How Long Does Coffee Mate Creamer Last?

If so, then you must be aware of how long the creamer lasts. It is just not something you can buy on a whim without knowing how long it will expire. 

So how long does it last? Do you have to worry about the expiration date of coffee mate creamer? And if you cannot find out, then how do you know how long it lasts?

Let’s find out by finding out how long coffee mate creamer lasts.

What is a coffee creamer?

Coffee creamer is store-bought creamer. Some people prefer to make their own, but others like the store-bought ones, which are sold everywhere from grocery stores to dollar stores. 

They come in a variety of flavours and tastes and many different brands. But each one has a very long shelf life for a variety of reasons. 

The two main varieties of coffee creamer that are out there today are non-dairy creamers and calorie-free creamers. 

Makers of the non-dairy creamer will make it with vegetable oils, while makers of calorie-free creamer will make it with water or hydrogenated vegetable oils. 

Overall, coffee creamer is an excellent addition to your coffee, and if you use it in moderation, then you can enjoy it while savouring each sip of your coffee.

Types Of Coffee Creamer

Dairy-Based Creamer

It includes milk or milk solids. These are the majority of creamers that are on the market today. They are made from soybean oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, margarine, and flavourings.

Non-Dairy Creamer

These are made without dairy products and with vegetable oils. They are also the most preferred type of creamer by vegetarians.

Mini-Sealed Cup

These coffee creamer cups are usually made with soybean oil, hydrogenated vegetable oils and flavourings. Soybean oil is considered a safer oil than canola oil because it has fewer trans fatty acids, making it healthier than canola oil. 

It can be an excellent alternative for those who do not want to take the time to make their creamer due to time constraints.

Powdered Coffee Creamer

It is prepared from sugar or starch, hydrogenated vegetable oils and E129. This particular form of coffee creamer is also known as evaporated milk.

It is considered a healthier alternative because of its unique consistency, which is almost like instant milk. 

This type of creamer has only traces of fat and calories per serving.

What Kind Of Factors Influence The Shelf Life Of The Creamer?

Various factors determine the shelf life of the coffee creamer.

Packaging Date

Always check the packaging date to see how long it has been sitting on the shelf. The further away from the best before date, the less life it has left for you to enjoy.

Exposure To the Environment

The temperature of the environment also has an impact on the shelf life. The hotter or colder it is, the shorter the shelf life it will have.

It is warm enough to reach the best before date, which means that you should always store your coffee creamer in a cool place. It includes refrigeration if possible.

Storage Method

The storage method for the creamer is also of great relevance. If it is left out on the counter of a kitchen, then you should consider refrigerating it to extend its shelf life. Fan-cooled and micro-fridge storage also have an impact on how long coffee creamer lasts.

Processing Of The Creamer

Some coffee creamer that is in powder form is processed using corn syrup. It is because it helps stabilize the creamer, and it preserves the flavour so that when you add it to your coffee, you do not taste any changes.

How Long Does A Coffee Creamer Last?

So, how long does coffee mate creamer last? Well, the answer to this is: For a long time. Really! It is found that liquid non-dairy creamers last for roughly eight months and calorie-free creamers last for approximately nine months. 

Both of these dates are even better than some food products that we know, such as eggs and milk, which only last for a few weeks. The ingredients in the creamer all contain preservatives such as vitamin A, BHT, and sodium benzoate. 

These ingredients make the creamer last for so long, thus ensuring that you can enjoy your cup of coffee every morning.  In addition, these preservatives help keep the fats in the creamer from going rancid, and they help keep the moisture in the ingredients.

It is also good news for those who like to buy bulk amounts of creamer because you do not have to worry about it getting worse before using it all up. You can buy a gallon of creamer, and it will last you several months without the need for any refrigeration. 

Overall, this is good news for those who like to drink coffee and whose favourite creamer is non-dairy or calorie-free. And if not, then you can always make your creamer (if you want) that has a longer shelf life than most foods such as eggs and milk. 

How To Tell If Coffee Creamer Is Bad?

Even with a long shelf life, you still have to ensure that you store the creamer properly. If you buy a vast gallon of creamer and don’t open it up right away, then there is a chance for air to get into the bottle then oxidize the ingredients inside. It leaves the creamer with a sour taste and will ruin any coffee that you use it in. 

To avoid this, you need to make sure you get the creamer out of the fridge and open it up right away. It will let the creamer escape the oxygen to be fresh and tasty when you want to use it.

So, how can you tell if coffee mate creamer is terrible? The best way is to smell and then taste it before pouring it into your cup. It will tell you whether the creamer is still fresh and tasty. If you smell it and detect a chemical smell, then do not use it. 

Instead, try another brand of creamers that has a longer shelf life, such as non-dairy creamers.

