Shelf-stable Milk and Nondairy Milk

While shelf-stable milk and many non-dairy kinds of milk are designed to be kept at room temperature, fresh milk and some non-dairy substitutes, such as almond and coconut milk, must be refrigerated. Because it is heated to higher temperatures and put in sterile containers, shelf-stable or aseptic milk is processed and packaged differently from conventional milk. According to one study, shelf-stable milk had a shelf life of up to 9 months if it was stored between 40-68°F (4-20°C).

Similar to canned coconut milk, plant-based beverages like soy milk has a shelf life of up to 5 years at room temperature and survive up to 10 months when packaged in flexible materials like plastic, paper, and aluminum. You can use shelf-stable and plant-based milk if refrigeration is not available. A viable substitute is powdered milk, which has a 3-5 year shelf life when stored in a cool, dark environment. As required, it can be reconstituted with fresh water in little amounts.