Known as America’s #1 creamer, Coffee Mate has stolen the hearts of millions of coffee lovers. From basic powdered vanilla favorites to plant-based, hazelnut, and peppermint mocha liquid versions, Coffee Mate has everything that you need to start your day right.
When you open a bottle of liquid or powdered Coffee Mate, it’s only a matter of time before things start to spoil. Whether you let the creamer sit out overnight or find a half-empty bottle at the back of the fridge, there are a few simple tips to follow for unopened and opened creamers to ensure that your creamer doesn’t go bad.
Should you refrigerate Coffee Mate Creamer? Here’s everything you should know about food storage and safety for this favorite brand.
- Do You Need to Refrigerate Coffee Mate Creamer?
- How to Tell If Coffee Mate Creamer Has Spoiled?
- How Long is Coffee Mate Creamer Good After It's Been Opened?
- Will Coffee Mate Creamer That Sat Out Overnight Make Me Sick?
- Are There Any Coffee Mate Brand Creamers That Don't Need Refrigeration?
- Coffee Mate Creamer Storage Tips
- Can You Freeze Coffee Mate?
- Can Liquid Coffee Mate Be Left Overnight?
- Does Coffee Mate Hazelnut Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Does Coffee Mate Irish Cream Need to Be Refrigerated?
- What Kinds of Coffee Mate Creamers Don't Need Refrigeration?
- How Long Can You Leave Creamers Out of the Fridge?
- So, Does Coffee Mate Creamer Need To Be Refrigerated?
Do You Need to Refrigerate Coffee Mate Creamer?
Storing your creamer is simple if you follow a few basic tips.
If you’re using liquid coffee creamer, it’s best to keep this in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling. Liquid creamer can sit out at room temperature for up to two hours before going bad.
That’s because traditional liquid creamers contain dairy that requires constant refrigeration. Dairy can go south quickly at room temperature or if left outside in a hot car.
If you’re using powdered Coffee Mate Creamer, storage type and shelf life depend on whether the package is opened or sealed.
How to Tell If Coffee Mate Creamer Has Spoiled?
When it comes to your coffee creamer, it’s always a good idea to check for spoilage before using it.
Check liquid creamers for any unusual changes in texture, smell, or taste that will indicate that the creamer has gone bad.
For example, bad dairy creamer can smell sour, contain chunky clumps, or taste rotten. If you think that your creamer might have gone off, you can use a teaspoon to taste a few drops. If it doesn’t taste right, don’t use it, and throw it out.
How Long is Coffee Mate Creamer Good After It’s Been Opened?
Aim to use up a liquid creamer within two weeks after opening it or by the use-by-date stamped on the bottle. Most liquid creamers are best used within a week after you open a container.
If dairy creamer sits too long inside a refrigerator, it will stay edible for only a short time. So keep both opened and unopened dairy creamers in the fridge to ensure they don’t go bad.
Will Coffee Mate Creamer That Sat Out Overnight Make Me Sick?
There’s a good chance that if you forget and leave dairy creamer out all night, you can have a nasty surprise in the morning.
The dairy creamer might look discolored, chunky, or smell off. But, even if it seems all right, it’s best to toss any creamer that’s sat out all night. Because it could cause gastroenteric problems like nausea, upset stomach, or diarrhea.
If you’ve added creamer to hot or cold coffee, consume or refrigerate it immediately. You can get away with leaving liquid creamer in a cup for 1-2 hours. Still, you any longer can cause bacteria to grow that can cause a nauseating taste or stomach issues.
Are There Any Coffee Mate Brand Creamers That Don’t Need Refrigeration?
Yes, Coffee Mate makes creamers that don’t need to be refrigerated.
If you’re hitting the highway for a road trip, taking a hike, or out and about for the day, consider using a powdered creamer instead of a dairy version. This will help keep your coffee fresh, so you don’t need to worry about spoiling if you don’t have access to a refrigerator all day.
The Nestle Coffee Mate French Vanilla coffee creamer is both creamy and lactose-free. Even better, it doesn’t need refrigeration, which makes it simpler and easier to store safely.
Other types of the brand’s liquid creamer, like the Liquid Creamer Concentrate Pump Bottle, don’t need to go in the refrigerator. An unopened bottle of dairy-free liquid creamer can last on the shelf for up to 270 days or 9 months.
With an excellent taste and wide variety, Coffee Mate makes creamers that you don’t have to worry about refrigerating. Instead, just pour into your coffee to enjoy and go about your day.
Coffee Mate Creamer Storage Tips
Keep your favorite liquid creamer fresh and flavorful by always keeping your creamer in the refrigerator after use. Screw the container lid tight and store it, if possible, in the original, air-tight bottle.
This will help prevent moisture and other bacterial contaminants from ruining your creamer. Also, make sure that your refrigerator temperature is set to 40°F or below.
Can You Freeze Coffee Mate?
Yes, you can safely freeze Coffee Mate. Since liquid coffee creamer is heavier and denser than water, it doesn’t expand as much as it freezes. You can freeze a whole or partial bottle to save for later if you’re concerned that you won’t be able to consume it before it goes bad.
