Evaporated milk comes with many benefits of regular milk but without the limited shelf life. Unlike regular perishable milk which is only good for a few weeks, evaporated milk has a shelf life of months to a year or more because it’s canned.
Evaporated milk has a long shelf life and shouldn’t go bad until around a year has passed after it’s been canned. Most cans of evaporated milk should last 12-18 months or until their best-by date, likely with a bit of wiggle room after that when sealed.
What are the signs that evaporated milk has gone bad, and how can you store it to prevent that? Find out in this article!
What is evaporated milk?
Evaporated milk is cow’s milk with 60% of the water removed. It’s stored in a can and is shelf-stable for a long time, similar to other canned goods.
(Don’t confuse evaporated milk with condensed milk, which is essentially the same thing but with added sugar!)
Evaporated milk can be used in a variety of ways, including making creamy sweets like custards, cakes, shakes, and candies.
One of the benefits of evaporated milk is that it develops a creamy texture once it’s heated. You can use it instead of regular milk if you don’t have any milk on hand, too (though you might need to add a bit of water to make it more like milk water-wise).
What is the shelf life of evaporated milk?
A can of evaporated milk should be good for around a year or more, but check the best-by or use-by date on the can. If it’s been stored properly and the can doesn’t have any signs of damage, you can likely use it even if the best-by date has passed by weeks or a month, but always check for freshness before you use it!
Evaporated milk doesn’t last as long as condensed milk because it lacks the added sugar that helps inhibit bacterial growth.
How long does evaporated milk last after opening?
Once you open a can of evaporated milk, it should be used within around 3-5 days and stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to cover it to help keep it fresh during that time.
Can you use evaporated milk after its expiration date?
As long as there aren’t any major dents or signs of damage to the can, you can generally use evaporated milk even past its expiration date or best-by date. A couple of weeks to a few months is likely feasible, but if it’s past its best-by date with signs that it’s gone bad, then toss it.
How to tell if evaporated milk went bad
Color: Evaporated milk has an appearance similar to regular milk – white and smooth. If its color changes over time, it might be time to replace it.
Consistency: While condensed milk is thicker than evaporated milk, evaporated milk will have a similar consistency as regular milk. If it develops clumps, discoloration, or becomes thick instead of pourable, it’s time to replace it.
Smell: Evaporated milk should have a neutral, slightly sweet aroma like regular milk. If it develops the telltale “sour milk” smell, it’s time to toss it out.
Taste: The taste of fresh evaporated milk should taste similar to regular milk. Just like it’s easy to smell when regular milk’s gone bad, you should be able to distinguish fresh evaporated milk from spoiled evaporated milk.
What’s the danger in using evaporated milk after it’s gone bad?
Using evaporated milk after it’s gone bad will give an off taste to your recipes and drinks, and it might give you some stomach troubles if you consume enough of it. For that reason, it’s best to check it for signs it’s gone bad before using it.
Don’t stress too much if you end up using evaporated milk after it’s gone bad – you’re not likely to get seriously sick, but if any symptoms become more serious you should always check in with your healthcare provider!
Best storage practices for evaporated milk
- Store evaporated milk in a cool, dark place. Avoid storing it in hot areas (above 95 degrees Fahrenheit), next to heat sources, or near direct sunlight.
- Throw away any cans that are significantly damaged, such as severe dents, or if there is any sign of leakage.
- Once you open a can, store evaporated milk in a covered container to keep it fresh. It’s ideal to transfer canned goods into separate containers for longer-term storage in the fridge instead of their original can, which can cause the milk to take on a “tinny” taste when exposed to oxygen.
- You can freeze evaporated milk outside of its can (freezing canned goods can cause the liquids to expand and burst)
Evaporated milk shelf life summary
| Room temperature | Refrigerator – opened | Frozen (not in a can) | |
| Canned evaporated milk | ~12 months or until the best-by date; likely fine to use weeks to a few months after use-by date if there aren’t signs of spoilage | 3-5 days | 3-4 months |
FAQs:
Evaporated milk should be refrigerated after opening and best to use it within 3-5 days.
Evaporated milk can be frozen, but never frozen in its can. Transfer evaporated milk to another freezer-safe container, keep it tightly covered, and use it within 3-4 months.
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