Wondering how to tell if oat milk is off? Here’s all you need to know to help keep yourself right.
I’m all about reducing food waste, so I’ve previously written about the best way to tell if dairy milk is off. So many people get it wrong and unnecessarily waste milk, so I hope it’s been helpful to people who drink milk.
As I was making myself a cup of tea the other day with oat milk, I realised that perhaps a similar guide to oat milk would be useful. This is because oat milk can be a little trickier than dairy milk to spot if it’s gone off, as you can’t rely on the same cues.
So, if you’re in any doubt as to whether that carton that’s lurking in your fridge is safe to drink or not, here’s all you need to know:
How To Tell If Oat Milk Is Off
Here are the four main things to look out for when deciding if your plant milk is safe to drink:
The Sniff Test
Oat milk doesn’t smell bad when it’s off, in the same way that dairy does. When it comes to cow’s milk, you get that very distinctive, strong sour smell. However, in my experience, the smell of oat milk that’s passed its best is nowhere near as distinctive. So if you don’t get that full on sour smell, don’t assume your oat milk is ok.
Fresh oat milk should have a mild, slightly oaty sweetness. If you smell anything slightly sour or mildly vinegary, then it’s a sign that something isn’t right with your milk.
Top tip: Pour a little oat milk into a cup so that you aren’t smelling any dried milk around the lid. Otherwise, you can get a false indication that your milk is off.
Visual Cues
Carried out the sniff test, and you’re still not sure if your oat milk is good to use or not? Don’t worry, there are visual cues that you can use. Just don’t use the same one that you would use for checking dairy milk.
One of the main visual cues for dairy milk is curdling. So if you pour off dairy milk into a cup of tea or coffee, you’ll see that it separates into watery parts and thicker, clumpy bits, and that signifies that it’s past its best.
However, when it comes to oat milk, curdling isn’t a great indicator of freshness. This is because many oat milks do curdle in hot drinks – particularly non barista versions.
Instead, there are other visual cues you can use if you’re in doubt about the freshness of your oat milk.
My top tip is to shake the carton and then pour a little into a glass. If you notice it’s unusually thick, clumpy, or seems to have separated into watery liquid with thicker bits that won’t shake back together (a bit like porridge!), then it’s probably off.
Do bear in mind that separation can be totally normal with oat milk – many cartons even tell you to shake before using. However, if it doesn’t blend back together after a shake, that’s a good sign your oat milk is off.
The Firmness Of The Carton
If your carton looks or feels like it’s suddenly puffed up with air, this is another visible cue that your oat milk has gone bad.
This happens because when oat milk goes off, bacteria begin to multiply inside the carton. As these bacteria feed on the sugars in the off oat milk, they release gases. These gases have nowhere to escape, so they build up pressure and cause the packaging to swell or bulge.
This is why a carton that suddenly feels bloated or looks misshapen is a warning that the contents aren’t safe to drink. Even if the oat milk hasn’t reached its use-by date, a swollen carton means it has already started fermenting and should be avoided, as it could make you ill.
The Taste
If you’re still not sure, then the final indicator is taste. Fresh oat milk has a mild, slightly nutty flavour. If you take a small sip and it tastes sour, bitter, or just plain odd, then it’s best not to use it. Open up a new carton, or make a fresh batch if you make your own!
What To Do If You’re Still In Doubt
If, after all of these tests, you’re still in doubt over the freshness of your milk, then I think it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Discard your milk, otherwise you could run the very real risk of food poisoning.
How Long Does Oat Milk Last?
How long oat milk lasts depends on the type. Here’s a guide to the shelf life of the three main types of oat milk:
- Homemade oat milk typically can last for up to five days in the fridge.
- Fresh oat milk that can be bought from the chilled aisle in the supermarket typically lasts for 7 to 14 days when unopened, as long as it’s stored correctly in the fridge. Once it’s opened, it can typically stay fresh for up to 7 days, again, as long as it’s refrigerated.
- Long-life oat milk, that’s bought off the shelf in the supermarket, can typically last for around a year when left unopened, as long as it’s stored according to the manufacturers instructions (typically if stored in a cool dry place). Once opened, it should stay fresh for around 7 to 10 days or so, as long as it’s stored correctly in the fridge. Check the best before dates, and advice on the packaging to be sure.
How To Prolong The Life Of Your Oat Milk
If you know that you won’t get through a full carton of oat milk, then there’s no need to pour it down the sink. Oat milk freezes really well, and it’s an easy way to cut your food waste.
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