Shelf life of condensed milk: how long is it stored, under what conditions, temperature (in an open and closed iron can), how to increase the storage period?

If you have leftover condensed milk and are not going to use it any time soon, you may ask: “Can I freeze condensed milk?” We'll tell you what happens if you freeze condensed milk, is there a difference between freezing boiled and regular condensed milk.

Storage conditions for condensed milk are established by the manufacturer. As a rule, an unopened can (package) of condensed milk has a longer shelf life in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to 10 degrees Celsius. But if you open a tin can or plastic packaging of condensed milk, the duration of its storage in the refrigerator is reduced. And then the question arises about using the freezer to store condensed milk. But does condensed milk freeze in the freezer, will its taste and consistency change?

What is the product?

Condensed milk refers to canned milk , which is produced using established technology in an industrial environment. The product is prepared by boiling whole milk with added sugar.

During the boiling process, the liquid changes consistency and becomes thick. The product is high in calories, sweet, and contains vitamins and minerals.

In order to have confidence in the quality of the product, you should study the packaging. It must contain information about the manufacturer, composition, volume and nutritional value. The expiration date must also be indicated.

A quality product will indicate “whole condensed milk with sugar.” Another name for freeform may indicate a lower quality product.

In accordance with GOST, the product must contain a fat content of 8.5% . For sweetened skim milk this figure is 1%, for sweetened condensed cream - 19%.

The world owes the appearance of condensed milk in cans to N. Appert, who lived during the reign of Napoleon.

According to GOST

At the legislative level it is regulated by the following standards:

GOST 31688-2021 “Canned milk products. Milk and cream, condensed with sugar,” which provides classification depending on fat content, requirements for organoleptic, physicochemical properties, raw materials, and packaging.
GOST 34312-2021 “Condensed milk - raw materials. Technical conditions".
GOST 34254-2021 “Canned milk products. Sterilized condensed milk. Technical conditions".
GOST 33921-2021 “Boiled condensed milk with sugar. Technical conditions".

How long can it be stored, at what temperature?

Condensed milk is produced in metal cans, plastic containers and bags with a dispenser. If the products comply with GOST, then in the first case the storage time is one year, for packages – six months. The shortest shelf life in plastic packaging is 3 months.

Optimal conditions for condensed milk:

humidity from 75% to 85%;
air temperature – from 0ºС to +10ºС.

The shelf life of the product is directly affected by:

the conditions in which the product is located;
violation of the tightness (opening) of the original packaging.

A longer shelf life - above 12 months - can only be in the presence of preservatives and in the case of production according to specifications, and not according to GOST.

In a refrigerator

Condensed milk can be stored in unopened factory containers for as long as indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Once opened, the product can be kept in a cool place for up to 5 days .

In the freezer

It is not advisable to freeze condensed milk. At low temperatures, the product loses its consistency and becomes sugary. When defrosted, such milk can still be added to tea, but it will no longer be possible to use it to prepare culinary masterpieces.

Milk should be frozen in special containers, not in iron cans. In this case, the product can be kept frozen for 3 to 6 months.

In room conditions

At high air temperatures, condensed milk cannot be stored for a long time. An opened jar should be used within several hours (no more than 6), if it is not possible to move it to the refrigerator. In hot weather, this period is reduced even further.

Selection of containers

The original packaging is suitable for long-term storage of the product subject to all conditions of temperature and humidity.

After the jar is opened, it is recommended to pour its contents into a glass container and keep it under the lid.

You should not leave milk in a metal can, as in this case oxidative processes will begin and the product will deteriorate faster.

In addition to glass containers, a ceramic or enameled container can be selected. They must also close, preventing air from entering and foreign odors from being absorbed.

