How Long Does Coffee With Milk Last In The Fridge?
Perhaps you simply didn’t find time to make it through your cup of coffee in the morning. No matter the cause, coffee will have limited shelf life in the refrigerator, especially in the event that milk has been added. But how long is it going to last?
This article aims to find out how long milky coffee can stay in the fridge, and still be completely safe for consumption! I am also going to discuss some methods for extending the time.
So, how long does coffee with milk last in the fridge?
No matter whether it is creamy coffee or cappuccino or even a plain cup of coffee with milk, when it’s stored in your fridge, you have to know how long it remains in good condition to drink.
The issue here isn’t with the coffee part. In the absence of milk and properly sealed, coffee is acceptable to drink as long as two weeks. We all are aware that milk products are prone to a short shelf life and this is the primary consideration while answering the question above.
With this in mind, and before we begin more in depth into the issue, let’s provide the most straightforward answer. If the milk was in fresh condition at the time you added it into your cup of coffee, it’s likely to last for seven days before being consumed during the course of the week!
Factors To Be Considered When Refrigerating Coffee With Milk
Naturally, this could be affected by a variety of variables, so let’s take an overview of the factors that affect the shelf life of coffee with milk stored in the refrigerator.
The freshness of milk — should be at its peak before adding it to your coffee, or it will could significantly reduce its duration.
How did the milk stay out of the refrigerator? In the event that your milky coffee has been out of the the fridge for a long time prior to refrigerating it, it will impact the time that it stays fresh.
The efficiency and settings of your refrigerator– There are many different kinds of fridges! Ideally, you should have your fridge that can be set at or below 40 degrees F. In the event that your refrigerator is not efficient or you have an increased temperature, this can have a huge impact on the time it will keep its freshness.
Any of these variables can have an adverse effect on the life span of your milk-based coffee. However, there are some suggestions you can try to extend the drinking time that your cup of coffee has.
How Can You Improve The Shelf Life of Milky Coffee In The Fridge?
Some of them are obvious. For instance, you should be using fresh milk for your drink.
However, others might not be as obvious; nevertheless, we’ll consider some of the most obvious and obscure ways to prolong the shelf life of your milky beverage:
Make sure to add the milk only when needed – the most straightforward solution, especially when you prepare the coffee in a jug to reheat or make drinks with ice, is to wait until you start preparing your drink before you add the milk.
Make use of UHT milk- Even though after it’s opened, it will not remain as long as when it’s sealed, you can still have a day or two more from your beverage.
Do not store your milk inside the refrigerator’s doorway–The most under-appreciated fact about refrigerators is that the door of the fridge is the coldest portion of your interior. In order to ensure you get the maximum shelf life for your beverage, store it inside the fridge. If you store it inside the door of the fridge, it can result in reduced shelf life.
Be sure to keep it in the refrigerator for as little time as is possible— It may appear to be a minute here or there, but it all will add up and negatively impacts the length of time it remains fresh.
Make sure your fridge is set to the right temperature .Milk is best when it’s between 32 and 39 degrees F. Always make sure that your refrigerator is operating in the middle of these temperatures.
The drink should be sealed in an airtight container. This preserves its freshness beverage over an extended period.
Close the door of your refrigerator. It’s true that I’m not great when it comes to opening the fridge . I usually continue to look at its contents for a long time, wondering what I could eat. This is a bad habit that diminishes the shelf life of all items in refrigerator, and just not for the milky coffee drinks. Keep the door shut as often as you can.
Utilize organic milk for coffee. It’s a truth that the organic version of milk remains fresher than non-organic alternatives. This has nothing to do with any magical properties of the milk, but it’s due to the fact that organic milk typically requires a longer journey before it is able to reach the shelves of supermarkets. So, organic milk is subjected to an entirely different and better preservation process, which produces longer-lasting milk.
How Can You Tell If Your Coffee With Milk Is Still Safe To Drink?
Most of the time, this is evident. You can look for evidence of curdling in the top of the drink. Of course, sour milk will generally have a bad smell!
But, there are situations where it’s all you have to do is touch and go. Be cautious in these situations. Take a good look of the cup first and if the results remain not conclusive, it’s time to taste the coffee!
When the milk’s been sucked off, it will leave a sour taste that will not leave you in doubt as to the quality of the beverage.
In simple terms, if it tastes and smells nice and smells good, then it’s probably good.
How To Drink Coffee with Cream Safely Once It is refrigerated?
You can heat up coffee using milk or cream you’ve previously kept in the refrigerator by placing into the microwave.
The process of heating this coffee at a very high temperature will kill all bacteria in the coffee and make it safe for consumption but it could alter its flavor and taste somewhat.
Plain coffee is very low in carbohydrates and protein and that’s why it’s safe to drink even if you keep it at room temperature.
Milk and white cream can stimulate development of microorganisms, as well as various foodborne pathogens.
This is why it’s ideal to warm your coffee in a cup with cream or milk after taking it out from the refrigerator.
Other Important Factors That You Should Consider
Two other crucial aspects to consider when storing and refrigerating coffee that contains cream or milk:
- You can’t prolong the duration of coffee using milk or cream.
Do not add creamer or milk to your coffee to enhance the flavor and taste of your beverage.
Coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months (in an airtight container) and instead of adding cream or milk you should add it just before drinking it.
- Refrigerated coffee that has cream or milk preserves caffeine
Coffee made with milk or cream can last for a day or two after you have prepared it.
The caffeine won’t go bad for several weeks after you’ve brewed the coffee, however the drink may be stripped of some other qualities, apart from the caffeine boost.
Wrapping up
How long does coffee with milk last in the fridge?
You can drink your coffee with milk or cream that has been refrigerated for less than 2 days, without adding any other ingredients to your coffee in any way.
Regular cream and milk are dairy products that tend to degrade very quickly, and this will lessen the duration of time within which you are supposed to consume your favorite drink without any hassle.
