How to Refrigerate Soy Milk

Refrigerate your soy milk as soon as possible after opening.

Soy milk is a tasty substitute for those with lactose intolerance or who simply enjoy the taste. More Americans are adding this creamy beverage to their diet, causing soy product sales to rise from $1 billion in 1996 to over $4 billion in 2009 --- with soy milk among the most popular products. Thanks to a divided dual sterilization process known as aseptic packaging, most unopened soy milk brands will last for several months. But once opened, even properly refrigerated soy milk will only stay fresh for a week tops. The spoiling period is similar for soy milk without aseptic packaging, which can be found in the refrigerated section of many grocery stores.

Instructions

1. Secure the cap on the soy milk carton or close the fold-out spout completely. Sealing your soy milk ensures maximum freshness in your refrigerator for up to one week, depending on the refrigerator's temperature setting.

2. Place your soy milk in the back of your refrigerator or a special cooling drawer if one is available. Storing the carton along the side or the front increases warm air exposure each time someone opens the door.

3. Adjust the temperature of your refrigerator or individual cooling section to no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You must store soy milk at a temperature between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain freshness for up to one week.

Tips & Warnings

• Freeze your soy milk at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure freshness for up to 3 months.

• Discard any opened or store-refrigerated soy milk within two hours without refrigeration.

References

• Colorado State University: Food Safety and Storage Quality - Miscellaneous Perishable Items - Soy Milk
• United States Department of Agriculture: Safe Food Handling
• FDA: Inspection Guides for Aseptic Processing
• Soy Foods Association of North America: Sales and Trends