How long can refrigerated pasteurized milk remain consumable in a closed container?

High-quality pasteurized milk, when properly refrigerated at temperatures below 4.4 °C (40 °F), typically remains consumable for about 14 days, or two weeks, when kept in a closed container.12

It is important to note that pasteurization is not a sterilization process; while it destroys harmful pathogens, it leaves behind small numbers of harmless bacteria. Consequently, milk remains a perishable product that requires consistent refrigeration to slow spoilage.12

If you are looking for products with a longer shelf life, ultrapasteurization can extend the refrigerated life of milk to at least 45 days. Additionally, ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) pasteurization combined with specialized, sterile packaging allows milk to remain shelf-stable without refrigeration for six months to a year.12