How long does organic milk last

You can also freeze milk for about three months and thaw it in the refrigerator, but you should also consume it within a week. This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. Breaking NC tops 1. Published: Updated: Increase Text Size Print this story.

Close Comments. Our commenting policy has changed. It's not your imagination or a myth: Organic milk really does last longer than regular milk.

As MyRecipes reports, the expiration dates indicate that organic milk can last up to a month before it's opened, while regular milk usually only has about a week to 10 days. But the longer shelf life is completely unrelated to the organic label. According to Scientific American , that "organic" label just means that the cows that produced the milk weren't given any hormones to encourage milk production or antibiotics to combat infections.

That by itself doesn't have any effect on how long the milk lasts once it's packaged and on grocery store shelves, but the different processes used to preserve organic and regular milk does. If unopened, whole milk lasts 5- 7 days , reduced-fat and skim milk last 7 days , and non-fat and lactose-free milk last days past its printed date, if refrigerated. Properly refrigerated, ultrapasteurized milk has a shelf life of 40 to 60 days unopened, compared with 15 to 17 days for milk pasteurized the regular way.

But you should consume all milk within 7 to 10 days after opening. Read more about organic fruits and veggies, and test your organic IQ. How do you know if organic milk is bad? The easiest way to tell if milk has spoiled is by checking for changes in texture or consistency. Chunky or lumpy milk is almost assuredly bad, but you can also look out for things like discoloration or an unclean, sour smell, which happens when lactic acid in the milk starts producing bacteria.

Is organic milk worth? Many health experts say organic milk is well worth the extra money because it contains no growth hormones and no antibiotics, and because the production process is more sustainable and humane than some other dairy farming practices. Which organic milk is best? The Best Organic Milk Brands 1, Organic Valley. More Organic Valley. Whole Foods Market.

That is, unless you plan ahead and buy organic milk, which is often dated to last up to a month unopened, instead of the normal week to 10 days. Of course, sell-by and expiration dates are already questionably accurate , at best. The milk being organic, however, has nothing to do with it.