This pure milk is superior to the ultra pasteurized, excessively processed milk that you can buy in the store, and because it’s more like how nature intended, it has a shelf life. This milk will generally last about 3 weeks, and up to 5 weeks depending on the temperature it is stored at and whether it’s sealed.
We use a low temperature pasteurization that retains much of the good enzymes which help us to digest this milk and retain the milk’s health benefits. This single-step process retains the fresh flavor.
We think this is the best way to drink milk. The trade-off is that it won’t last months like the higher temperature pasteurized (called HTST or Ultra pasteurization) milk which are the kinds generally found in stores.
The temperature it is stored at is a major contributing factor to how long it will last.
Some tips to keep it the most fresh:
- Keep it in the back of a cold fridge (not the door which has more fluctuating temperature)
- 35 degrees is a good goal for the temperature to keep milk, colder is even better, (see the next FAQ answer).
- Put it back in the fridge immediately after use. Temperature fluctuations effect milk’s shelf life.
- Keep the top on to prevent contamination from other foods (and don’t drink out of the jug or bottle)
- Our milk freezes well, so if leaving for vacation, pop it in the freezer until you return, then thaw slowly.
- “Sell by date” or “best by date” we try to put a week before we estimate the milk will last until. We also value your feedback on this.
If you’re looking for real milk taste and rare, craftsman quality, made from local pasture raised cows where you know what you can say “I know where my food comes from”, then this is the milk for you.