Foods can be purchased, prepared and stored in different ways, each of which has a different shelf life. All foods and drinks last shorter if they are not stored properly. In this text we will discuss about soy milk and its shelf life. Soy milk is a plant milk that is produced by grinding dried soybeans in water. Like other milk alternatives, soy milk also goes bad quickly after opening. It spoils on the similar way as cow milk.
In this text we will tell you how to store the soy milk properly and how to notice if the soy milk has gone bad. Also, the shelf life of soy milk is discussed below.
What Is the Shelf Life of Soy Milk?
One of the most common questions of many people is how long soy milk lasts. The shelf life of soy milk depends on the way it is stored. If soy milk is stored properly, it will last a little longer than usually. The proper temperature for storing soy milk is 40ͦ F. The studies have shown that unopened unrefrigerated packing of soy milk stored in the pantry can last for 1 month, while unopened refrigerated packing of soy milk can stay fresh in the fridge only for 7-10 days.
If the milk is opened, whether it is refrigerated or not, it can last in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Of course, soy milk and other milk alternatives last shorter if they are not kept properly.
How To Store the Soy Milk?
If the soy milk is not opened, proper storage depends on the kind of this milk. If the soy milk is shelf stable, then it is best to store it in a dry and cool place, for example in the pantry. Unopened soy milk doesn’t require chilling and it has unrefrigerated shelf life of one month and more. You can also store it in the fridge, but it won’t help that much. But, if the soy milk was sold refrigerated, it has to be stored in the fridge. A nutritional difference between refrigerated and unrefrigerated soy milk is not big, because both milks are made of dry soy mixed with water.
When you open the carton, you should store soy milk in the fridge and it should be consumed within five days. It is recommendable to keep the milk in the middle of the fridge, not in the door. If you want to store soy milk for a longer period of time, it is necessary to freeze it. The freezing process will keep the soy milk fresh, but it can lose some taste and texture. Because of that, the thawed soy milk should be used only in cooked dishes.
How to See if Soy Milk Has Gone Bad?
It is quite easy to see if soy milk has gone bad, whether it is gluten free or not. You should smell the milk first and you will feel the odor if it is spoiled. Fresh soy milk always has a mild smell, so you will easily notice the difference.
Also, if the soy milk is spoiled its package will be bloated. It is recommendable to pour the milk into a cup or into a glass before drinking it. This is very important because if you drink the milk directly from the package, bacteria from your mouth can get into milk and spoil it.
Also, when you pour the milk into glass you can see the texture of milk. If soy milk has lumps or curds or if it is thick, then it is spoiled and you should throw it away.
