How long does unopened condensed milk last past expiration date

Condensed milk is a cow’s milk from which most of the water is removed by heating, and with added sugar, you get a thick liquid.

You can use condensed milk to make all sorts of desserts, which may not be a frequently occurring situation in some households, but we love to try new dessert recipes every now and then.

Store-bought condensed milk mostly comes in a tin can, which is quite unlikely for us to go through the whole container at one time, so the half-used milk sits there until our next new recipe.

But will it survive till then? How long does condensed milk last?

Or say you found an old can of condensed milk buried in your pantry which obviously has passed its best before date, do you toss it or try it?

Whatever the scenario, to help you understand how to use your condensed milk safely, this article talks about the shelf life and all the related questions which you will find useful.

Because of the heating process involved in making condensed milk, all bacteria in the milk have been eliminated.

And this being the reason, condensed milk has a long shelf life for about one year.

And unlike the evaporated milk, condensed milk lasts longer because of the added sugar, which helps retain the milk’s freshness for an extended period. But this is for an unopened tin can.

It’s a whole different story if you have opened the can. As healthline says, with an opened canned condensed milk, the shelf life drastically reduces to about 2 weeks when it is refrigerated continuously.

Also, another point to note is that, depending on how you store the milk, its shelf life will maximize.

For an unopened can you can have them stored at room temperature, in a dark and dry place.​

But once it is opened, you should transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it.

Additionally, you should not freeze the condensed milk because this will cause the fluid to separate, and thawing will leave it watery.

Every store-bought condensed milk does have a long shelf life, though not as long as the powdered milk, but can be extended with the right storage condition.

And upon poor storage, or if the container of the condensed milk is found damaged in any way, then it should be thrown out.

If the milk once opened is not sealed tightly and not refrigerated, then it will obviously go bad.

How to Tell if Condensed Milk is Bad? Condensed Milk Shelf Life!

Fresh condensed milk has a creamy color with a consistency of chocolate syrup.

But once it goes bad, its creamy white color will change to a darker shade, like more yellow.

It will smell sour, and the texture will vary too, it won’t run like the chocolate syrup.

And for the opened tin can even when sealed, if the container has piercing holes, is damaged, or puffed, then it is no longer fit for consumption.

Conclusion

So, to answer the question- does condensed milk go bad? Yes, it does eventually just like every other milk.

But the shelf life varies mostly on how you store them. An adequately stored tin can will last you for a more extended period.

Also, keep in mind that an opened condensed milk must always be transferred to an airtight container, properly sealed, and refrigerated.

And never consume condensed milk whose tin can have been dented, puffed, or damaged in any way.

We hope you find this article helpful.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Condensed milk
• Air-tight containers
• Labels and markers

Instructions

1. Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
2. Check the "Best-by-date" to know when it expires.
3. Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
4. Always check for signs of spoilage before using.