Is it still good? Quick check for opened drinks
Opened a carton of milk, juice, creamer or a cream liqueur and not sure? Tick what applies and get a plain answer. It takes 10 seconds.
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How to use the quick check
Tick every box that applies, even if you are not sure. The verdict updates as you tick. The check is our advice. It cannot make a drink safe, and a drink can look and smell normal and still be unsafe if it was kept too warm for too long.
The USDA two-hour rule
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says bacteria grow most rapidly between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes, and that you should never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food should not be left out more than 1 hour. Cold food should be kept at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This applies to milk, cream, plant milks, fresh juice and other drinks that need the fridge.
How long does it last?
If the drink looks and smells normal, check the package date and how long it has been open. The free charts on drinkstype.com show what the makers and the USDA say about storage for milk and dairy, juice and soda, coffee and tea, and spirits and liqueurs, and say “no official statement” when there is none. Spirits and most liqueurs rarely spoil in a way that makes you ill, but they lose flavour over time.
Source
USDA FSIS: “Danger Zone” (40 degrees F to 140 degrees F) (read 2 Nov 2026). The verdicts are our advice.
General information, not medical advice. If you are unsure, throw it out.
Free download
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF)
How long milk, plant milks, cream, yogurt and kefir last, opened and unopened. Every line shows its source and the date we read it. Print it and keep it where you store your drinks.
- Cow milk, lactose-free, shelf-stable, almond, soy, oat-style cartons
- Cream, creamers, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, eggnog: fridge and freezer times
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We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.