Do you love adding a splash of creamer to your coffee or black tea instead of using milk? Well, you can opt for oat creamer if you want a healthier and non-dairy creamer.
The expiration date on the oat creamer container is an estimation at best. One of the most frequently asked questions about the oat creamer is – how to know if the oat creamer has gone bad or not.
How can you tell if oat creamer has gone bad? Whether the seal is broken or the container has been opened previously, simply smell the creamer. If the smell has slight acidic and color turns yellowish, then the oat creamer have gone bad.
Oat creamer is best consumed within 5 to 7 days when opened and properly stored in the refrigerator. It may last between 10 to 14 days under optimal conditions.
Store-bought oat creamers must be stored in the right way after using it each time. However, it may be difficult to tell if the oat creamer is good to consume or not just from the outside appearance of the container.
In this article, we have discussed everything about the expiration of oat creamer in details below. Continue reading for answers to frequently asked questions about oat creamer, the shelf life and the best ways to store it.
What Is Oat Creamer?
The oat creamer is a full fat beverage that is made up of oats blended with oil to give it a much thicker consistency than regular oat milk. The increased amounts of oil give oat creamer a smooth yet creamy texture that makes it quite a popular choice for adding to hot coffee or tea.
The oat creamer is generally made up of rolled oats, water, sea salt and oil; and it is prepared by blending the oat flakes with the liquid and straining the pulp to reserve the creamer. It is a vegan, lactose-free and dairy-free product that is loaded with some great nutrients.
Oat creamer contains higher contents of fat which makes it more creamer compared to oat milk. The blending process makes the molecules emulsified to combine the water and oil.
On occasion, you will find the oat beverage separating. The issue can be resolved by frequent shaking to mix the ingredients and emulsify the liquid once again.
Oat Creamer Storage Tips
To store unopened oat creamer is super easy and does not require any cooking involved. For any properly sealed or unopened creamer, the oat beverage comes as shelf stable and needs to be stored in a cool and dry cupboard to preserve its taste and freshness, same conditions as when you store oatmeal.
However, the already opened oat creamer does require a more specific method to keep it fresh and tasty throughout the week. It is recommended to store in an airtight container to avoid exposure to the air, debris and moisture up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
Whether the oat creamer is opened or unopened, do not store in the freezer. The oat creamer has a high percentage of water, which will cause it to expand and possibly explode when it freezes.
When properly stored, oat creamer can stay fresh for about a week or longer if kept in the right way. However, it is similar in nature and will eventually go bad like oat milk.
Here are some essential tips that you can follow to store the oat creamer properly:
- Find a clean airtight container or a mason jar for storing the oat creamer.
- Sometimes the store-bought oat creamer comes in a pack that you have to cut and use.
- If you cut the pack, make sure to pour the whole contents into a sanitized airtight container and don’t let it stay in the cut open packaging.
- Store it in the fridge to keep it chilled and fresh at all times.
- When you need it, take the container out to use it and make sure to tightly close the lid and return it back to the fridge as quickly as possible.
Without the proper storing methods, oat creamer can go bad or spoil in a short amount of time. Following these tips can be quite helpful for you to store the oat creamer in the right way to preserve taste, freshness and extending the quality a few extra days.
Oat Creamer Date Labels
Expiration date labels are a source of confusion for both consumers and manufacturers. Not only are they misleading, but there is not scientific fact for when a properly sealed container will expire.
It is important to note that expiration dates are not based on exact science. They are predominately used by manufacturers as a means to quantify an estimated date that the oat creamer has gone bad.
They are used to suggest the best quality to consumers, but date labels are not an exact science based on accurately determining the safety of food.
Is Oat Creamer Shelf Stable?
Yes, oat creamer is shelf stable when it is sealed or unopened. It is recommended to keep the container stored in a cool, dark and dry storage area.
When the container is sealed, it is good for nine months and possibly much longer. Once the seal has been broken, then the beverage is no longer shelf stable and requires refrigeration.
If you are asking about the shelf-stability of opened oat creamer, then you must know certain things. The oat creamer can stay at its best when kept in the fridge in an airtight container.
Chilled creamer can last for about a week or so, and sometimes it stays good for 10 to 14 days.
The USDA recommends storing perishable foods below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, it should be left out at room temperature for the minimum amount of time and guidelines state to refrigerate within 2 hours of opening if you intend on saving the leftovers.
