How Long Does Coffee with Milk Last in the Fridge?

People like to drink coffee with different ingredients. Coffee with milk is a traditional drink for coffee lovers. When we prefer to have a fresh cup of milk coffee, we need to be conscious of its shelf life. If you store your leftover milk coffee in the fridge, you need to be sure this is okay or not. 

You won’t want to suffer from food poisoning. Food poisoning from dairy products causes terrible sickness. So, “how long does coffee with milk last in the fridge?” is a common query.  Here, I’m going to discuss why you can’t drink your coffee after a period, how it can be cautious, and some other relevant important things that really need to keep you physically safe and help you to have a fresh brew.

How Long Does Coffee with Milk Last in the Fridge?

How long will my milk coffee last in the fridge?  Briefly, the answer is: milk coffee remains safe for up to two days or 48 hours in refrigerators. The temperature stays there at 35 to 40 degrees F. Although it’s safe for 2 days, the taste won’t be fresh at all. 

I’ll recommend you finish your milk coffee within 12 hours once you keep it in the fridge. As time goes on, the authentic taste will be lost. Besides, at room temperature, milk coffee lasts for 2 to 4 hours depending on the milk.  

Actually, You can expect more shelf life for milk coffee if you use fresh pasteurized milk. On the other hand, old milk produces more lactic acid, and by adding coffee beans’ lactic acid, the milk can be transformed into a curdling texture that ruins the taste of real coffee. Thereafter, contaminated molds are produced pacing with time which is responsible for causing food poisoning.  

So, if you think about storing your coffee in the refrigerator, it’s better not to add milk to it. After brewing only coffee grounds, it goes okay for 2 weeks smoothly. On the other hand, dairy items like milk along with sugar decrease the shelf life. 

How to Store Coffee in the Fridge

Humidity, oxygen, light, and heat are the four things that spoil coffee. Many of us make a common mistake when it comes to storing coffee. We think the fridge is a safe place to keep it. However, it’s totally a wrong idea. The fridge’s temperature and condition are unsuitable for coffee. Since it has a deodorant nature, it absorbs odors on the fridge. 

There are some tips for storing coffee with freshness and these are.

Ground Beans

Generally, ground coffee beans aren’t recommended to store. The taste of pre-ground coffee varies greatly from that of instant-ground coffee. Although it’s a hassle to grind coffee every time, it’s better to grind it to enjoy great coffee occasionally. Depending on times, you can store-

• Up to two weeks: Ground coffee remains fresh for maximum two weeks in just an airtight box at room temperature. Even if you buy it, after it is unsealed, finish it as soon as possible. 
• Storing for several months: If you want to store it for more time, you can store it in an airtight box in the freezer. Of course, the container must be dark in color. Before brewing, take time to defrost. 
• Storing for years: If you want to store it for a few years, you can store it in a mylar bag with oxygen absorbers. Mylar bag is one kind of gas-protected bag and opaque also. 

Whole Beans

Whole beans are a little bit less sensitive to go off. You can store them following the tips for ground coffee. 

Some Dos and Don’ts to Know to Store:

Dos:

• Remove air Storing.
• Store in smaller amounts as you need for a single serving. 
• Use a resealable container.
• Try to keep unopened packages while buying in a larger amount.

Don’ts:

• Don’t put it in direct light after removing it from the freezer.
• After thawing, don’t store it in the freezer again.
• Avoid paper-type or gas resistant containers. 
• Besides, hygiene is also important. Especially in grinding, the grinder and the hands should be cleaned.

Can You Put Coffee in the Fridge Overnight?

There are many ways to brew coffee. Espresso, latte, cappuccino, mocha, drip coffee, or cold brew whatever you prefer, you can put them in the fridge overnight. Even if you mix it with milk, chocolate, or cream, you can enjoy the good taste. 

In summer, it’s quite fair to put coffee in the fridge all night and enjoy the sip with a glowing morning. Also, on a winter morning, after reheating the refrigerated coffee, you can enjoy it.

Just make sure that you’re using an airtight container and the coffee is cold enough. Besides, don’t put your leftovers for more than two hours at room temperature. In terms of iced coffee, it’s better to take away the ice cubes to maintain the taste. A good trick is that you can use iced coffee cubes in your ice coffee to avoid a watery taste while preserving for hours. 

Can You Put Coffee in the Freezer?

Freezer is a place where the temperature is about 0 degrees F which means it’s quite suitable to extend the life of perishable goods. It not only extends life but also maintains nutrients and high quality. 

So, you can put your coffee in the freezer for several months. Usually, whole beans remain fresh for up to one month in just simple airtight boxes here. While you want to put coffee in the freezer, be careful about freezer burn. It makes the coffee dry and spoils the taste. 

So, When it comes to putting coffee in the freezer, be conscious of packaging. Well-packing resists freezer burn and mold attack. Vacuum packing is safe as it reduces the chance of oxidation. 

How to Understand If your Coffee is No Longer Drinkable?

Already, we know coffee can be stored for a long time without using any dairy products. Even though it can be rancid before. Coffee contains several natural oils which create a strong flavor. Over time those oils start to separate and make a bad taste. 

By the way, there are some normal signs to know if it’s stale or not. These signs are:

• Color: When it goes bad, the color of the coffee will change. If it becomes lighter or darker than the color it was made, it should be assumed that it went off. In fact, the color of the coffee changes when harmful molds are born. Usually, the molds float on the top. If you see something white or little greeny substance, these are nothing but molds.
• Thickness: Sometimes the thickness of the coffee differs. When it’s thicker than before, it’s no more drinkable. Also, you may notice a layer at the bottom of the container and a watery portion above. Therefore, in terms of milk coffee, there is a possibility of curdling with a nasty taste. 
• Flavor: If coffee emits a sour smell or not like a regular flavor, it must be understood that it has reacted with oxygen in the air. This makes coffee more acidic and undrinkable.

Tips for Drinking Refrigerated Coffee

For refrigerated coffee, reheating is a controversial fact. Some say the taste goes bad after reheating and some say it’s okay. Whether you should reheat the coffee or not depends on the ingredients you used. 

It’s up to you whether to reheat plain coffee or not. You can drink it at room temperature for an hour. Also, you can reheat it if you love hot sips. Although, there is a chance to lose protein and carbs (they remain in little amounts). 

FAQs on Coffee with Milk

Final Words

If the coffee is brewed with milk, reheating is compulsory. Even in the fridge, bacteria, as well as mold, can be born in milk. So, reheat it properly in a microwave or stove to kill microorganisms. Thereafter, coffee with cream must be reheated.

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