Does Oat Milk Need to be Refrigerated- see what’s more

0
989
Does Oat Milk Need To Be Refrigerated

Non-dairy milk or oat milk is considered a good beverage to use in cooking as well as for coffee. It keeps a good amount of calories and proteins as compared to other milk alternatives including almond milk, soy milk, banana milk, and many others. It’s confusing to know the answer to the question Does Oat Milk Need To Be Refrigerated. It just needs two basic ingredients to make it, water and oats. All other additional ingredients are used to make it tasty.

Oat milk

Oat milk does not always need to be refrigerated. Before opening the shelf-stable carton, it can be placed in a cold and dry place. After its opening, it needs proper refrigeration. Once you open its seal then don’t keep it in the room. It’ll spoil if you keep it for more than two hours outside the fridge.

We’ve covered all the important concerns in this article including does oat milk need to be refrigerated or how long does oat milk last in the fridge and many others. So, keep reading

What is oat milk?

Oat milk is plant-based milk that uses whole oat grains to blend with water. With oatmeal-like flavor, it is also used to manufacture in different flavors including vanilla and chocolate. 

All of its flavors have creamy textures. And the best thing is no need to add many ingredients in oatmeal to get creamier textures. You can also call it a popular alternative to cow’s milk which can come in its creamier form after adding water and some additional ingredients.

Ingredients needed to make oat milk

There are two basic ingredients needed for making oat milk:

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 4 cups of water

Here are some additional ingredients you can add to get flavorful and creamy oat milk:

  • Sea salt 
  • A date
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cacao powder
  • Berries 

HOW TO MAKE OAT MILK? Well, it’s not tough to make oat milk. Add 1 cup of rolled oats and 4 cups of water to the high-speed mixer. Blend them for 40-50 seconds and then use a clean T-Shirt or towel for the straining process.

To get additional flavors add Sea salt, a date, Vanilla extract, Cacao powder, and Berries during blending.

How long does it last?

Once you open the oat milk container it’ll last for 7-10 days in the fridge as it has a shorter window to remain fresh. After this period you can inspect, smell, see or taste to know whether it is spoiled or not. If not, then use it and if it feels spoiled then toss it out.

In case if you want to store a sealed oat milk container, then storing a sealed one is easier than an open one. An area of the home with a stable temperature can maintain the oat milk’s freshness for as long as up to nine months.

Unopened oat milk shelf life?

The shelf life of unopened oat milk depends upon the temperature of the place where you’ve placed it. A stable temperature can maintain its freshness for up to nine months.

In case if you need to store it for more than one year then you must use a cool, dry room with a few lighting systems. This is to save it from the heat of lights and different weather conditions especially in summer. Unopened oat milk stored effectively able to last for three to five years

How long does it last after opening?

The oat milk indeed can last for 4-7 days after opening. And if you place it in the fridge with appropriate coldness then it can last for 7-10 days. 

But if it seems then it’s good to drink it within 4 days of opening. Try not to use it after 4 days of opening according to the “SELL BY” date on your bottle.

Does oat milk need to be refrigerated?

Does oat milk need to be refrigerated? After opening oat milk it needs to be refrigerated, but even the refrigeration varies like brands. Oat milk able to shelf-stable also needs refrigeration but after opening. Before you open it, if oat milk has airtight seal packaging then you can store it in your pantry safely. 

Refrigerated Oat Milk

Of course, after knowing this, your intuitions will prefer you to buy shelf-stable oat milk. So you can use it for up to 7 days of opening. And in case you’ve left your milk on the table because it’s shelf-stable. Then it’s a very bad idea because as long as you’ll not refrigerate it, the chances are high that it might spoil within a few hours.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the refrigerated abled foods and beverages including milk should never be out of refrigeration at room temperature for more than two hours. So it simply says that you can’t keep oat milk at a temperature above 900 F.

Can you freeze oat milk?

Oat milk can freeze and the best thing is you can use it in tea, coffee, or cereal. After freezing this, it’s able to be used for up to 2 months. When you freeze it, it feels a little graininess but after passing out from the heating process, it doesn’t feel graininess. So you can use this oat milk in cooking. 

HOW TO FREEZE OAT MILK? For this instance, you can use an ice-cube tray. Because they’re pre-portioned as cubes, you’ll not need to break it into pieces or defrost it. And you can directly use it in sauces, cooking, and smoothing.

Benefits and Side Effects

Benefits Side effects 
  People with dietary restrictions can use oat milk as it is just made with oats and water. Oats are naturally gluten-free and free of nuts, soy, and lactose as well. Oat milk provides vitamins B which are essential for optimal health and have a great connection with numerous benefits. One study has found that drinking 3 cups of oat milk daily for 5 weeks reduces the blood cholesterol by 3-4%. Oat milk also makes your bones strong as it is fortified with calcium and vitamin D.   Oat milk contains natural as well as added sugars which can be bad for health in some aspects. Oats are gluten-free naturally but a lot of oats are used to process in shared equipment. So not always but sometimes they’re contaminated as gluten beverages. If it seems then most of the ingredients in oat milk contain canola or rapeseed oil which can cause a highly inflammatory issue. Oat milk contains fewer nutrients than cow milk. Moreover, commercial brands add vitamins and minerals but if you’re making this at home then you’ll be unable to do this.

