For those who cannot drink or consume regular milk, there are many options that you can use. One of the most popular is soy milk. You can use soy milk in any dish or drink where you would normally use regular milk, like milkshakes, pancakes, and smoothies. Since soy milk is a perishable food item, it is important to be aware of the shelf life of soy milk, or how long the soy milk can sit out.
Soy milk has a short shelf life. If you keep your soy milk in the refrigerator, it can last for a longer period of time, but it is best to use it before the expiration date printed on the carton. When left out at room temperature, soy milk can only last for approximately two hours, so it is best to not leave your soy milk out on the counter for a long period of time.
Continue reading to learn more about the shelf life of soy milk. Also, continue reading to learn what signs you should look for in order to determine if your soy milk has gone bad.
Shelf-Stable vs Refrigerated Soy Milk
While many of us put our soy milk in the refrigerator, there are actually two main types of soy milk that you can buy from the grocery store. You can either get shelf-stable soy milk or refrigerated soy milk.
Shelf-Stable Soy Milk
Soy milk that is shelf-stable is often stored on the shelves at the grocery store rather than in the refrigerated section. This soy milk is often in a container that is smaller when compared to the containers that refrigerated soy milk is kept in.
As long as the soy milk is left unopened, it does not need to be put in the refrigerator. However, you will need to put the soy milk in the refrigerator once you have opened it.
Refrigerated Soy Milk
Refrigerated soy milk is the soy milk most of us think of. It is this soy milk that you can find in the refrigerator section of the grocery store near the regular milk and other milks. This soy milk needs to be kept in the refrigerator in order for it to stay safe to consume, even if the carton has not been opened.
Does Soy Milk Go Bad?
Soy milk does go bad. After a period of time, you will find that your soy milk will change texture, change taste, and have a sour smell. All of these are typical signs of the soy milk going bad.
For both shelf-stable soy milk and refrigerated soy milk, a “best by” date is often printed on the carton which tells you how long you have to use the soy milk before it begins to expire. The soy milk will last for the duration of its shelf life as long as it is stored properly.
The improper storage of your soy milk can cause the soy milk to spoil quicker compared to how it would if stored properly.
How Long Does Soy Milk Last?
Out of the two different types of soy milk, shelf-stable soy milk tends to have a longer shelf life compared to the shelf life of refrigerated soy milk. Shelf-stable soy milk can last for approximately two to five months after the “best by” date if the soy milk is stored correctly.
Refrigerated soy milk has a much shorter shelf life. Refrigerated soy milk can only last for approximately seven days after the “best by” date when stored correctly.
After Opening
Once the carton has been opened, both shelf-stable soy milk and refrigerated soy milk have the same shelf life when properly stored. Once you have opened either your refrigerated soy milk or your shelf-stable soy milk, you want to store it in the refrigerator. Once either has been opened, the soy milk only has a shelf life of approximately six to twelve days before it will start to go bad. It is important to note that this is not six to twelve days after the “best by” date. This is six to twelve days after opening.
How to Tell If Soy Milk is Bad?
If you are unsure about whether your soy milk has gone bad or if it is still safe to consume, it is important to be able to notice certain signs that can help you determine if you can continue to use the soy milk or if the soy milk should be discarded.
Below are five main signs that you can look for that can help you determine if you should throw your soy milk away or if you can continue to use it.
Shelf Life and Storage Time
The shelf life and storage of your soy milk are two of the most important factors when determining if your soy milk is still consumable or if your soy milk should be thrown out.
For both shelf-stable soy milk and refrigerated soy milk that has been opened, the shelf life is approximately six to twelve days when kept in the refrigerator. If you did not store your opened soy milk in the refrigerator or have kept the soy milk for a longer period of time, it is best to throw the soy milk away as it has most likely gone bad.
It is important to throw the soy milk away once it has passed its expiration date, even if the soy milk still looks good to use.
Container Issues
If you notice anything strange with the container that your soy milk is stored in, you should throw your soy milk away. A very common sign that your soy milk has expired is that the carton has bloated. A bloated carton is often a sign that bacteria is in the carton.
The growth of bacteria in the soy milk is a strong sign that the soy milk has expired. This soy milk is likely to no longer be safe to consume. Bacteria that can be present in expired soy milk can be harmful to you and can make you ill.
Weird Smell
One of the most obvious signs that your soy milk has expired is a sour smell that comes from the soy milk. A sour or rancid smell tends to come from milk or soy milk when either bacteria or mold has started to grow on or in the milk. If you notice a weird or sour smell coming from your carton of soy milk, it is best to throw the soy milk out.
Visual Changes
There are some visual changes that you can look for that you can use to indicate whether or not your soy milk has expired. Some common visual changes that can be found when soy milk has expired are:
- Mold
- Discoloration
- Lumps
- Slimy Texture
- It looks heavily separated
If any of these signs are present in your soy milk, it is best to throw the soy milk out as using this soy milk can cause you to become ill.
Off Taste
If there are no other signs present in your soy milk, you may need to take a small taste of the soy milk in order to determine if it is still safe to consume the soy milk or if it should be thrown out.
Soy milk that is still safe to eat has a taste that is sweet. It resembles the taste of regular milk, although it can have a taste that is similar to soybeans.
Once the soy milk has expired, the soy milk will taste unpleasant and is often sour. If your soy milk has this taste, it has expired and should be thrown away.
3 Tips to Store Soy Milk
Properly storing your soy milk is important when it comes to prolonging the shelf life of your soy milk and determining when your soy milk has expired. As previously stated, there are two main types of soy milk, shelf-stable soy milk and refrigerated soy milk.
Below you will find three important tips that can help ensure that your soy milk is properly stored in order to prolong the shelf life. These tips work for both shelf-stable soy milk and refrigerated soy milk.
Store Soy Milk in a Cool Place
When storing soy milk, you want to keep it in a cool place that is dry and away from direct sunlight. By keeping your soy milk away from heat, you are able to keep it from spoiling quickly. For shelf-stable soy milk, it is best to keep it in the pantry until you open it. For refrigerated soy milk, you want to keep it in the refrigerator.
Keep the Packet or Bottle Tightly Sealed
After opening your carton of milk, you want to seal it tightly before placing it in the refrigerator. You want to make sure that the soy milk is properly sealed in order to prevent bacteria from sneaking into the milk in order to prevent the soy milk from spoiling fast. You also want to keep the soy milk sealed so no other contaminants find their way into the soy milk.
Avoid Drinking the Milk Straight from the Carton
You want to avoid drinking your soy milk straight from the carton. It is best to pour your soy milk into a glass if you plan on drinking the milk. When you drink from the carton, the microbes in your mouth can find their way into the milk and cause it to spoil faster.
Conclusion
Soy milk is one of the most common substitutions for regular milk. There are two main types of soy milk. There is shelf-stable soy milk that does not need to be kept in the refrigerator until it is opened, and there is refrigerated soy milk that should always be kept in the refrigerator. It is important to know the signs that can tell you that your soy milk has spoiled.
