Can you imagine life without milk? Sorry Lactose-intolerant people, we surely know you can! So, milk is a staple in every Indian household. It is a great source of nutrients needed for growth and development. Each time you open your fridge a milk bottle is surely stacked in. Have you ever wondered how long you can store milk in the refrigerator? While milk does not spoil easily, but it spoils immediately if not stored properly.
Storing Milk The Right Way Is Important
Like every other item in your pantry, milk is perishable! It is highly recommended to refrigerate the milk within 2 hours of opening the packet or bottle or TetraPak. Well, the quality of milk decreases day-by-day even after storing it in the fridge, regular milk spoils in 3 days if kept at room temperature.
However, if the milk is stored properly it will begin to turn sour in 8-10 days. Well, this definitely depends on what type of milk is used, the exposure to air, and the storage temperature and more.
When milk is exposed to air, oxygen enters the container and helps bacteria grow faster. And when the milk becomes contaminated with these bacteria, it becomes difficult to eliminate them . You can predict the difference in the quality of milk easily through the bad odour or the taste of the milk.
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The Shelf Life Of Different Types Of Milk
Each type of milk has a different shelf life.
- Reduced-fat or skim milk has a shelf life of up to 7 days.
- Whole milk, however, can turn sour in five days.
- The non-fat milk and lactose-free milk, on the other hand, can be stored for about 10 days.
- Also, a partially used bottle of formula milk has a shelf life of only 1 hour.
Also read: This Is The Right Way To Store Coconut Chutney For Longer Shelf Life
Milk contains bacteria that causes fermentation, resulting in spoilt milk. It has three main components: water (80%), fat (10%), and protein (10%). These three components are necessary for the growth of bacteria that facilitate the fermentation process.
Can You Freeze The Milk?
Absolutely! If you didn’t know this already, you can freeze the milk. You can either fill it in the ice tray and make cubes or store milk in an airtight container and freeze it.
Also read: Sri Lanka Bans Import Of Chocolates, Condensed Milk & Coconuts To Cut Losses
So next time you bring home a bottle or packet of milk, firstly check the expiry date mentioned on the pack and then ensure your are storing it properly and consuming good milk. Not, the one that’s gone bad!
How have you been storing the milk? Let us know in the comments section below.