How Long Can Milk Stay Out of the Fridge? Essential Tips and Expert Advice
– Unopened milk should not be stored out of the refrigerator or at room temperature.
– If the temperature exceeds 45°F, unopened milk can only be safe to drink for up to 1 hour.
– Aim to store milk at 40°F or below.
– Reduced-fat milk and skim milk last for 7 days in the fridge.
– Whole milk can turn sour in as little as 5 days in the fridge.
– Non-fat milk and lactose-free milk have shelf lives of up to 10 days.
– Organic milk can last for up to 1 month due to ultra-high temperature pasteurization.
– Cartons labeled organic often have a longer shelf life compared to regular milk.
– Pasteurized milk needs to be refrigerated, while UHT milk is more common in some European countries.
– Grade-A milk should be kept at a temperature below 45°F in the refrigerator.
– After milk is opened, it can last from about 4 to 7 days in the fridge.
– Raw unpasteurized milk can last between seven and ten days in the refrigerator if stored at 36-38°F.
– Milk stored at higher temperatures can spoil and taste tangy due to lactic acid produced by lactobacilli.
– There is long-life or shelf-stable milk that can last for up to six months at room temperature, packaged in aseptic cartons and ultra-pasteurized.
– Breast milk can be left out safely for up to four hours at a room temperature of 77 degrees F.