UHT Milk expiration date
Posted by Fredex8@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 9 comments
In September last year I ordered some cartons of semi skimmed UHT milk by mistake (meant to get powdered milk but misclicked).
The best before date was the 8th of March this year and I had forgotten about it until now. A quick google suggests that it will still be good 2-4 weeks after the expiry date but I can't find anything that says when it will actually go bad. I just opened one that is now almost 18 weeks past the expiry date and it still smells and tastes totally fine. I never like UHT milk much anyway but there isn't any hint that it is starting to go bad. Tastes exactly the same as the sachets of milk you get in cafes for putting in tea and coffee.
For the past two months during this heatwave 'room temperature' here has been around 26-28C (78-82F) for most of the day and the box was noticeably warm to the touch so I expected it would practically be yogurt by now and I'd have to get rid of them. Guess I'll keep the rest and test them every few months to see how long it is actually feasible to keep them.
NeerieD20@reddit
UHT basically kills much much more bacteria then regular pasteurisation. With UHT, the milk is pretty much sterile, that's why it can stay at room temperature to begin with and last so long.
Like a lot of other foods, I take the expiration date of UHT milk more like a recommendation than anything else. But it is milk, and we need to tske care of how we store it. Also it does need to be refrigerated after opening, so we have to keep that in mind when prepping (but I like the smaller juice-box sized ones for that reason).
Fredex8@reddit (OP)
The bacteria thing I get but I still would have expected some change to the liquid by now like the water separating out and leaving chunks. It'll be interesting to see how long it will actually last and still be palatable. 9 and a half months isn't bad so far. This was just a 500ml box.
NeerieD20@reddit
Homogenization is truly a remarkable process.
Opcn@reddit
It's skimmed milk, rather than homogenized, I believe.
Scared_Ad_44@reddit
Skimmed milk is typically homogenized. You’re getting two different things mixed up here.
originalkitten@reddit
Best before date on uht milk
Opcn@reddit
The 2-4 weeks thing is for regular dairy. UHT should stay safe to drink for many many years, but the packaging will eventually break down and the quality will deteriorate in the mean time.
Fredex8@reddit (OP)
That's what I would assume but 2-4 weeks is what was specifically given online for UHT everywhere I could find. Predictably the packaging just says 'do not exceed the expiry date'. It is annoying that food manufacturers have to play it so ridiculously safe.
GottaBeKiddingDuh@reddit
Yep. I hate that they are worried about getting sued when they make people sick.... Bless it