Storing milk in the fridge door may cause it to spoil more quickly. While many people keep milk in the door for convenience, experts warn that this common practice can shorten its shelf life.
Milk should always be kept in the fridge. Arla Foods explains: "When milk gets exposed to air it will lose its freshness quicker and go off much faster, so it’s important to keep it sealed and store it in a chilled place. With that in mind, to maximise freshness and to ensure the long-life, make sure to store milk in the fridge as soon as you’ve bought it."
Best spot for milk storage
The ideal place for milk is at the back of the fridge. Arla Food said: "If you can, storing milk at the back of the fridge is always a good move. The further away from the door the milk is, the more consistently chilled it will be, safe from the constantly changing temperature outside and safe from going off."
Dr Xand van Tulleken previously shared advice on BBC Morning Live. He suggested keeping milk on the middle shelf, though he acknowledged the door may be fine for heavy users. "People in the UK know how to run their fridges, right? You know, we've got two small children, we blitz through the milk, we keep the milk in the door because it's convenient. Loads of people will do that, and that's absolutely fine. But milk does spoil rapidly."
He added: "If you are, you know, perhaps living on your own, you don't use all your milk all the time, the sniff test is not good enough for milk. Milk can still contain dangerous bugs, even if it smells okay. So if you're not using milk quickly, keep it in the main fridge."
Freezing milk tips
Milk can also be frozen. Arla Food shared reminders: "Freeze your milk as soon as you can, ideally once you’ve got home after buying it and certainly before the use by / best-before date. Milk expands when frozen!" They added: "It’s always best to transfer it from the bottle or carton you bought it into a safe and airtight freezer container to prevent any milk explosions. When you need the milk, be sure to let it defrost for at least 24 hours in the fridge before you drink it. Once the milk is defrosted, be sure to drink it all within a couple of days and don’t refreeze it."
