safe for lactose intolerance or dairy allergies.

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How Long Can Almond Milk Sit Out?

The duration almond milk can sit out depends greatly on the type of almond milk you are referring to. Almond milk can be classified into two main categories; they require completely different storage conditions and have a different shelf life.

These categories of almond milk include shelf-stable and refrigerated almond milk. The shelf-stable almond milk is supplied in aseptic cartons and can sit out for as long as the date on the carton says, or even a few weeks past that date if unopened.

In contrast, the refrigerated almond milk comes in bottles and can sit out for no more than 2 hours at room temperature. The same goes for homemade almond milk.

What Happens if Almond Milk Sits Out Too Long?

Homemade or refrigerated almond milk is suited not to be left at the counter for too long. If, in any case, your bottle of almond milk sits in the kitchen for more than two hours, you might have to check if it is still okay to consume. Thick curdles form in the almond milk exposed to the surrounding temperature, and the possible appearance of mold is also inevitable.

Shelf-stable almond milk, if opened, can also go bad if it is left to sit out for too long. The open carton of shelf-stable almond milk is as vulnerable as the refrigerated one and can spoil if left out for too long.

What Should You Do If Almond Milk Is Left Out Too Long?

It is important to know when your carton or bottle of almond milk is not suitable to consume. One thing that will help you understand this is the time you have left it on the counter. If almond milk has been left to sit out for more than two hours, it is unlikely to be safe to consume.

If store-bought almond milk has visible curdles and is thicker than before, it has already gone bad and should be discarded. Also, notable changes in taste and appearance signify that your almond milk has sat out for way too long and should be disposed of.

How Long Can Almond Milk Be In The Car For?

When you make almond milk with you while traveling, you must be sure to keep it safe, even in your car. The shelf-stable almond milk is most suitable to carry with you as the others need refrigeration at all times. If your pack of shelf-stable almond milk is left in the car unopened, you will not have to worry about its spoilage. However, if an open carton of shelf-stable almond milk sits in your car, consuming it within 2 hours is recommended.

Does Almond Milk Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

It can most certainly go bad if not kept in the fridge when it comes to homemade and refrigerated almond milk. The carton for refrigerated almond milk does not provide the conditions required to preserve it at room temperature hence; you should keep it in the refrigerator to prevent it from going bad.

Does Almond Milk Go Bad If You Lose Power?

An unexpected power outage for even a few hours may be problematic when food is stored inside the refrigerator. In case of power loss, if the almond milk stored in the refrigerator is already cold enough, then it will stay fresh for four hours inside.

A mini-fridge in your room will also keep your almond milk fresh as it contains fewer items and will be opened less frequently than the refrigerator.

What Temperature Is Safe For Almond Milk?

Although almond milk is different from cow’s milk, it requires the same storage temperature to remain safe. You should store the almond milk below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you wish to heat almond milk, use low heat of about 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit to protect it from burning.

How to Store Almond Milk?

For the storage of almond milk, we use some precautions to preserve dairy milk in our daily routine. The reason is that it is highly adapted and also contains vitamin C due to which you have to store it more precisely than the ordinary one. Storing milk is just like storing soybean milk and milk derived from oat grains.

Away from Heat

If the carton or pack is unsealed, put it in a cold, dry, and dark area. Also, put the milk in such a place where it does not get exposed to direct heat. In this way, it stays preserved for an extended period.

Place in refrigerator

When you buy it from any market, make sure that it must be kept safe in that place from where it comes. If you take it from a refrigerator, it should need a low temperature to preserve for a long time. If you open it once, then it should be kept in the refrigerator or fridge and sealed hard so that air does not come in and out from the carton.

Prevent from bacterial infection; one of the most fact to store it is to secure it from bacterial infection. If you used it for one time and not packed it tightly, that would be a great chance to creep bacteria inside the bottle that prevent it from bacterial infections.

Prevent in the cabinet

To prevent decomposition and further decaying, you should have to put it in the kitchen cabinet. Alternative milk should also be available in stores. It can be store in the refrigerator when opened or should be tightly packed after use and placed again in the refrigerator.

Almond milk has greater life than ordinary milk. Place it at a low temperature that helps it to keep fresh. On the other hand, you must store the unrefrigerated almond milk on your shelf table like coconut & dairy milk and it would be best if you store a sealed carton in a cold area.

Can you freeze almond milk?

To freeze almond milk is somehow not good because when you freeze some liquid, the its appearance will change. If you freeze almond milk, it will cause separation of milk, which gives an unpleasant appearance. When it gets frozen, the color & taste will also change.

However, many people use frozen almond milk for cooking and baking purposes. Freezing almond milk, a bottle can be challenge while using it. It can be stored in an airtight container for freezing. You can use a good blender or a robust gripping action, to bring the frozen almond milk back to its original state.

How Long Does Almond Milk Last?

The date mentioned on the label tells you that for how much time it will remain fresh. It is strictly mentioned on the label that it must be use within due dates. The sealed carton remains fresh or safe for 7 to 10 days.

Commercially another method is used to preserve it pasteurization. In this method the milk is heated at 280^oC quickly after that cooled down that extends its shelf life. By doing, you will keep it for a long time.

The estimated life of home-made almond milk is 3-4 days. If you leave it at room temperature for 2-3 hours that would not be a big deal. However, keeping it at room temperature for longer hours. It is impossible to use it; however, it’s better to throw it out rather than using it.

How to tell if almond milk is bad?

As with so many milk products, determine how almond milk gets spoiled. It is recognized by using your sense. Although, it does not contain any dairy. It should come by a misfortune to contain any rancid nuts which were being used. Anyhow, who has experienced a lousy nut will quickly determine it. There are few signs which tell you that almond milk is spoiled.