Nothing else could beat the delicious taste a coffee creamer can give to your daily cup of coffee. Coffee lovers are aware of the importance of such coffee creamers, as they give a nice and addictive flavor to the coffee.
However, one question that leaves people in a daze is how long can these be left out? Is it still useable after sitting out? These questions cannot be answered directly without knowing the type of coffee creamer you have. Some of the creamers remain good even after sitting at room temperature for an extended period.
This article will help you know how long can your coffee creamer sit out, depending upon its nature. Here you will also find the tips to store your creamer ideally.
Different Types Of Coffee Creamer You May Have
Here are listed the common types of coffee creamer used by most Coffee Lovers.
Dairy-based creamer
Dairy-based creamer has to be the most prominent type of creamer available. This category includes the most popular creamer half and half, milk and cream. These are the ones used for the extra taste in your beverage. You may determine the type you prefer by looking at the mentioned types.
- Hals And Half
As the name suggests, it is a combination of milk and heavy cream. These both are used in equal quantities to create this delicious creamer. It has been in use since the early twentieth century because of its consistency. It is lighter than heavy cream yet a lot heavier than milk. This unique quality raised this creamer to significant popularity.
- Milk
Though it may come out as a surprise, milk can serve the purpose of a creamer. Since milk is not as heavy as a cream, if you are looking for a very thin creamer, then milk can help. There is a vast variety of milk that you can choose from according to your need.
If you are lactose intolerant or do not like the taste of dairy milk, you can choose other types. For instance, you can have soy milk, almond milk, oat milk and coconut milk to help you have a bit different taste and some nutritional value.
- Cream
If you like to have heavy cream on the top of your coffee, then you can have heavy whipping cream. It has the highest fat and can be extremely healthy if in moderation. Another type of cream that you can use is a cream made from heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and sugar, called whipped cream. Both of these are heavier, giving a great texture to your cup of coffee.
Non-Dairy Creamer
If you are not fond of having that milky feeling in your creamer, you can have non-dairy creamer. These have the same appearance as a cream, but these are not milk-made. It has to be the biggest category of the creamer as you can find too many variants. Your creamer may contain water, coconut oil or cream, almonds, sugar, artificial flavor, or other commonly used ingredients.
- Powdered Creamer
The above two categories fall in the liquid category, but you can find their powdered variant in the market. The powdered of the above-stated creamer has been commonly used now, making it a vast category in itself. However, these are the most available ones in the market, and you can easily find the one you like.
- Mini-Sealed Cup Creamer
If you want the smallest quantity of creamer, then mini-cups are for you. You can even take one with you while traveling, and they usually are made for a single serving. You can find these cups for almost all the variants of the creamer. These are affordable yet convenient; thus, many people prefer to use these over others.
These are the types of coffee creamer that you can find. Now that you know what kind of creamer you have, it is time to discuss how long it can sit out.
How Long Can Your Coffee Creamer Sit Out?
Generally considering, liquid creamers can sit out only for a maximum of 2 hours. However, this limit for a powdered coffee creamer is too long, at least 20 months. You also need to pay attention to the temperature you put them. It can help you keep the coffee cream as tasty as possible.
- All the liquid creamer, be it dairy or non-dairy, cannot last more than 120 minutes due to the temperature variation. If they are kept out for too long, they may get affected by bacteria. The temperature from 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit is the danger zone, which gives rise to the bacteria.
Due to this reason, half and half, all types of milk and cream should be thrown out after keeping out for more than 2 hours.
- No moisture is present in the powdered coffee creamer; thus, no bacteria can reproduce. If they are kept in a tightly sealed container, and away from the direct light, they can easily sit out for 1 or 2 years. However, their time of usage may vary depending upon their expiration.
It would be best if you also considered keeping the expiration date of any coffee creamer in mind. You should always take a look at the tips to use the product.
How To Determine If The Coffee Creamer Has Gone Bad?
If you have kept the liquid creamer till the danger zone, you should stop using it. However, if it sits out for too long, but you still have some doubts, here are some things that can help.
- Difference In The Texture
The texture can judge the well-being of the coffee creamer. A good creamer will have the smoothest texture. But a creamer that has gone bad will develop some clumps, which are not edible. If you notice any difference in the texture, then it is better to throw it away.
- Smell
If you have been using the coffee creamer for too long, then you know what it smells like. If you doubt that your creamer is not good to use, then smell it. Usually, the bad ones give off an acidic or sour odor. So if your creamer smells funny, it is time to throw it out.
