How Long Does Milk Last?
Opened milk lasts about 1 week in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder, and about 3 months in the freezer. Never leave it out of the fridge for more than 2 hours.
Milk — opened
shelf life- Unopened: 1 week in the fridge
- Thawed: 3–4 days in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Fresh pasteurized cow's milk, whether whole, reduced-fat or skim, is a highly perishable liquid. Pasteurization kills disease-causing bacteria but leaves harmless spoilage bacteria that slowly sour the milk even in the cold. How warm the carton gets, and how often, matters more to its life than the fat content does.
How to store milk
- Store milk on a shelf at the back of the fridge, not in the door, where the temperature swings every time the door opens.
- Put the carton back in the fridge straight after pouring; every 20 minutes on the breakfast table shortens its life.
- Keep the cap on and never pour milk from a glass or jug back into the carton, which adds bacteria and speeds souring.
- To freeze milk, pour off about a cup first because it expands, then freeze in the jug or in smaller containers and thaw in the fridge.
- Buy milk last at the store and get it home within 2 hours, or 1 hour in a hot car.
How to tell if milk has gone bad
- A sour or unclean smell when you open the cap, or a sour, bitter taste.
- Lumps, curdled flecks or a thick, slimy pour instead of a smooth liquid.
- A yellowish tint, or milk that curdles instantly when it hits hot coffee.
- A bloated carton or jug, which means gas-producing bacteria have been growing.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Milk shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | 1 week | 3 months | Not safe |
| Unopened | 1 week | 3 months | Not safe |
| USDA guidance is about 1 week from purchase; a cold, sealed carton often keeps a few days past its sell-by date. | |||
| Thawed | 3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Thawed milk separates and turns slightly grainy. Shake it well; it is best for cooking and baking. | |||
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
How long does milk last after opening?
Opened milk lasts about 1 week in a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder. That assumes it goes straight back in after each use. Milk that has spent long stretches on the counter, or lives in the door, can sour several days sooner.
Is milk still good after the sell-by date?
Often, yes, for a few days. The sell-by date tells the store when to pull the carton and is not a safety cutoff, so milk that has been kept cold can still be fine shortly after it. If it smells sour, looks lumpy or has been open longer than about a week, pour it out.
Can you drink milk that was left out overnight?
No. Milk left out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C), should be thrown away. Bacteria multiply fast in warm milk, and the ones that make people sick do not reliably change the smell or taste, so milk that seems fine can still be unsafe.
Can you freeze milk?
Yes, milk freezes safely and keeps best quality for about 3 months at 0°F (−18°C). Leave room in the container for expansion. Thaw it in the fridge, shake well because the fat separates, and use it within 3–4 days. The texture is slightly grainy, so many people keep thawed milk for cooking.
Does whole milk last longer than skim milk?
Not in any way you can plan around. Whole, 2%, 1% and skim milk all carry the same guidance of about 1 week in the fridge. Storage temperature and how the carton is handled affect spoilage far more than fat content. Ultra-pasteurized milk does last longer unopened, but also about a week once opened.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-and-Half Opened |
3–4 days | 4 months | Not safe |
| Heavy Cream Opened |
10 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Buttermilk Opened |
1–2 weeks | 3 months | Not safe |
| Almond Milk Opened |
7–10 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Oat Milk Opened |
7–10 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Evaporated Milk Unopened |
Not recommended | Not recommended | 1 year |
More milk & cream: Whipped Cream.
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.