How Long Food Lasts

Shelf Stable Foods

How long does milk last?

Quick answer

Milk (plain or flavored) keeps use-by date on package in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer.

  • Plain or flavored use-by date on package in the refrigerator · 3 months in the freezer
  • Ultra-pasteurized 1-3 months in the refrigerator
  • Canned evaporated or condensed, opened 4-5 days in the refrigerator
Form

Fridge

Per the printed date

use-by date on package

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

3months

Pantry

No known time

-

Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?

United States
Yes
United Kingdom
Only after cooking

How long does milk last in the refrigerator?

  • Plain or flavoreduse-by date on packagePer the printed date
  • Canned evaporated or condensed, opened4-5 daysAfter opening
  • Shelf-stable, opened5-7 daysAfter opening
  • Ultra-pasteurized1-3 monthsFrom purchase
  • Ultra-pasteurized, opened7-10 daysAfter opening

Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.

How long does milk last in the freezer?

  • Plain or flavored3 months
  • General guidance1 month

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Can you freeze milk?

  • Plain or flavoredYes
  • Lactose-freeNot recommended
  • Lactose-free, openedNot recommended
  • General guidanceYes

How to thaw milk safely

  1. In the refrigerator
  2. In cold water, cook it right after thawing
  3. In the microwave, cook it right after thawing
  4. Cook it from frozen

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

Can you refreeze milk?

  • In the United StatesYes
  • In the United KingdomOnly after cooking

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Can milk be stored at room temperature?

  • Canned evaporated or condensed12 months
  • Shelf-stable6-12 months

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
Plain or flavoreduse-by date on package3 months-
Canned evaporated or condensed--12 months
Canned evaporated or condensed, opened4-5 days--
Lactose-free---
Lactose-free, opened---
Shelf-stable--6-12 months
Shelf-stable, opened5-7 days--
Ultra-pasteurized1-3 months--
Ultra-pasteurized, opened7-10 days--
General guidance-1 month-
General guidance, opened---

What the official sources say

“Milk - can be frozen up to its use-by date for up to a month.”

“You can freeze milk for up to one month.”

Frequently asked questions

How long does milk last in the refrigerator?

Plain or flavored: use-by date on package; Canned evaporated or condensed, opened: 4-5 days; Shelf-stable, opened: 5-7 days; Ultra-pasteurized: 1-3 months.

How long does milk last in the freezer?

Plain or flavored: 3 months; General guidance: 1 month. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you refreeze milk?

In the United States: Yes; In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Milk, lactose-free Fridge 1 week

Related foods

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last verified: October 1, 2026.

Values we do not display (1)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.

  • Lactose-free, opened, fridge: 1 week (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)