Beverages
How long does soy or rice milk last once opened?
Once you open a carton of soy or rice beverage it keeps 7–10 days in the fridge — that’s the only window USDA publishes for it, so an unsealed box goes by its own printed date.
How long does it keep?
| Fridge, opened | 7–10 days |
|---|
Can it sit out?
Unopened, soy or rice milk is shelf-stable. Once opened, treat it as perishable — the FSIS 2-hour rule applies.
Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).
How to tell if soy or rice milk has gone bad
- A sour or sharply beany smell in the pour
- Curdled threads, or a thickened, gluey body
- A carton that has bloated and pushes back when squeezed
When in doubt, throw it out.
Shake before every pour — the separation in plant milk is settling, not spoiling, and a good shake tells you which one you have.
Quick answers
How long does soy or rice milk last once opened?
Once you open a carton of soy or rice beverage it keeps 7–10 days in the fridge — that’s the only window USDA publishes for it, so an unsealed box goes by its own printed date.
How long can soy or rice milk sit out?
Sitting out isn’t the safety question for unopened soy or rice milk — once opened, the FSIS 2-hour rule applies. Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).