Evaporated milk is a dairy product created by eliminating roughly 60 percent of the water during evaporation.
Since this type of milk is frequently packaged in cans, you may believe that it should be safe to consume after its expiration date. Indeed, an unopened can of evaporated milk has a lengthy shelf life.
This product has no sugar or sweetness, but it is more shelf-stable than milk, so it may be used for longer.
The majority of us have few applications for evaporated milk. Certainly, it works nicely in many pies, soups, and major courses, but how many such recipes do you possess? I estimate that there are not that many.
That implies you probably can’t utilize the leftovers immediately and need to know how to preserve them and for how long.
Hence, this article’s relevance. It discusses the storage, shelf life, and spoilage of unopened and opened evaporated milk.
How long does evaporated milk last and does evaporated milk go bad are the key concerns. Let’s find out.
Do You Know How Long Evaporated Milk Will Keep?
After the expiration date on the label, unopened evaporated milk can be stored for a few months. Once opened, it has a shelf life of 3 to 5 days at most.
Evaporated milk is sterilized using high heat and dehydration. Thereby, we get a richer in nutrients and more flavorful product with an extended shelf life compared to regular milk.
In order to acquire ordinary milk, you’ll need to dilute it with water; otherwise, it’s an ingredient that can be used in various dishes without affecting their structure.
Most of the shelf life of evaporated milk is influenced by the best-before date and the manner in which the product is stored. The product will grow bad and become hazardous for ingestion if poorly stored after opening.
In contrast, if you keep it unopened, spoiling is quite rare unless the can itself is damaged. This is not an expiry date but rather a best-by date. You are just given an estimate of how long you may expect the evaporated milk to remain fresh. In addition, the shelf life of this product, which comes in a can, is often much longer.
However, when opened, evaporated milk should be used within five days.
How Do You Store Evaporated Milk?
Since tin cans of evaporated milk are shelf-stable, you can keep them at room temperature until you’re ready to use them. Refrigerate any leftovers after opening the can.
Most people keep unopened cans of evaporated milk in their pantry, but a kitchen cabinet works just as well. Evaporated milk can be stored in the refrigerator, although it doesn’t do much good.
Opened evaporated milk should be kept refrigerated and sealed.
It’s better to move the goods to a plastic airtight container because tin cans can’t be sealed firmly on their own.
A rubber band and plastic or aluminum wrap will work, but a resealable container is easier to use and gives a better seal than the alternative.
Is It Possible To Freeze Evaporated Milk?
As you might expect, evaporated milk manufacturers do not advise freezing their goods since low temperatures alter their consistency. As a result, the delightful creaminess of your milk will separate, and its quality will diminish.
Freezing creates separation; after thawing, the product’s quality is worse than before freezing. Cooking and baking using frozen and thawed Evaporated Milk is typically OK, though.
Stirring, beating, or mixing the thawed evaporated milk will improve its texture.
Take a look at your next baked or cooked food and see if you can use some of the remaining evaporated milk. Most likely, you’ll be pleased with the end outcome.
Despite the fact that it won’t taste as delicious as newly opened evaporated milk, it should still be OK.
Evaporated Milk May Be Frozen, But How Do You Do It?
Pouring evaporated milk into an ice cube tray is one of the finest methods to freeze it. As a result, you’ll only need a tiny amount as necessary. You don’t have to defrost this product at all before using it in a soup or broth. Add a cube or two to the pot and you’ll be good to go.
In the same way, you may use the same process to freeze coconut or almond milk. Thawing frozen evaporated milk is a cinch, and the whole process of freezing and thawing is also a cinch.
Alternatively, you may place the leftovers onto a baking pan, freeze them, and then grind them into powder. After thawing, all you need to do is add a little water to produce milk that you may use whenever you need it.
It’s not a good idea to freeze unopened cans of evaporated milk since doing so might weaken the seal. Furthermore, an unopened can has a lengthy shelf life. Simply keeping it in the pantry until you need it is typically preferable.
How Can You Tell Whether Evaporated Milk Has Gone Bad?
Evaporated milk that has been spoilt will have the following symptoms:
- Mold: If you find mold in the can after opening it, there was a problem with the product’s manufacture or shipping. Immediately get rid of it.
- Lumps: Make sure your evaporated milk is lump-free before using it.
- Discolorations: This dairy product should be white in color. The presence of green, brown, or black indicates that the item is a dud and should be discarded.
- Smell or flavor that’s off: Unless the product’s scent or taste is mildly sweet, it’s time to throw it away.
It’s advisable to throw out any leftovers that have been in the fridge for longer than five days. If you’ve kept your evaporated milk in the fridge for more than a week, throw it away. Yes, even if the dairy product itself looks to be in excellent condition. To be on the safe side, throw away any product that shows the first indications of deterioration.
The layer (or “milk skin”) on top of evaporated milk does not indicate that the milk has gone bad. The film is more likely to develop if the leftovers aren’t kept in an airtight container after the can has been opened.
The milk film is a natural result of fat separation, and all you need to do is heat the milk a little and stir or mix it to get rid of the film.
FAQs
What is the shelf life of unopened evaporated milk after the expiration date?
Unopened evaporated milk should last at least three months beyond the expiration date on the label. The likelihood is that it will remain secure for at least six months or longer.
It is hard to offer a definite date, thus it is advisable to open the can and inspect the food’s quality and safety with the above methods.
What’s the shelf life of evaporated milk after opening?
After opening, evaporated milk has a three- to five-day refrigerator shelf life. If you need to store evaporated milk for longer than that, you can freeze it, but the texture will alter.
How should evaporated milk be stored after opening?
You should refrigerate and carefully wrap any remaining evaporated milk. If the container is not resealable, pour the milk into an airtight container.
Should evaporated milk be chunky or clumpy?
No. If your evaporated milk has lumps, it has gone bad and should be discarded.
What does evaporated milk look like? What is its color?
The color of evaporated milk is somewhat darker than that of ordinary milk, but the flavor and texture are what distinguish it. Compared to conventional milk, evaporated milk is creamier, richer, and somewhat sweeter in flavor.
Is it normal for evaporated milk to appear yellow?
No. Regular evaporated milk is white because around 60 percent of the water has been extracted, leaving behind milk.
If you have yellow, it is most likely sweetened condensed milk, comprised of evaporated milk and a great deal of added sugar.
Conclusion
Evaporated milk is a tasty and valued dairy product with a substantially longer shelf life than ordinary milk.
Once the can has been opened, the contents must be consumed within five days, or they may spoil and cause food poisoning.
Be cautious, carefully keep this nutrient-rich meal, and savor it for a long time.