According to GOST

At the legislative level it is regulated by the following standards:

GOST 31688-2021 “Canned milk products. Milk and cream, condensed with sugar,” which provides classification depending on fat content, requirements for organoleptic, physicochemical properties, raw materials, and packaging.
GOST 34312-2021 “Condensed milk - raw materials. Technical conditions".
GOST 34254-2021 “Canned milk products. Sterilized condensed milk. Technical conditions".
GOST 33921-2021 “Boiled condensed milk with sugar. Technical conditions".

Extending the storage period

extend the shelf life of an opened can of condensed milk if you pour the contents into a glass container and cover with a lid . This allows you to keep the product in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.

If condensed milk is supposed to be stored for a long time, and in fairly large volumes, then the best option is a basement with good ventilation. The cans themselves, which come in a box, are best left in this packaging. In some cases, jars may have a special lubricant that protects them from damage.

Storage in closed containers

Factory sealed containers are stored on a refrigerator shelf or in a cool basement. Iron cans should not touch each other so that rust does not form at the points of contact.
It is better if the cans of condensed milk are in cardboard boxes. Sometimes the cans are coated in a special lubricant that prevents corrosion. There is no need to wipe off such lubricant during storage. This is done before using the product.
Before storing condensed milk, cellars or basements must be equipped with a good exhaust hood and the humidity level in these places must be monitored.
If condensed milk is in a plastic container, it should not be exposed to sunlight. Therefore, it is better to store such a product on the refrigerator shelf.

Boiled condensed milk

Boiled condensed milk is one of the popular varieties of condensed milk. You can prepare it yourself or buy it ready-made in the store. The standards for the release of this product differ from ordinary liquid condensed milk. The expiration date for the product is set by the manufacturer himself.

The characteristics of condensed milk depend on the cooking time:

In 1.5 hours, the consistency acquires the viscousness necessary for making creams.
In 2-2.5 hours, condensed milk becomes of medium consistency and can be used as a filling for nut-type cookies.
After 3 hours of cooking, the condensed milk becomes dark in color and can be used as a self-sufficient dessert.

The shelf life of such delicacies depends on the container, humidity and storage temperature. If the original packaging is opened, the shelf life in the refrigerator is reduced to 8 days.

How to prevent condensed milk from becoming sugared?

To avoid having to constantly stand near the stove, cook condensed milk in a water bath. To do this, pour water into a large saucepan and place a saucepan with milk in it. Heat to a boil over high heat, and once the milk begins to boil, reduce the heat to low. The milk must be boiled for at least an hour.

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Home

You can not only buy condensed milk ready-made, but also make it yourself. It is prepared from two components:

milk;
sugar.

Having combined milk with sugar, the product is strongly boiled, bringing it to the required consistency. After the treat has cooled, it can be placed in the refrigerator and used within 10 days.

If condensed milk is being prepared for future use, it is poured hot into glass jars, which are sterilized for 10 minutes, and then sealed .

The product is stored in a dark and cool place for up to two years. If sugariness begins to appear on the surface of the mass, condensed milk should be used as soon as possible.

You can learn about making homemade condensed milk from the video:

How to defrost condensed milk?

If you want to use frozen condensed milk, you need to follow a few steps:

Simply take the required amount out of the freezer and toss the cube into your coffee.
You can always place the cube in a small container and let it defrost first if you want, but this is not necessary.
One cube is equal to a tablespoon...

Here are a few recipes we love that use condensed milk that you might want to try:

Strawberry Bars Recipe with Delicious Mousse
Easy no-bake blueberry and lemon cheesecake for two

What to do if it goes bad?

A product that is expired or has been stored for a long time after opening should not be eaten. Even if the expiration date has not passed, you should not use condensed milk that has changed color, smell or taste .

You should be wary of a consistency uncharacteristic of condensed milk or the presence of foreign inclusions. This product must be disposed of.

Heat treatment is only possible if the product is not lost. Sugaring indicates violations of storage conditions or periods.