Benefits for Skin

 If you’re feeling that your oat milk has become spoiled then instead of throwing it you can use it for your skin treatment. With a delicious taste, the grain-derived milk also offers many beauty and skincare benefits when infused into skincare products. 

Here we’ve mentioned some important benefits which can derive from oat milk:

  • Oat milk is a good antioxidant that takes care of your skin from daily wear and tears and also reduces pigmentations, wrinkles, and acne flare-ups. It makes your skin glowing.
  • Oat milk contain potential skincare benefits and able to use as the treatment for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema
  • Colloidal oatmeal has been approved as a skin protectant and able to decrease water loss from the skin.

If you’re worried about skin allergies or certain types of skin problems. Then instead to use commercially available oat milk the finely ground oats are recommended to use for reducing skin problems.

Oat milk calories per cup

The water and oats blending this grain-derived beverage are considered too rich in fibers. Also, it’s considered high in carbohydrates as compared to other milk alternatives. As it doesn’t contain saturated fats and provides an appropriate amount of carbohydrates, oat milk makes the human body able to last energy throughout the day.

If we’re talking about how much a cup of oat milk contains calories then a cup of oat milk able to provide:

Oat Milk Calories
  • 130 calories
  • 15gm carbohydrates 
  • 2.5 grams of fat
  • 0 gram of saturated fats
  • 2 grams of fibres
  • 4 grams of proteins
  • 35% of daily calcium
  • 25% of daily vitamin D

There is no doubt that oat milk has fewer proteins than natural cow milk. But it contains much protein as compared to other plant-based milk alternatives including almond, coconut, and rice milk.

Oat milk Disadvantages

There is no doubt that people use oat milk as a special diet and also it is considered a vegan-friendly beverage. The big reason to consider it in diet plans is that it contains certain types of nutrients which are high in it as compared to other plant-based milk alternatives.

When we hear the name oat milk, a sweet and creamy image comes into our mind. But with its lot of benefits it also has some negative points which are:

  • It may contain a high amount of sugars and preservatives as the brands used to add sugars during the production process to increase taste and shelf life.
  • Oats are naturally gluten-free but they may be used to process in the same facilities as gluten-containing products. So there is a chance of gluten addition in oat milk during the manufacturing process.
  • It’s a good alternative as compared to other brands. But as it contains 130 calories and 25 grams of carbohydrates so, in this case, it’s not a good alternative as milk for babies and children.

Does oat milk cause gas?

Is that oat milk dangerous or can cause gas? Well, oat milk is known for its lot of advantages but people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should not use it. As it contains a high level of sugars.

Moreover, oat milk can cause an upset stomach because of sugar and fiber items in it. This is not good for people having stomach issues. For such people the results occur in the form of gas, bloating, burping, or stomach pain.

Can oat milk cause constipation?

Because of the good amount of fibres in oat milk, it offers relief from constipation and prevents haemorrhoids. It may also help to reduce the death chances because of colorectal cancer.

Whether it’s dairy or plant-based milk, they all help to improve the digestion system. Oat milk is high in beta-glucans which helps for maintaining good heart health. The gel-like substance inside your gut can bind to cholesterol and reduce its absorption. When the appropriate amount of cholesterol stays in the body then it also helps to maintain the digestive system.

Can oat milk cause bloating?

As bloating also comes in the stomach issues head, so yes, oat milk can cause bloating or stomach problems. It takes time for side effects to appear in the form of bad symptoms in your body. 

In case if you’ve started to use oat milk or eat oats repeatedly then these symptoms may become chronic. These symptoms appear in the form of stomach problems including bloating and burping.

How long does homemade oat milk last?

 Homemade Oat Milk

Oat milk from commercial stores can last for 4-7 days and with proper refrigerating, it can last for 7-10 days. The milk from stores is sealed and tied to stop the air in and out. This sealing makes it able to last for 7-10 days.

However, homemade oat milk has a different count as compared to commercial oat milk. Of course, it’s not possible to seal it like stores, but even then if you seal it in a good manner then it can last for 5 days. To know whether it’s gone bad or not you can smell or taste it.

How long does oat milk last in the fridge?

Oat milk can last for 7-10 days after opening if it is stored in the refrigerator properly. Even in case if you stored below 40 degrees Fahrenheit it can last for up to 14 days. After opening, it can last at any time whether before or after the “sell by” date. So to know the freshness try to see its color or taste its flavor.

How to tell if oat milk is bad?

If you are starting to drink oat milk and pour it into the glass. Then look for these recommended symptoms before drinking which usually appears in the case of spoiled oat milk: 

  • If you’re having difficulty pouring it or it has a thick and not smooth texture then throw it out.
  • Oat milk usually has a creamy white color. If it is representing a different color than white, it means it has reached its last point.
  • Normally, non-dairy milk does not smell sour, if so, then it’s a sign of spoilage.
  • If the carton has passed its “sell by” date or you’re opening it in 10-12 days, then it’s time to let it go.
Summary
  Keep a shelf-stable carton in the pantry and after opening allows it a proper refrigerating Fahrenheit below 40 degrees. To keep shelf-stable oat milk safe for more than 9 months, store it in a room that is cold, dark, and able to provide a stable temperature. After opening, try to finish it within 4-7 days. And always keep it in the fridge. If you’ve homemade oat milk then try to use it within 5 days of making it. Spoil oat milk if it is thick, hard to pour, smells bad, or has been stored for a long time.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here