Value Village ／ Food & living
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
"I opened the milk two days before its best-before date; how long can I drink it?" "What about yoghurt opened a week ago?" Dairy is used every day, yet many people do not know how long it keeps after opening. The date on an unopened pack and the number of days after opening are two different things, and Japanese milk has a few particularities of its own. Here is the sorting.
| Dairy product | After opening (fridge, 10°C or below) | Storage tips | Signs it has gone off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (UHT, carton) | 2–3 days | The door pocket swings in temperature, so store at the back of the fridge. Do not drink from the carton. Close the spout | Sour smell, separation or lumps, curdles when heated |
| Low-temperature pasteurised milk (63–65°C for 30 minutes) | 1–2 days after opening; a short date even unopened | As above | As above |
| Long-life milk (shelf-stable) | Refrigerate after opening, 2–3 days | Room temperature until opened | As above |
| Plain yoghurt (large tub) | 3–4 days | Serve with a clean spoon; do not eat from the tub. Liquid on top (whey) is normal | Mould, pink or yellow discolouration, alcohol smell, strong sourness |
| Drinking yoghurt, single-serve yoghurt | Same day once opened | — | — |
| Processed cheese (slices, 6P wedges) | 2–3 weeks (individually wrapped pieces count as unopened) | Wrap tightly in cling film | Mould, dried and hardened |
| Natural cheese (mozzarella, camembert, brie) | A few days to 1 week. Mozzarella in water 2–3 days | Cling film plus a sealed container | Mould other than the natural white rind; strong ammonia smell |
| Hard cheese (parmesan, cheddar) | 2–4 weeks | Cling film plus a sealed container. Mould can be cut away with a 2.5 cm margin (see our separate article) | — |
| Butter | About 1 month after opening (fridge). 3–6 months frozen | Keep in the foil wrapper, away from strong-smelling foods | Yellowing surface, rancid smell |
| Fresh cream | 2–3 days after opening | Close the spout and store upright | Separation, sourness |
| Condensed milk | 2–3 weeks | Clean spoon | Discolouration, crystallisation |
| Infant formula (powder) | 1 month after opening (tin). Once made up, use within 2 hours; discard leftovers | Dry place; extra hygiene for infant formula | — |
[Verify] The after-opening figures are general guides from makers and the industry body (Japan Dairy Industry Association). Check the pasteurisation-method shares and the Listeria warning against MHLW and Dairy Association material.
The best-before date is a guarantee for the unopened pack; once opened, 2–3 days is the guide. Finish it soon, whatever the date.
Only the unopened shelf life is longer; once opened, airborne bacteria get in and it is the same as any other milk.
Bacteria other than the lactic-acid bacteria, and moulds, do grow. 3–4 days after opening, with a clean spoon. Discard if there is mould, discolouration or an alcohol smell.
The door pocket swings in temperature and is unsuitable for milk and yoghurt. Put them at the back of the fridge.
The liquid on top (whey) is normal separation, and it is nutritious too. Stir it in. The signs of spoilage are mould, discolouration and smell.
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https://www.nyukyou.jp/dairy/
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/food_labeling/
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/syokuchu/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
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