Considered the most allergy-friendly milk alternative, rice milk is among some of the most popular plant-based milks. When does rice milk go bad, though?
Rice milk isn’t likely to go bad until several weeks or months past its best-by date (when sealed/unopened), depending on whether it’s refrigerated or shelf-stable. Once opened, rice milk will stay good for at least 7-10 days (and often much longer). You can also freeze rice milk for 3-6 months.
If you want to learn the best ways to store rice milk to prevent spoilage, you’re in the right place!
What is rice milk?
Rice milk is made by soaking rice in water and then separating the liquid. Rice milk usually has nutrients added to it like calcium to make it a suitable non-dairy milk alternative.
One of the benefits of rice milk is that it’s considered the most allergy-friendly milk alternative. It’s free of cow’s milk protein, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame (all major food allergens) and isn’t likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Rice milk is gluten-free, but it’s not suitable for special diets like Paleo or keto.
What is the shelf life of rice milk?
Rice milk comes in two forms: perishable (refrigerated) and shelf-stable. Shelf-stable rice milk is considered ultra-high-temperature milk (UHT), and it’s heated to higher temperatures than regular pasteurized milk, which allows it to be safely stored at room temperature until it’s opened.
If you buy rice milk in the refrigerated section, then it’s perishable and needs to stay in the fridge at all times. This type of milk typically has a long shelf life (a couple of months), but not as long as shelf-stable rice milk.
Once you open rice milk, it’s best to use it within 7-14 days. Rice milk won’t necessarily go bad by the two-week mark, but most manufacturers suggest this timeline to ensure the rice milk stays fresh.
Rice milk shelf life summary
| Room temperature | Refrigerator (sealed) | Refrigerator – opened | Frozen | |
| Refrigerated rice milk | N/A | Until the best-by date (likely okay for a couple of weeks past the best-by date) | 7-10 days (if not past its best-by date) | 3-6 months |
| Shelf-stable rice milk | Until best-by date (likely okay to use 1-2 weeks past this date) | Likely 1-2 months past the printed best-by date | 7-10 days | 3-6 months |
How long does rice milk go bad after opening?
After you open rice milk, plan to use it within 7-10 days for ideal freshness regardless of whether it’s shelf-stable or refrigerated. (It’ll likely last quite a bit longer than ten days, but beyond that be on the lookout for signs of spoilage.)
Can you use rice milk after its expiration date?
If rice milk has been sealed and it’s past its best-by date, it’s likely fine to use for a week or two. If it’s been open for several weeks and the best-by date comes and passes, then it’s a good idea to replace it with a fresh batch.
How to tell if rice milk went bad
Color: Rice milk is typically opaque white or beige. If the color changes over time, then it can be a sign of spoilage.
Consistency: Rice milk ranges from watery to a creamy consistency similar to cow’s milk. (The consistency will depend on whether or not thickeners, emulsifiers, or oils are added.) If there are clumps or it becomes a lot thicker in consistency, it’s time to part ways.
Smell: Rice milk shouldn’t have too much of a distinct smell, so if it smells bad, then it’s time to toss it.
Taste: Rice milk is described as tasting like cow’s milk (though it’s a subjective thing), so if it tastes sour, bitter, or otherwise very unpleasant, it probably went bad.
What’s the danger in using rice milk after it’s gone bad?
Drinking a small amount of rice milk before you realize it’s gone bad isn’t likely to cause any harm. If you end up drinking large amounts of spoiled rice milk then watch out for signs of stomach upset, which might take you down for a day or two (but always seek medical attention if you feel it’s warranted).
Best storage practices for rice milk
- Always keep refrigerated rice milk in the fridge, even if you haven’t opened it yet. (If it was cold at the store, keep it cold.)
- Store rice milk in a tightly sealed container in the fridge. The ideal temperature range is from 33-38 degrees Fahrenheit, so if your fridge is on the higher side of this range, consider storing it towards the back where it’s colder.
- Store shelf-stable rice milk below 95 degrees Fahrenheit since long-term storage at high temperatures shortens its shelf life.
- Shake rice milk before using it, since some separation can occur in both refrigerated and shelf-stable versions.
- Once you open shelf-stable rice milk it has to stay in the fridge for the remainder of its life.
- If you choose to freeze rice milk, make sure to remove enough liquid from the container to allow for expansion or transfer it to a freezer-safe container.
FAQs:
Rice milk is typically pasteurized to kill any potentially harmful bacteria or viruses. It’s a safe option if you have food allergies, such as an allergy to cow’s milk or other common allergens (wheat, soy, tree nuts, and peanuts).
Everyone’s taste preferences are unique, but many people describe rice milk as tasting similar to cow’s milk. If you don’t like the taste of plain, unsweetened rice milk, you might consider trying a flavored version to increase its palatability, though that does contribute some added sugar.
Rice milk is lower in protein than regular milk, and it might have added vegetable oils to make it creamier since rice milk can be quite watery. It’s not necessarily healthier than regular milk, but it IS a good allergy-friendly option because it’s free of cow’s milk protein and other common food allergens.
Leave a Comment