How Long Oat Milk Is Safe To Drink After Opening

Oat milk is indisputably the darling of the non-dairy milk aisle these days. It's the choice that for many is the closest alternative to dairy milk with all the creaminess minus the cream, for those avoiding dairy for health or ethical reasons or just due to preference. While not as nutritiously dense in terms of protein or vitamins or as low in calories as other types of plant milk, sometimes, taste and mouthfeel win out. If nothing but an oat milk latte will do for your coffee shop order, you're not alone. 

Many foodies' fridges wouldn't be complete without a carton of oat milk, for at-home lattes or to use in your baking or cooking. You may not be as wary of it going bad as you would be with dairy milk, but go bad it certainly will — so make sure you use it up in time or toss it before it turns. The rule of thumb is to drink it up within five days to a week after opening. In some cases, it could turn sooner, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Like with most milks, keep an eye (and a nose) out for pungent, funky odors, changes to texture, or discoloration, and when in doubt, pour it out. And of course, once opened, always keep your oat milk refrigerated and don't leave it out of the fridge for longer than two hours, per the USDA's guidelines.

Since the window that oat milk remains fresh and safe to use is a relatively short one, if you find yourself routinely tossing your cartons, there are a couple of solutions to reduce wasting precious goods. For one, if you only use small amounts, say in your oat milk chai latte each morning, consider purchasing an oat milk-based barista blend product — or a creamer. Containers are typically smaller and easy to rapidly use up versus a large carton. 

If you have an open carton of oat milk in the fridge you know is living on borrowed time, before you wind up tossing it, stash it in the freezer! Oat-based milks and creams freeze well in a freezer-safe container and can be thawed for later use. Just be forewarned, the texture can become separated and less smooth than it was upon freezing, so plan to use it up in baked goods rather than splashed in your latte where texture variation would be more noticeable.

When it comes to expiration dates, of course, safety is always first. So even if your milk doesn't show obvious signs of being past its prime, like changes to smell, taste, or texture, but has been opened for more than about a week or so, best to toss and start with a fresh carton. Better yet, create your own barista-worthy oat milk bev at home!