An unopened liquid Coffee Mate creamer stored in the freezer should stay good for about 6 months. After that, the flavors and texture may start to deteriorate.
Keep in mind that an opened container of creamer may just last around 4-6 months so it’s a good idea to label the bottle with the refrigerator date.
Can Liquid Coffee Mate Be Left Overnight?
It’s never a good idea to leave Coffee Mate liquid dairy creamers sitting out overnight. That’s because, after just 1-2 hours, dangerous bacteria can start to grow. If you forgot and left your cup of coffee and creamer or the creamer bottle sitting out overnight, dump it.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to food safety.
It’s a different story for both liquid and powdered non-dairy creamers from this #1 brand. These can stay sitting on the shelf for weeks once opened or months if unopened. Always check before use to ensure that the creamer still looks, smells, and tastes good before consuming.
Does Coffee Mate Hazelnut Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, Coffee Mate Hazelnut coffee creamer needs to be refrigerated. If you’re unsure, check the container for a label that says something similar to “Refrigerate After Opening.”
If you read this label listed on your bottle of Hazelnut or another type of Coffee Mate creamer, go ahead and refrigerate it as soon as you open it.
If you haven’t opened a Hazelnut creamer, you can store it in a cool, dry place on your kitchen shelf, counter, or in the pantry. After opening Hazelnut coffee creamer, use it up in 14-days to ensure the best quality. Always keep it refrigerated after opening.
Suppose you buy Hazelnut or other liquid creamers from a refrigerator in a store. In that case, this lets you know that you will need to keep the bottle in the fridge before and after opening it.
If you have a Coffee Mate concentrated creamer, these should never be put into the refrigerator. Instead, you will need to store them in a cool, dry place, such as a shelf that doesn’t get sunlight or humidity.
Does Coffee Mate Irish Cream Need to Be Refrigerated?
No, you need not refrigerate Coffee Mate’s Irish Cream creamer. With no lactose source, this creamer won’t go bad if you leave it out.
What Kinds of Coffee Mate Creamers Don’t Need Refrigeration?
This brand makes some creamers that make storage easy since they don’t require refrigeration.
Nestle Coffee Mate French Vanilla, all Coffee Mate powdered creamers, and creamer Singles are lactose or dairy-free and don’t need to go in the refrigerator.
With a shelf life of up to nine months, these creamers will last for months if you keep them in an environment that’s dark, cool, and non-humid.
How Long Can You Leave Creamers Out of the Fridge?
It’s best not to leave Coffee Mate dairy creamers out at room temperature for more than an hour or two, while non-dairy creamers can last a long time out of the fridge.
If you’ve opened a non-dairy creamer, keep the open bottle in the fridge to slow down bacteria growth and help your creamer last longer.
However, it’s best food safety practice to always put opened bottles of dairy or non-dairy creamers back in the fridge right after use. Because warm temperatures can shorten the creamer’s quality and life.
So, Does Coffee Mate Creamer Need To Be Refrigerated?
The best rule of thumb to follow when it comes to Coffee Mate creamers is to check if the package is still sealed or has been opened. Keep open containers always refrigerated to avoid spoilage.
Unopened, powdered packages stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place will keep until the expiration date. Dairy creamers should be kept in the fridge, whether opened or unopened.
With just a few simple steps, you can keep your Coffee Mate Creamer from spoiling and ensure a fresh and delicious cup of coffee whenever you need it.
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I don’t use cream in my coffee. What is the best unflavored creamer to keep on hand for guests?
Hey there – If you are looking for dairy, then I’d recommend just good ole Half n Half. But non-dairy coffee drinkers might prefer cashew milk over something like almond milk. Cashew has a much less watery consistency to it.
Interesting read. However still doesn’t answer why, when shopping, you can find the individual creamers in boxes on a shelf far away from the cool refrigerated versions, of the same type and contents (just compared this last night during shopping trip.) Not sure why stores sell the larger bottle type creamers in the refridge section, and the coffee creamers individuals sold with the powered version on shelves.
Hey Ron….That is so true! I can’t figure that out either. I suppose it has something to do with their marketing strategy inside the store? Still though, these sorts of things appear in the weirdest places.
It’s bc the individual minis are packaged with air tight seal/packaging so it doesn’t have to be refrigerated but if you dnt use the whole mini single cup then it must be refrigerated.
Hey Walmart delivered two coffee mate creamers at 430 pm and temp outside was about 80. It was in shade and had a little coolness and moisture at bottom of bottles. I had fallen asleep and got groceries at 8 00 pm. I am sure the creamer is bad. I just wanted a second opinion. Thank you
sniff test! if it smelled funky and had any curdling, it might have gone bad, but if it had some coolness, there’s a fair chance it’s ok. For me though, “when in doubt, throw it out”.
I personally would use it, bc I hate wasting. And it’s not opened and non-dairy. I left mine out on the counter over night and was fine. It didn’t taste weird, and mine was already open.