How Long Does Unopened Canned Coconut Milk Last? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does Unopened Canned Coconut Milk Last? ›

Unopened, canned coconut milk typically has a shelf life of 18 to 24 months. This duration can extend beyond the printed expiration date if the cans are kept in ideal conditions, which include a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures and sunlight.

Unopened and half-opened cans of coconut milk have different expiration dates. An unopened can will have a shelf-life of two to five years, while an opened can will only last you about a week. Coconut milk also comes in cartons on shelves.

To know if your coconut milk has gone bad, smelling it is the first and best test. If the milk gives off a pungent or sour odor, instead of a neutral or slightly sweet smell, it's time for it to hit the bin. Another way to know if your coconut milk is bad is to see if it has curdled, which will turn it gritty or lumpy.

Unopened Shelf Life

An unopened can of coconut cream typically maintains its quality for 2 to 5 years when stored properly. The expiration date marked by the manufacturer serves as a useful guideline, but it's important to store cans in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maximize shelf life.

Put opened coconut milk in a sealed container.

The sealed container will help keep the milk fresh for much longer than an open container. If you have a milk jug or a soda bottle, wash it out first and pour your opened coconut milk into it. Screw the lid of the bottle as tightly shut as you can.

We've found that leftover coconut milk will last up to a week in the fridge with no depreciation in quality, but we wondered if we could freeze it to make it last even longer. We purchased our favorite brands, transferred the milk to airtight containers, and stored them in the freezer until frozen solid.

In recipes where the fat content doesn't compromise texture, you plant-based beverages, such as coconut milk beverage, almond, cashew, macadamia, oat, soy or hemp, to substitute for traditional coconut milk. These plant-based beverage options would be best for smoothies, coffees and specialty drinks.

Plant Milk FAQs

Per our taste test, the best all-around brand in the carton is Vita Coco Coconut Milk Original Organic. The best in full-fat is Thai Kitchen 2 Simple Ingredients Coconut Milk Unsweetened, and the best in light is Thrive Market Organic Coconut Milk Lite.

The top layer in a can of coconut milk is often a semisolid, creamy white mass, while beneath it there's a thinner, more watery layer. Much like the cream rising to the top of fresh cow's milk, that thick top layer is coconut cream, the fattiest and most flavorful part of coconut milk.

Depending on where you live and how fresh the coconuts are, a whole, unopened coconut can last for up to 6 months or more when stored properly in a cool and dry place or at room temperature. To extend the shelf life of your coconut, avoid leaving it in an area with high humidity or temperatures above 80°F.

Does unopened coconut oil expire? ›

Unrefined virgin coconut oil is the longest lasting, boasting a shelf life of up to 3 years when stored properly. On the other hand, refined coconut oil has a much shorter shelf life and should be used within 18 months of opening the jar or bottle.

You can put it in your kitchen, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer. Packaged dried coconut will last for 4–6 months on the counter and 6–8 months in the fridge or freezer. Put it in an airtight container. You should also consider the expiration date, if there is one.

Coconut milk should be a creamy white color when it's fresh. As the beverage degrades, its hue may lose some of that vibrancy, and it'll shift to a darker or more muted gray color. And, of course, any visible mold or bulges in the can means the entire thing is likely contaminated and should be tossed in the trash.

Safe Consumption After Expiration Date

An unopened can of coconut milk may still be safe to consume after the expiration date, provided it was stored properly and shows no signs of damage. It's definitive if the can is undamaged and the contents do not exhibit any signs of spoilage.

Coconut milk is a byproduct of a coconut, and its organic nature means that it will eventually turn. Coconut milk lasts for around one week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and about a month in the freezer.

Compared to normal coconut milk, coconut cream has a much higher fat content, containing around 19-22% fat. Coconut cream still retains the delicious coconut flavor that coconut milk has, but is much thicker as it is essentially coconut milk with less water.

You can use expired coconut oil if it doesn't exhibit any signs of spoilage, such as a foul taste, bad smell, or discoloration. If it's years past the best-by date, we suggest replacing your coconut oil with a fresh jar even if it doesn't seem like it's gone bad.

Sometimes in cold weather, even when kept in a pantry our Coconut Milk/Cream may solidify or curdle. To regain the liquid aspect, simply heat up in a pan, sit the can in a bowl of hot water or directly spoon into your food and stir well.

If the coconut milk you bought doesn't contain any stabilizers, the richest, creamiest part of the milk will naturally rise to the top. It's totally OK if this happens — you just want to mix it into the rest of the milk before using.