DecodedGuides

How long does coconut milk last?

Coconut milk keeps until the date on the package in the fridge. Canned keeps up to 3 months in the freezer. USDA lists 2 kinds of coconut milk; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.

Coconut milk

Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

Use by the package date

; after opening: 7 to 10 days

Keep refrigerated.

Freezer

No guideline

All kinds of coconut milk, side by side

KindPantryFridgeAfter openingFreezer
Coconut milkno guidelineUse by the package date7 to 10 daysno guideline
canned2 to 5 yearsno guideline4 days3 months

No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.

  • Coconut milk: Keep refrigerated.

How to tell coconut milk has gone bad

General signs for dairy products & eggs, the group USDA lists coconut milk under.

  • Sour, sharp smell from milk or yogurt that was mild before
  • Mould on cheese that is not part of the recipe
  • Eggs that float in a bowl of water instead of sinking
  • Slimy or watery texture on soft cheese or yogurt
  • Yellowing or watery separation showing up in milk

More on dairy products & eggs. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Keep dairy and eggs in the coldest part of the fridge, not the door, at 40 F (4 C) or below. Store eggs in their original carton to protect them and track the date. Reseal cheese tightly in wax paper or a container, and keep milk capped between pours.

More in dairy products & eggs

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.