How long does milk last?

Checked 24 Oct 20265 official publishers, 8 sources

Plain or flavored: 7 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for milk by state and place
StateCounter / pantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Plain or flavored 2 hours max CDC 7 days Extension Also stated: until the use-by date FoodKeeper 3 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension Extension
Ultra-pasteurized, unopened Not stated 1-3 months FoodKeeper Not stated
Ultra-pasteurized, opened 2 hours max CDC 7-10 days FoodKeeper Not stated
Shelf-stable (UHT), unopened 6-12 months FoodKeeper Not stated Not stated
Shelf-stable (UHT), opened 2 hours max CDC 5-7 days FoodKeeper Not stated
Lactose-free, opened 2 hours max CDC 1 week FoodKeeper Not stated
Lactose-free Not stated Not stated Not recommended FoodKeeper
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounter / pantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Plain or flavored-Until the use-by date3 months
Nebraska ExtensionPlain or flavoredNot recommended7 days3 months
University of Illinois ExtensionPlain or flavored--3 months
CDC 2025Plain or flavored2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Ultra-pasteurized, unopened-1-3 months-
CDC 2025Ultra-pasteurized, opened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Ultra-pasteurized, opened-7-10 days-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Shelf-stable (UHT), unopened6-12 months--
CDC 2025Shelf-stable (UHT), opened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Shelf-stable (UHT), opened-5-7 days-
CDC 2025Lactose-free, opened2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Lactose-free, opened-1 week-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Lactose-free--Not recommended

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Place into smaller airtight containers and leave an inch at the top to allow it to expand.” Extension
  • “Butter, Eggs, Milk and Cheese - Place the frozen product in the refrigerator to thaw. After thawing, it can be used as fresh.” Extension

What the sources say

For plain or flavored milk, FoodKeeper gives no number of days in the fridge: it says to keep it until the package use-by date.1

The Nebraska Extension chart gives 7 days in the fridge and marks milk as not safe at room temperature.2

Both FoodKeeper and the Nebraska chart give 3 months in the freezer, and so does the University of Illinois Extension, which suggests smaller airtight containers with an inch of space at the top so the milk can expand.123

Other kinds of milk have their own FoodKeeper times: ultra-pasteurized milk keeps 1 to 3 months in the fridge unopened and 7 to 10 days once opened.5

Shelf-stable milk keeps 6 to 12 months in the pantry from purchase, then 5 to 7 days in the fridge after opening.6

Opened lactose-free milk gets 1 week in the fridge, and FoodKeeper lists freezing it as not recommended.7

Frozen milk should be thawed in the refrigerator, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and can then be used as fresh.8

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFreezing and refreezingThawing safelyFridge and freezer temperatureBest-by and use-by dates
ButterCream cheeseBreast milk

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 27: Milk, plain or flavored. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk, plain or flavored. Refrigerate: Package use-by date; DOP_Freeze: 3 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk Not safe 7 days 3 months
  3. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk 3 months. Place into smaller airtight containers and leave an inch at the top to allow it to expand.Place into smaller airtight containers and leave an inch at the top to allow it to expand.
  4. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
  5. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 659: Milk, ultra-pasteurized. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk, ultra-pasteurized. Refrigerate: 1-3 Months; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 7-10 Days
  6. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 644: Milk, shelf-stable. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk, shelf-stable. DOP_Pantry: 6-12 Months; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 5-7 Days
  7. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 543: Milk, lactose-free. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Milk, lactose-free. Refrigerate_After_Opening: 1 Weeks; Freeze: Not Recommended
  8. Thawing and Preparing Foods for Serving - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Butter, Eggs, Milk and Cheese - Place the frozen product in the refrigerator to thaw. After thawing, it can be used as fresh.
  9. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.