How Long Is Coffee Creamer Good For? Can Coffee Creamer Go Bad?

I love coffee and love helping people. This is why I created this site. I often get asked questions like how long is coffee creamer good for? Of which, I am delighted to answer as best and as detailed as I can and as accurately as you will get anywhere else online.

By the time you have finished reading this article, you will not only know how long coffee creamer is good for, you will know how to tell when it is off, what will happen if you drink expired coffee creamer and if it can make you sick or not.

So get ready and keep reading!

What Is Coffee Creamer?

Coffee lovers know exactly what coffee creamer is. There are different types of coffee creamers. Here are a few examples that you are familiar with:

• 1. Powdered Non-dairy creamer.
• 2. Liquid non-dairy creamer.
• 3. Powdered dairy creamer.
• 4. Liquid dairy creamers.

Powder creamer and liquid creamer are equally popular and contain the same ingredients and are often referred to as coffee whiteners, dairy whiteners and are classed similarly as non-dairy whiteners, powdered whiteners, and liquid coffee whiteners.

The most established and recognizable brand is coffee mate.

The creamer can be added to tea or coffee instead of using a regular milk product. The majority of coffee creamers are dairy free and manufactured using sugar or an artificial sweetener. Emulsifiers and oil are used to thicken them up.

Both liquid coffee creamers and the powdered versions have a longer lasting shelf life than their milk counterparts.

Powder creamers, be they dairy or non-dairy versions, last longer than a liquid non-dairy creamer and a liquid dairy creamer.

They come in a variety of sizes, from tiny individual creamer cups, where you need 2 or 3 individual mini creamer cups per cup of coffee, to a full tetra brick carton. Powdered versions also come in small single serving sizes and large long-lasting foil-packed bags.

In some countries, like the US, it is a better idea to buy individual creamers as they come in a variety of flavors which can enhance the flavor of your cup of coffee.

The principal attraction of coffee creamer when compared to regular milk is they add texture to your drink and are a great back up for when you are out of milk – which is why I always have some on hand.

Read: How to make pumpkin spice coffee

Can Coffee Creamer Make You Sick?

In a word, yes!

Using an expired coffee creamer can make you sick. If it is not too out of date, you might get away with it, but I would not and nor do I advise that you use any type of coffee creamer that has expired.

Bacteria can grow in your unopened coffee creamers and, thus, using them can give you much more than an upset stomach and will, in this case, most certainly make you sick.

Read: How to make Turkish coffee without an Ibrik

How Long Is Coffee Creamer Good For?

The individual coffee creamers, those tiny mini coffee creamer cups, all have an expiry date printed on them and can last for up to 6 months.

Store them properly in your fridge and unopened, and you can extend the life of your coffee creamers and keep them a little fresher for longer.

Still, have a good look at the coffee creamer packaging and don’t overstep the expiry date – it is there for a reason.

How Long Does Coffee Creamer Last Once Opened?

Once you open your liquid coffee creamer, it should last for about a week to 10 days when you store it in your fridge. Liquid dairy creamers and liquid non-dairy creamers are food products, and should be treated as such – the 3-day rule. If it is more than 3 days old, be prepared to throw it out as it will have lost its freshness.

This is where those mini coffee mate creamers have their advantage over a bottle or tetra brick. They are small and can be used as and when required instead of using a large bottle.

How Long Do Individual Coffee Creamers Last?

The individual coffee creamers, like coffee mate, have a shelf life of 6 months. It is claimed by many that you can squeeze an extra month beyond the expiry date printed on them.

I stress that you should not do that due to the potential for bacteria forming, or micro bacteria that is naked to the human eye which will make you sick.

Never use any food product beyond their best-by date or use by date.

Once you have opened them, treat them like any dairy product and store them in your fridge and use them within 2 to 3 days.

How Long Does Powdered Coffee Creamer Last?

If stored properly in an airtight container, your powdered coffee creamer will last for up to 2 years when you store it at room temperature. This applies to non-dairy creamers or dairy creamers equally. Keep them stored in optimal conditions to maximize their shelf life.

Do use an airtight container to keep them away from any moisture in the air. If you don’t, you can expect a shorter shelf life.

How Do You Know If Coffee Creamer Is Bad?

Sometimes the good old-fashioned rule of TAFO has to be applied. Simply Test And Find Out if your coffee creamer has gone bad.

Start by first opening it and giving it a sniff test. If it smells bad, you can be assured that your coffee creamer is bad and has gone off.

