The concrete answer is this: drinking expired almond milk can make you sick if it has spoiled, since harmful bacteria or mold can grow once it passes its safe shelf life. In mild cases, you might experience nothing at all, especially if it was just slightly past its “best by” date and stored properly. But in more serious situations, drinking spoiled almond milk can lead to nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, or even food poisoning.
Unlike some shelf-stable foods, almond milk (both refrigerated and shelf-stable varieties) is highly perishable once opened, like mayonnaise. That means paying attention to dates, storage conditions, and sensory cues like smell and texture is the best way to protect your health.
Almond milk is primarily water blended with ground almonds, sometimes fortified with vitamins, minerals, and stabilizers. While it doesn’t contain dairy, it still provides an environment where bacteria can thrive once exposed to air.
The proteins, natural sugars, and added nutrients become food for microbes, especially if the milk is stored improperly or left open too long. Shelf life depends on whether the product is refrigerated from the start or shelf-stable before opening.
Signs That Almond Milk Has Gone Bad
The most important way to know if almond milk is safe is to check its appearance, smell, and taste. Expiration dates are guidelines, but actual spoilage can happen faster if the milk was not stored correctly.
If any of these signs are present, the almond milk should not be consumed.
Health Risks of Drinking Expired Almond Milk
The severity of the health effects depends on how spoiled the almond milk is and how sensitive the person’s digestive system might be. While some people may feel only mild discomfort, others may face stronger symptoms.
For young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, the risks are higher and can lead to more serious illness.
Differences Between “Best By,” “Use By,” and Actual Spoilage
Almond milk containers often display “best by” or “use by” dates, which can be confusing.
What To Do If You Accidentally Drink
If you drink almond milk and later realize it has expired, the next steps depend on whether it was actually spoiled.
Preventing Going Bad
@keepingthepeas How to Freeze Almond Milk: If you have extra almond milk you dont want to go to waste freeze it! Defrost in the fridge, then blend for 20-30 seconds. Almond milk separates after it defrosts. #almondmilk #cookingtips #howtofreeze #freezingfood #vegantips
Prevention is the simplest way to avoid the risks of expired almond milk.
Homemade almond milk should always be consumed within 3–5 days, since it lacks preservatives.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is clear: drinking expired almond milk can range from harmless to harmful, depending on how spoiled it is. If it’s only slightly past its “best by” date and shows no signs of spoilage, the risk is low. But if it smells sour, looks curdled, or tastes off like a bad cheese, it should never be consumed. The potential for food poisoning is not worth the risk, especially since almond milk is affordable and easy to replace. Paying close attention to dates, storage conditions, and sensory cues ensures you enjoy almond milk safely without worrying about health consequences.
Hi there, my name is Kelly Barlow and kellytoeat.com is my blog. Here, I write about various recipes I want to reccommend to readers.
I try to find the best possible recipes that can attract the attention of readers, and at the same time, I strive to write it in the most engaging manner possible.
When I was younger, I wanted to become a chef. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be, but at the very least, I write about it.