Marking

You can determine the naturalness and composition of condensed milk by labeling:

Particular attention should be paid to the name. The law distinguishes condensed cream, skim, whole. Any other wording indicates that the cooking technology does not comply with GOST.
There should be a letter M on the lid - the designation of condensed milk.
The next two digits are the manufacturer's code.
Then follow two or three numbers - the product range (76 means the purest composition).
The bottom row is the production date.

For example, M23761 07/31/2021 means: condensed milk was produced by an enterprise with code 23, product range 761. Date of manufacture is July 31, 2022. The expiration period set by the manufacturer is indicated on the label.

Recommendations

When purchasing and storing condensed milk, it is advisable to remember the following expert advice:

You should not buy condensed milk in a tin can that has dents, especially on the seams, since such a defect can lead to damage to the product due to damage to the inner layer.
The container tin should not be rusty on the outside.
If there is doubt about the quality of the product, you should not use it for food.
If condensed milk that is not expired turns out to be candied after opening the package, this may indicate improper storage or violation of transportation conditions. It is not advisable to use such a product as food.
The high calorie content of condensed milk makes it not a suitable product for those losing weight, and is not used in dietary nutrition.
The recommended amount of condensed milk is 1-2 spoons per day.
This condensed milk should not contain synthetic components or oils of vegetable origin.
Do not keep the product package in the sun.
A can of real condensed milk should have a completely stamped marking in two rows. In the second row - production date and shift number.
During storage, tin cans should not touch each other. This will prevent rust and chipping.
After opening the plastic package, the condensed milk from it does not need to be poured into another container. But storage must be under a lid.

In addition to regular condensed milk, you can find a product on sale with various additives, for example, chicory, coffee or cocoa. Condensed milk is also available - without sugar.

Can condensed milk be frozen?

As you might expect, we're not the only ones who love condensed milk. One of our readers sent us the following message asking about this issue:

Recently I was introduced to a miracle - Vietnamese coffee. If you're not familiar with it, it's a sweet, chilled coffee with a creamy texture. The sweet taste and creamy texture are largely due to the use of condensed milk. I'm used to making Vietnamese coffee at home, but since I don't drink it every day, I waste a lot of condensed milk. I have to open a new can almost every time I make coffee because the milk goes bad before I need it again. I need very little to make coffee. I don't want to waste so much food. Can condensed milk be frozen?

I know about Vietnamese coffee. This is one of my favorite treats! To answer your question, yes, you can freeze condensed milk . However, due to its consistency, it does not necessarily freeze as solid as some other liquids and tends to remain a bit sticky. However, freezing does not affect the taste or texture, so give it a try!

How to cook condensed milk

For cooking, you should choose a quality one. fresh. condensed milk so that after heat treatment the product does not acquire a bitter taste. The composition of the product should consist only of sugar and milk. It is necessary to check that the tin can has no damage, diverging seams, or islands of rust.

A product whose label says: “whole condensed milk with sugar” is suitable. Before cooking, the label should be removed from the jar, and the jar itself should be rinsed and wiped thoroughly. It is recommended to choose a pan as deep as possible, and the water in it should be at least 5 cm above the level of the jar.

How to choose and purchase the right condensed milk

In addition to condensed whole milk, today you can find many products on sale that are similar in appearance and sold in similar packaging, containing a lot of additional components: milk protein substitutes, palm oil, flavoring and aromatic additives.

The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing condensed milk in a store is the composition of the product indicated on the package. In accordance with GOST, real condensed milk contains only milk and sugar.

If, along with these components, any other ingredients are indicated on the label in the “Composition” section, it is better to refrain from purchasing such a product and look for a better one.

As for the name, options such as “Condensed milk product” or “Condensed milk” are used for surrogates or products not manufactured in accordance with GOST. But the names “Sweetened condensed milk” or “Condensed whole milk” are allowed only for quality goods.

Traditionally, condensed milk is sold in tin cans. However, there are other packaging options: glass, plastic. polyethylene. For those who are going to cook condensed milk after purchasing it, it is better to avoid such packaging.