5-7 days after "sell by" date on package

Tips

How long does milk last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of milk, keep it refrigerated at all times.

How long does milk last after the sell-by date? Milk will generally remain drinkable for about one week after the "sell-by" date on the package, assuming it has been continuously refrigerated; be sure to keep the temperature of your refrigerator at or below 40° F at all times.

To maximize the shelf of milk, do not store it on the fridge door, as the temperature is too warm - the milk will last longer when they stored in the main body of the refrigerator, in its original package.

How long can milk be left at room temperature? If kept at temperatures above 40 °F, milk will rapidly develop signs of spoilage; milk should be discarded if left out for more than 4 hours at room temperature.

Can you freeze milk? Yes - frozen milk will often become separated and the texture may become somewhat grainy, but it is usually acceptable for cooking and baking purposes.

Freeze milk in an airtight container and leave at least 1/2 inch headspace at the top, as milk will expand when frozen; thaw in refrigerator.

How long does milk last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.

The freezer time shown is for best quality only - milk that has been kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.

How to tell if milk is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the milk: signs of bad milk are a sour smell, an off-white or yellowish tinge to the color and a thick or clumpy texture.

Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here