jbs-08-22-2015
How Long Does Powdered Milk Last?
How long does powdered milk last? Powdered milk is real milk that has been heated so that about half of the milk solids evaporate. A package of powdered milk will list the ingredients of nonfat dry milk and vitamins A and D3, other products with lists of ingredients are not the real deal. As usual, if you take out the moisture you drastically increase the shelf life of the product allowing you to always have some milk on hand. The shelf life of powdered milk is mainly influenced by its exposure to heat and moisture.
So how long does powdered milk last?
When properly stored at or below 40°F, containers of powder milk last for the time periods indicated in the
table below:
Powdered Milk Expiration Date
| (Unopened) |
Pantry |
| |
Past Printed Date |
| Powdered Milk lasts for |
2-10 Years |
| (Opened & Mixed) |
Refrigerator |
| Powdered Milk lasts for |
4-5 Days
|
Of course, all food and drink lasts for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that powdered milk, unlike a lot of other
dairy products, usually has a
“best by date” which is the last date by which a manufacturer will vouch for a product’s quality, not its safety. Because of this distinction, you may safely use it to compliment your favorite meals even after its best by date has lapsed.
How to tell if Powdered Milk is bad, rotten or spoiled?
Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent food-borne illness.
Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your powdered milk has gone bad. Some common traits of bad powdered milk are discoloration (it will begin to have a yellowish tint) and an odor. If an odor or discoloration appear in your powdered milk, then it should be discarded.
There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods, so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired.
How to store Powdered Milk to extend its shelf life?
Proper food storage is key to extending the expiration date of food.
Keeping powdered milk in a cool and dry place is essential to extending its shelf life. Powdered milk should be stored in airtight containers in the pantry, the original box is not the best storage vessel for powdered milk. For example, powdered milk stored in its original container will last about 2 years beyond its best by date while the same product in an airtight plastic container should last about 10 years if kept away from heat.
Freezing powdered milk is a great option, but it is highly recommended to place it in vacuum sealed containers for the longest shelf life.
This sealer is highly recommended for freezing any foods to extend their shelf life.
Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.
Interesting facts about Powdered Milk:
Evaporated milk is not the same as condensed milk or sweetened condensed milk, which has added sugar.
How to use extra before your Powdered Milk goes bad?
What if you have extra powdered milk and don’t want it to spoil and go to waste? Your best bet is to vacuum seal and freeze as mentioned above. Or, you can use it in recipes that call for other types of milk – for proper amounts see our Substitution pages.
How long is Powdered Milk good for when prepared in a dish?
How long does powdered milk last? That depends.
How long do eggs last? In general, powdered milk lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient it is mixed with.
What are our shelf life resources?
In determining how long Powdered Milk lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Powdered Milk.
*An important note about expiration dates…
Although the Powdered Milk shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!
LONG TERM STORAGE
Non-fat dried milk =(NFDM) is suitable for short and long term emergency food storage. It is made from non-fat, grade A, milk that has been dried by spraying into hot air or heated on a drum. The process removes nearly all of the water prohibiting the growth of microorganisms. Dried whole milk and dried buttermilk have milk fat and are not suitable for long term storage. Start with top quality product. Some NFDM is “instantized”, a process that makes it easier to reconstitute. “Extra-grade” is higher quality and some manufacturers supplement dried milk with vitamins A and D. A product meeting all three of these options would be the best for storage. Evaluate several brands of dried milk before purchasing any large quantity for emergency storage. A 3BYU study in 2002 concluded there is wide variation in the quality of dried milk products available for long-term storage.
Packaging. Dried milk must be stored free of moisture and oxygen. Mylar-type bags and #10 cans make good containers for large quantities. Canning jars are suitable for smaller quantities provided light is prevented from reaching the dried milk.
Other plastic containers are less suitable, e.g. food-grade buckets. Oxygen absorbers should be used to remove oxygen from containers to extend shelf life and minimize off-flavors. A 2USU study concluded that after 4-year NFDM samples stored in plastic bags (not Mylar-type) were statistically less acceptable than samples stored in cans.The form of milk (instant or regular) did not affect the length of time NFDM could be stored. Unacceptability of samples in the study was due to an oxidized/stale flavor.
Storage conditions. The shelf life of packaged, NFDM ranges from 3 months to 3-5 years. The main factor is storage temperature. At cool to cold temperatures the shelf life is 3-5 years. At hot temperatures the shelf life can be as little as 3 months. A 2USU research study demonstrated NFDM held at 32°C (90°F) for 6 mo began to develop off-flavors and by 24 mo was considered unacceptable by a trained sensory panel. After 4-yr storage, NFDM samples stored at 21°C (70°F) were rated unacceptable by the panelists. Storage at 10°C (50°F) resulted in minimal flavor changes in 52 month.
Nutrition. NFDM is an excellent source of protein, calcium and nutrition, providing 80 calories per serving. Most vitamins in dried milks are present in comparable levels to those of whole milk. Vitamins A and D are not present in non-fat milk and must be supplemented.
1Nutrition degradation during storage. Vitamin levels are stable for 6 month and only minimally decline after 18 months. Data is not available for longer term storage effects on vitamins. Storage of these products for periods longer than several years will result in vitamin and flavor degradation. Most other nutrients (calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals will remain unchanged.
Use of NFDM from storage. Typically 1/3 cup dry powder is mixed with one cup water to make on serving. The instantized type of NFDM will dissolve in water more readily. Non-instantized versions may need blending or can be held overnight in the refrigerator after reconstituting to increase solubility.
Reconstituted NFDM will not taste any better than fresh non-fat milk. If the absence of milk fat is objectionable, mix reconstituted NFDM into whole fresh milk. Once opened, NFDM will have a 3 month shelf life. Keep opened containers away from light, moisture and warmer temperatures.
References:
USU Publications
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