The question came up at the office while waiting for the coffee to brew: Why does some half and half need to be refrigerated and some does not? The person responsible for getting the coffee picked up a box of individual Land O Lakes Mini Moos half & half containers that do not need to be refrigerated. One of the people didnt think it was really the same as the half and half you buy at the grocery store in the refrigerated section with the rest of the dairy products. Looking at the container, it doesnt say anything about artificial preservatives or anything, it just says no refrigeration needed. So is it really the same or what?
You know, if you drank your coffee black like God and all red-blooded, decent Americans do you wouldnt have to worry about this.
That means it has been heated at temperatures high enough to kill off any potentially harmful bacteria.
So it only has to be refrigerated if the container has been opened and there is some left over.
My wife is an avid recycler and insists on washing food and liquid residue from any container destined for the recycle bin. Given the value of water, our sustained drought and the dire-water-shortage predictions for the future, I question whether the container is worth the water needed to wash it. Some guidance, please.
Jars or cans, plastic or glass, that are headed for recycling should be rinsed or scraped out a bit.
The question came up at the office while waiting for the coffee to brew: Why does some half and half need to be refrigerated and some does not? The person responsible for getting the coffee picked up a box of individual Land O Lakes Mini Moos half & half containers that do not need to be refrigerated. One of the people didnt think it was really the same as the half and half you buy at the grocery store in the refrigerated section with the rest of the dairy products. Looking at the container, it doesnt say anything about artificial preservatives or anything, it just says no refrigeration needed. So is it really the same or what?
You know, if you drank your coffee black like God and all red-blooded, decent Americans do you wouldnt have to worry about this.
Jars or cans, plastic or glass, that are headed for recycling should be rinsed or scraped out a bit.
That means it has been heated at temperatures high enough to kill off any potentially harmful bacteria.
So it only has to be refrigerated if the container has been opened and there is some left over.
Unless youre someone who drinks their coffee black — or someone who hits up the Starbucks drive-thru every morning — you likely have a carton of half-and-half in your refrigerator at all times, just waiting to be poured into your daily cup of joe. Half-and-half, as the name suggests, is a mixture of half milk and half heavy cream. While its most commonly used as an add-in for coffee, its also found in a lot of recipes, like fettuccine Alfredo, bread pudding, and even scrambled eggs (Taste of Home says a splash of half-and-half makes your eggs extra creamy).
Youre likely aware that milk goes bad fast after opening, in about two to three days past the printed date (via Healthline). Because half-and-half is 50 percent milk, youd expect it to have a similarly short shelf life. But surprisingly, half-and-half lasts a lot longer than your average gallon of milk. According to Eat By Date, half-and-half is still safe to drink seven to 10 days past the sell-by date. And thats just for the cartons you buy from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. If you have those tiny individual half-and-half cups (like what youd find at a diner), they can last up to six months! Mental Floss explains this is because the half-and-half has essentially been “canned,” which removes bacteria.
When buying and storing half-and-half, there are a few things to keep in mind, from what percentage of milk you prefer to the flavor or fat content. Once youve selected your carton and its safely secured in your fridge, how long will it last? Heres the real shelf life of half-and-half — and how to know when it has gone bad.
Half-And-Half: What You Should Know Before You Buy
FAQ
How long can you leave half-and-half out of the refrigerator?
How do you know if half-and-half is bad?
Is half-and-half bad if left out overnight?
Why does half-and-half creamer not need to be refrigerated?
Do you need to refrigerate half and half?
For most products that require refrigeration, you need to refrigerate within an hour of opening them. Also, you should know that an unopened carton of half and half will last longer without refrigeration than an opened one. But it won’t last very long either.
Does yogurt go bad if kept in the refrigerator?
Yoghurt should be kept in the fridge as it is a dairy product that tends to deteriorate more quickly when not refrigerated. In the freezer, yoghurt will last up to a month without losing its flavour. Place it in an airtight container to prevent frostbite.
How long does half and half last without refrigeration?
Also, you should know that an unopened carton of half and half will last longer without refrigeration than an opened one. But it won’t last very long either. So, when the carton of half and half is unopened, it can last more than two hours, but once it’s opened, two hours is the best it can do.
Does half and half go bad when frozen?
Once frozen, the half and half will last longer than it would have with just regular refrigeration. However, half and half may take on a weird texture when you freeze it. It won’t go bad, but it will not be the texture you’re used to. But you can still use it for other purposes like cooking and baking.