How long does the Coffee-Mate creamer last in the fridge?

Coffee-mate creamers can last for a higher period in the refrigerator as the fridge slows down the growth of spoilage bacteria present in food.

Most containers are marked to take the creamer out 2 to 3 days before it is used for coffee, but this depends on how you store it after it has been opened. 

It’s best to keep your coffee-mate creamers in an opaque container made of plastic or ceramic if you have leftovers. Store the container in a cool, dry place away from too much light and heat.

How long do individual coffee creamers last?

If you are purchasing single-serving packets of coffee-mate creamers, they have a much shorter shelf life. The reason behind it is these packets are not air-tight or have an air valve that allows air to enter the package during distribution at the store. 

Because of this, you want to make sure that you purchase coffee-mate creamer with a use-by date as close as possible to the date you will be consuming it. You can check the label on the container to determine if the coffee-mate creamers are air-tight or not before purchasing them.

You should know for sure that you should use your Coffee-mate Creamer within ten months of opening. It is because a lot of Coffee-mate creamers have a layer of hydrogenated vegetable oil in the creamer. 

The reason for this is so that they don't go rancid or go bad as quickly as other creamer's non-hydrogenated oils do. 

The problem with this is that if you leave them in the refrigerator too long, this layer of hydrogenated oils will start to separate from the creamer. 

So, if you have a container of Coffee-mate that is more than ten months old, then it is time to dispose of it properly.

How Long Can Coffee Creamers Sit Out?

Now, let’s talk about how long can containers of Coffee-mate creamers sit out. The answer to this question is slightly more complicated. If you ask about non-dairy coffee creamers, they have a relatively long shelf life if they are unopened. 

It is because the fat content in the creamer is what makes it spoil faster than most other foods. On the other hand, if you ask about calorie-free coffee creamers, they have a much longer shelf life. Again, it is because the preservatives are what makes it last so long.

The other answer to this question is that neither can sit out for too long at room temperature. It is because the fat in the creamer will start to go rancid if left out too long. In addition, it will begin to smell sour and fatty, which will ruin your coffee if you use it after this has happened. 

Another issue is that there is a chance that bacteria will contaminate the coffee creamer. It, too, can ruin your coffee if you use it after this happens.

The best way to avoid these issues with Coffee Creamer is to take it out of the refrigerator and open it up right away. It will ensure that the creamer escapes any oxygen and enters a new state for use in your hot cups of coffee.

What happens if you drink expired coffee creamer?

Now, if you are not taking steps to ensure that you are using fresh coffee creamer, then there is a chance that you will be consuming it when it is bad. It means that the fat in the creamer has likely separated from the liquid. 

If this happens, then your coffee can taste very sour and be ruined by this separation. There is also a chance of coffee getting sickened by the bacteria that has contaminated your Coffee-mate creamers or may have just gone bad.

If you have a container of coffee creamer that is close to the expiration date, then it is a good idea to throw it out just in case. You can also keep an eye on the creamer in the refrigerator and check it for separation. 

If you find that your creamer has separated, then it is probably best to throw out the whole container. It will save you from drinking any bacteria-contaminated Coffee-mate creamers or any sour tasting creamers.

How To Store Coffee Creamer for Long a Time?

Now, if you are using a coffee creamer that is air-tight, it will last a long time. However, this does not mean that all Coffee-mate creamers are air-tight. One of the main things that can cause internal air to be present in the creamer is heat, especially heat from the sunlight. 

It can happen if you store your coffee creamer outside for too long or if you leave your coffee creamer at room temperature for too long.

Does Coffee Creamer Need To Be Refrigerated?

Of course, certain Coffee-mate creamers must be refrigerated because they contain egg whites or milk proteins. These will need to be kept in the refrigerator. These include:

• Egg white Creamers or Fat-Free Egg white Creamers (this will not say egg white on the creamer, but it is different from other egg white-based creamer)
• Milk-based creamer
• Other non-dairy creamers with protein present in them
• Flavored coffee creamers
• Other Coffee-mate creamers with protein present in them
• Proteins-based creamers
• Those that are glazed coffee creamer
• Any coffee creamer that is more than two months old.
• Tea or herbal tea creamer
• Coffee creamer with protein present in them
• Flavored creamers that are glazed

You should refrigerate the above creamers at all times. If you are not sure if your coffee-mate creamer must be refrigerated or not, then check the container or check online to see what the guidelines are on how long Coffee-mate creamers are good for.

Conclusion:

So, how long is Coffee-Mate Creamer good for? We have talked about this in great detail here. As you can see, many things will affect the life of your coffee creamer.

However, the best way to ensure that you are getting the freshest product possible is to take it out of the refrigerator right away and use it within ten months of opening.