How long can coffee creamer sit out of the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long can coffee creamer sit out of the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of coffee creamer at room temperature. Moreover, we are going to discuss different ways to spot bad coffee creamer.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long can coffee creamer sit out of the fridge?
Dairy-based coffee creamer lasts for about 2 hours if left out at room temperature. The same holds true in the case of an open pack of non-dairy coffee creamer.
Coffee creamer is a perishable commodity and has a lot of water present in its formulation so if it is kept out for more than 2 hours, bacteria and other microbes will find their way into your coffee creamer and will spoil it.
You should discard the coffee creamer that has been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore there are greater chances of the coffee creamer being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.
Moreover, if the temperature of the surroundings is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then the process of spoilage takes place at a faster pace and it is recommended to discard coffee creamer that is left out in the open for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The exceptions to this case are the unopened non-dairy creamer sold unrefrigerated and the powdered coffee creamer.
Non-dairy creamer that is sold unrefrigerated and is still unopened lasts for about a month past the “best by” date if it is stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat and provided that there is no leakage in it.
When it comes to the powdered coffee creamer, it lasts for about 3-6 months past the best by date if it is stored properly in an air-tight container in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.
It is worth mentioning that the figures mentioned above are the estimated shelf life of coffee creamer.
How long can coffee creamer stay good in the fridge?
An unopened pack of dairy creamer that is sold refrigerated lasts for about a week or two past the “use by” date if stored in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, once it gets opened, its shelf life also decreases. Opened dairy creamer lasts for about 1-2 weeks when kept in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the fridge in an air-tight container or bottle.
Open non-dairy creamer lasts for about 1-2 weeks if stored properly in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in an air-tight container or bottle.
It is worth mentioning that these figures are just the estimated shelf life of the creamer and it is the time during which you can enjoy its peak quality.
Is coffee creamer safe to use after the best-before date?
The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the carton of coffee creamer refers to the quality rather than safety so coffee creamer doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date.
This date refers to the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of coffee creamer but you can still use coffee creamer that is past this date as long as it was stored properly, there is no leakage in the carton and no signs of mold are present.
Ways to spot bad coffee creamer
There are a couple of indicators that point out bad coffee creamer. You should consider the appearance, texture, smell, and taste of the coffee creamer to give a final verdict of whether or not it has gone bad.
Appearance
If you spot a mold or any other organic growth in your coffee creamer carton (it is a really rare phenomenon), then the best thing you can do is to get rid of this coffee creamer as it is an indication of bad coffee creamer.
Texture
If the dairy creamer is curdled or has lumps present in it, then it is an indication of bad creamer and you should get rid of it.
Smell
If you smell something foul or sour while taking a sniff test then it is an indication that the coffee creamer has gone bad and the best thing to do is to discard it.
Taste
If the coffee creamer has passed the visual and smell test, then you can go ahead and taste it. In the case of liquid creamer (dairy or non-dairy), if you notice a sour or bitter taste after taking a little sip then it is an indication that the creamer has gone bad.
In the case of the powdered coffee creamer, you can brew yourself a cup of coffee to check its taste profile. If you feel some off-flavors in it then it is better to discord such powdered coffee creamer.
Other FAQs about Coffee which you may be interested in.
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Tips to properly store coffee creamer
- Dairy creamers should be stored at 40°F or below in the fridge. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40°F and 140°F, therefore it is always advised to store dairy creamers at a lower temperature to preserve their freshness and quality for a long time.
- Dairy coffee creamer can pick up odors therefore it should be stored in an air-tight container or bottle in the fridge. Moreover, it should be stored away from strong-smelling food items like garlic, onion, etc.
- In the case of the non-dairy creamers, you can store them in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat as long as they are unopened but once they get opened, it is recommended to store them in the fridge in an air-tight container.
- In the case of the powdered coffee container, the best way to store it is to keep it in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat in an air-tight container.
- You should not store the powder coffee creamer in a humid environment. Moreover, it is advised to tightly close the lid of the powdered coffee creamer as soon as you are done scooping out the creamer that you need to minimize its air and moisture exposure that can otherwise mess up its quality and can even form lumps in it.
- You should never use a wet spoon to scoop out powdered coffee creamer.
You can read how to make coffee creamers at home here.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long can coffee creamer sit out of the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of coffee creamer at room temperature. Moreover, we discussed different ways to spot bad coffee creamer.
Citations
Does Coffee Creamer Go Bad?
