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How Long Does Evaporated Milk Last?

How long does evaporated milk last? Does evaporated milk go bad? Evaporated milk is milk that is dehydrated until 60% of the water is removed. It is then sterilized at a high temperature which results in a slightly caramelized flavor, darker color and a much longer shelf life than regular milk. All this while still maintaining the nutrients. Water can be added to evaporated milk to again make regular milk, but it is more often used for cooking (think pumpkin pie) than drinking. The shelf life of evaporated milk is influenced mostly by the best before date and how it is stored.

So, in fact evaporated milk does go bad. Use the table below to answer the question of how long does evaporated milk last? When properly stored, cans of evaporated milk last for ...

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Evaporated Milk Expiration Date

(Unopened)	Pantry
	Past Printed Date
Evaporated Milk lasts for	1 Year
Low Fat Skim Evaporated Milk lasts for	9 Months
(Opened)	Refrigerator
Evaporated Milk lasts for	3-4 Days, regardless of any date

Of course, all food and drink last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember canned goods usually have a best by date which is the last date by which a manufacturer will vouch for a product's quality, not its safety. Because of this distinction, you may safely use evaporated milk to compliment your favorite meals even after the best by date has lapsed.

How to tell if Evaporated Milk is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

The smell will be off or slightly different when your evaporated milk is going bad. If it's a really foul smell then the product has gone bad and must be tossed out.

If your milk has gone bad, check our substitution page.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Evaporated Milk to extend its shelf life?

Once opened, evporated milk should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the above charted time, regardless of the best-by date. The can should not be refrigerated, so be sure to place your evaporated milk into an airtight container.

Unfortunately, freezing evaporated milk isn't a great option as it destabilizes the structure and the thawed milk will be separated and proper re-mixing is impossible.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Evaporated Milk:

To turn evaporated milk back into milk, just mix water and evaporated milk in equal amounts. Although not exactly the same as fresh milk, it will do in pinch.

How long is Evaporated Milk good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does evaporated milk last? That depends. How long does chocolate last? In general, evaporated milk lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Evaporated Milk lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Evaporated Milk.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Evaporated Milk shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!