- Taste
If the above two methods do not work, the last option is to taste it. If there is no particular smell or no change in texture, then take a tiny amount to taste. Keep in mind that you are testing it, and there are chances that it has gone wrong. In such a case, you should not have a considerate amount of side effects.
Tips To Store Your Coffee Creamer Properly
To save your coffee creamer from going wrong, you should properly store it. Since there are different types of creamer, they have different requirements for storage. You need to pay attention to these if you want to increase the shelf life of your coffee creamer. Here are storage tips according to the types stated earlier.
- Powdered Creamers
Powdered creamers have minor requirements when it comes to storage. They are the ones that last longest among any creamer you can get. You can put them next to other containers in your pantry and use them whenever you need them. They do not need to be stored in the refrigerator or any cooler place.
You may wonder that dairy products have milk derivatives, so they need the same treatment as milk. No, this is not the case. These powdered form derivatives are not affected by the temperature that much. As long as they are free from moisture, you can store them anywhere.
It would be best to store these in an air-tight jar to keep them away from the moisture present in the air. A container made of glass would be the perfect choice to store these. However, these cannot be put in direct sunlight, so you need to keep these away in the dark. If stored in this, you can use the powdered creamer until expiration.
- Liquid Creamers
As they are temperature sensitive and rise in temperature can make them unfit to use, you need to store them in a cooler place. The best place to store these is the refrigerators. However, it would help to keep them inside the cold temperature to use them again.
There are too many preservatives, sugar, milk or oil, cream or artificial flavors that require a cooler environment. If any of these ingredients go bad, the creamer cannot be used. You will also need to set the refrigerator’s temperature according to the recommendations.
Both the dairy and non-dairy creamers have the same requirements for the temperature and environment. They do have the same ingredients as mentioned besides oil and milk. Only th dairy-based have milk, while the non-dairy creamers have oil. However, it would help if you stored these in the cold.
- Mini-Sealed Cup Creamers
It is the category where you get the small quantity of creamer you want. These are a few completely sealed cups and can be opened for a single serving. However, you probably will not have any quantity to store for use again once opened.
Before opening these cups, you can store them either inside the refrigerator or outside. They can be good at both the cold and room temperature because they go through ultra-high temperature processing. In this processing, they are sealed once heated to a high temperature. This pressing stops the potential growth of bacteria.
Though they can tolerate lower temperatures, they get worse in sunlight, just like powdered creamer. So it would be best if you kept them anywhere as long as they are away from the sun rays.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What Is The Shelf Stability Of Coffee Creamer?
Coffee creamers are shelf-stable, and if they are stored correctly, they can last up to 2 years. You need to pay attention to not store any coffee creamer in heat or hot temperatures. Store it in cold and dry surroundings, and you can use these for the longest time.
- Which One Is Better, Powdered Or Liquid Creamer?
These both have different textures and requirements; thus, which one is better cannot be stated. Though depending upon the storage, powdered coffee creamer can be stored easily. Therefore, you can choose the one that suits your requirement the best.
- What Happens If You Drink Expired Coffee Creamer?
If you use expired coffee creamer on your coffee, it will cause stomach ache. Having a bad or expired coffee creamer will not cause severe health issues. However, if you feel any discomfort after drinking it, it is recommended to go to the doctor.
- Why My Coffee Creamer Does Have Chunks In It?
If your coffee creamer has chunks in it, the major possibility it has gone bad. If the coffee or creamer has become sour or acidic, the creamer forms chunks. However, if you have put powdered sugar on top of it, the clumps may be due to the clamped sugar.
- Can Coffee Creamer Be Left Out Overnight?
It solely depends upon your creamer. In the case of liquid coffee creamer, these cannot be left overnight as these can only be kept out for 2 hours. However, it is acceptable to keep powdered or mini-cup creamers out overnight for the powdered or mini-cup creamers.
Conclusion
Coffee creamers are the best external agents that can enhance the taste of your coffee. However, you can get carious variants for the creamer depending upon the thickness and taste you want. If it is not stored correctly, you need to take crucial steps to store the creamer, and bacteria can grow inside.
If you have left your coffee creamer for longer than suggested, it is better to stop using it. Not only will the bad creamer make your coffee taste bad, but too many bacteria can cause some health problems.
Regardless of the creamer your get, never put it in a high temperature of sunlight as it may disturb its constituent. Instead, you should store these in a suitable container and, if possible, in the refrigerator.