The oat creamer cannot stay good in warm or even in room temperature for a longer period of time. Even if you keep it for more time at room temperature, make sure to use an airtight container to reduce the risk of unwanted debris, bacteria and exposure to air.
How Long Does Oat Creamer Last?
Reading the expiration date on the container is the best way to follow manufacture suggested guideline. In general, the oat creamer can last for about 5 to 7 days when kept in the refrigerator.
- Time: As a perishable food, it is recommended to use oat creamer and return it to the fridge right away. USDA recommends 2 hours or less at room temperature if you are going to save the leftovers.
- Temperature: Ensure that you are using a well-sealed airtight container to store the oat creamer at refrigerated temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Airtight container: It is better if you can use a container made up of glass rather than a stainless steel or plastic as these materials harbor foul flavors and bad odors that can be passed to the neutral tasting beverage. After every use, you have to make sure that the container is sealed and placed back in the refrigerator again.
For best results and longer lasting freshness, follow the recommended storage tips. Otherwise you will notice that your oat creamer has gone bad before intended.
Although the manufacture guidelines state 5 to 7 days, it is very common for the oat creamer to last longer than that when well taken care of. Use your sense to help you determine the freshness of the creamer, rather than purely relying on the date labels on the packaging.
How Do You Know If Oat Creamer Has Expired?
If you want to know whether or not the oat creamer has expired, then open the container of the creamer and smell it. When the smell is not so fresh and slightly acidic in nature, then the oat creamer might have spoiled.
Generally speaking, the oat creamer can stay good for about 7 days if kept properly in the fridge. But sometimes due to several reasons, it can go bad in 3 to 5 days.
How do you know if it is still good or has gone bad? Other than smell, sometimes you will notice a the color and consistency of the oat creamer begins to change.
- Change in color: When the oat creamer has expired or has gone bad, it will turn a bit yellowish in color. Even the consistency will become thicker or thinner than its original state.
- Mold: A common occurrence is to experience mold growth on the surface of the oat creamer. Sediment gets trapped on the surface and mold spores take hold, the results are rapid growth on the surface of the beverage. If mold starts to develop, then it is time to throw away the creamer.
- Sour smell: To be sure, you have to smell the creamer. In case you get a slightly sour odor that is quite distinguishable from the original smell, then it has expired and unfortunately it is time to throw it away.
- Off-putting taste: After passing the look and smell senses, its time to taste a few drops. If the oat creamer tastes at all funky or sour, then chances are that it is not safe to drink.
Drinking Bad Oat Creamer
It is not safe to drink bad or expired oat creamer. Consuming spoiled oat creamer can result into several undesirable health issues.
Just like any other food, when the oat creamer gets expired or goes bad, it can have a bad effect on your digestion. Drinking bad oat creamer can cause food poisoning leading to vomiting, intestinal inflammation or even diarrhea.
Rotten or expired foods and drinks can abruptly cause serious stomach issues. Although there are serious oat beverage dangers to be aware of, you wont want to confuse those with the effects of a food borne illness.
In some cases, you can also feel a cramp in your stomach along with a nauseous feeling. Some people even get extreme side effects such as chills, dehydration, fever, loss of appetite, light-headedness and bloating.
So, it is always better to avoid having expired oat creamer when the color, smell, taste and texture have changed. If the oat creamer has a sour or acidic smell, lumps and clump or has turned a slight yellowish color that no longer looks fresh, then it is better to avoid having it.
Expired Oat Creamer: Conclusion
Oat creamer is a great alternative dairy free creamer for hot and cold drinks, and even cooking vegan recipes. From soups to baked goods and coffee drinks, oat creamer makes a great addition if you are not prone to oat beverage side effects.
However, identifying if the oat creamer has gone bad by look, smell or taste can be tricky. So, how do we determine whether it is ok to drink expired oat creamer in your coffee?
Save your delicious oat creamer and keep the shelf life extended by storing the opened oat creamer in a separate airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
When the container is still sealed, keep it in a cool, dark and dry storage are for up to nine months.
Whenever pouring the oat creamer into your favorite coffee or tea, always double check the odor or color to avoid consuming expired oat creamer that causes irritable bowels.
This is all about how to store the oat creamer in the right way and how to know if your oat creamer has gone bad. To ensure that your oat creamer stays fresh for a longer time, you have to follow the above mentioned tips for storing it in the right way.
If not stored properly, the oat creamer can go bad quickly and consuming it can lead to several discomforts. So when in doubt, throw it out.