If it smells fine, proceed to test number two and sip test it. If it tastes off, your creamer has gone off.

Test number three, only if it smells fine and tastes fine. Make a cup of coffee and use your coffee creamer. If it does not mix with your coffee straight away and curdles slightly, forming little circles, it has gone bad. Discard the coffee and don’t drink it.

Note: if your coffee creamer goes thick, it does not necessarily mean that it has gone off.

How Do You Know If Powdered Coffee Creamer Is Bad?

The sniff and sip test does not work for finding out if your powdered coffee creamer has gone bad. To find out if your powdered creamer is bad, the best way is to make a cup of coffee and test it out.

There is no other way. Other than brewing a cup of coffee and testing it to find out. If it tastes okay and does not clump or curdle, then your powdered coffee creamer is fine.

If it tastes off, then discard it.

What Happens If You Drink Expired Coffee Creamer?

If you go ahead and drink out of date or expired coffee creamer, there is a chance that you can get sick because of it. This is particularly so when it smells off or tastes sour and curdles. Under such circumstances, it is probable that some bacteria has grown and can make you sick.

It should not come to that as you should always look at the date on it and never use it beyond such a date. Also, you will be aware of the off-tasting coffee which is sour in taste and will not want to drink it anyway.

How To Store Coffee Creamer

There are a few varieties of coffee creamers and the container in which they come in. A liquid creamer comes in tetra packs, plastic bottles or mini versions of tiny little single serving cups.

There are also powdered whitener that comes in small single serve sachets or a larger sealed bag.

Liquid coffee creamers of all varieties and sizes, I suggest that you store them in your fridge to keep them fresh. Even if they are long life non-dairy whiteners and normally stored at room temperature, there is no harm in storing them in your fridge.

Make sure you keep them in an airtight sealed container at all times.

With your powder-based coffee whiteners, you can treat them as you would with regular powdered milk and store them in your kitchen at room temperature. Just be sure that no moisture can get in. I suggest that you store them in a container rather than the bag that they came in.

Why Does My Coffee Creamer Get Thick?

There are a few reason why your coffee creamer may get thick. It does not always mean that it has gone bad it could simply be that your coffee is very acidic. Also, putting in sugar first can also make your creamer go a little lumpy.

Also, coffee creamer coagulates with sudden changes in temperature when adding to iced coffee and other types of non-dairy milk.

Yes,

it could also mean that your creamer has gone off, but not always!

Why Does Creamer Curdle In Iced Coffee?

The reason that your creamer curdles and coagulates in iced coffee is due to the sudden and quick change in temperature.

This also happens with a wide range of milks due to how the proteins react to sudden temperature changes. Try adding ice to your coffee before you add the creamer.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Long Is Coffee Creamer Good For

Does Coffee Creamer Really Expire?

Yes, unfortunately coffee creamer can go off and expire like cream, plain milk or any dairy product. At best all you will have is a horrid tasting cup of coffee, at worse it can make you sick. Check the date and give your coffee creamer a sniff and sip test before using it for your coffee.

Can You Use Creamer After 14 Days?

The shelf life of creamer depends on the type of creamer you have and how well you have stored it. Generally speaking, liquid dairy creamer, be it unopened or opened, will keep well for up to 2 weeks.

When Should You Throw Out Coffee Creamer?

 When it is expired, it is a good starting point. Check the date and if it is beyond the printed date on the package – throw it out. Coffee creamer is cheap and available everywhere.

Does Creamer Go Bad In The Fridge?

Opened dairy creamer can last for a week or two while opened without the risk or worry of it spoiling.

Can You Drink 2-Month-Old Coffee Creamer?

Even though coffee creamers can stay well beyond their expiration date, it is not something that I recommend since it is cheap and available everywhere. Check the expiration date and if it is expired, throw it out!

How Long Can You Keep Coffee Mate Creamer In The Fridge After Opening?

After you have opened your coffee mate creamer it is still good for a week or two while stored in your fridge. I still recommend that you consume liquid creamer within 3 to 5 days of opening.

Frappé-Ing It Up! – How Long Is Coffee Creamer Good For?

Now you know how long coffee creamer is good for you can take proper care and store it properly. Liquid coffee creamer will keep good for up to 6 months, while powdered creamers are good for 18 months to 2 years.

Be sure to store them optimally and never use expired creamer of any kind as it can make you sick.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location