People who shop less often
If you’d like to keep several unopened cartons in a cupboard, check the UHT processing and storage instructions on each one. How long it keeps unopened doesn’t tell you how long it will last once opened.
Who is this choice for?
People who don’t drink much milk
If it takes you several days to finish an opened carton, compare pack sizes with how much milk you actually drink. The Professional Institute for Consumer Milk generally recommends keeping milk in the fridge for two to five days after opening; always follow the instructions for the product you choose.
People looking for lactose-free milk
If you want both lactose-free and skimmed milk, check for each claim separately on the label. Also check the processing method and storage instructions: ‘lactose-free’ alone doesn’t tell you either of these things.
What should you look for?
To cut down on shopping trips, first decide whether unopened cartons need to keep in a cupboard or in the fridge. Then choose a pack size you’ll be able to finish once opened.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking up before opening | The words ‘UHT sterilised’ and the storage instructions on the packaging. Fresh microfiltered milk needs to be kept chilled, according to UFC-Que Choisir. | I want to shop less often without filling the fridge with unopened cartons. Around 40% of consumers put cupboard storage first. |
| Pack size after opening | The size of each carton and how long it keeps after opening, rather than the size of the multipack alone. | If I don’t drink much milk, I’d rather open a carton I can finish in time; around 30% of consumers put this need for a suitable pack size first. |
| Lactose-free option | The ‘lactose-free’ and ‘skimmed’ claims, followed by the lactose and fat content for that specific product. | I’m looking for both of these features and won’t assume one means the other. Around 20% of consumers put this combination of criteria first. |
| Microfiltered processing | The full product description, best-before date and storage temperature shown for fresh microfiltered milk. | If microfiltered processing matters to me, I can make space in the fridge rather than rely on cupboard storage; around 10% of consumers prioritise this process. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘microfiltered’ means ‘UHT’
UFC-Que Choisir describes microfiltered milk as fresh milk that needs to be kept in the fridge, whereas unopened UHT milk can be stored at room temperature in a dry place, according to the Professional Institute for Consumer Milk.
If you want to stock up in a cupboard, check the processing method and storage instructions on the packaging before you choose.
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Choosing a large multipack without considering opened cartons
Storing sealed UHT cartons doesn’t extend the life of one you’ve opened. A 1 L carton can be difficult to finish if you don’t drink much milk.
Compare the available pack sizes with how much you drink during the time the manufacturer says the milk keeps after opening, then put the opened carton in the fridge.
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Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘skimmed’
These are two different features. An E.Leclerc product listing, for example, describes Délisse lactose-free milk with 1.2% fat, so ‘lactose-free’ alone doesn’t identify skimmed milk.
Check the milk description, lactose claim and nutritional information separately for the product you choose.
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Assuming an online product is available everywhere
The range on offer may depend on the store or how you order. E.Leclerc advises shoppers to check the availability of some products with the relevant store, while Lidl France says that not every product in its catalogue is stocked in every shop.
Before planning your shop, check the product and pack size at the store or collection service you intend to use.
Brands and retailers to explore
Lactel
The brand offers UHT skimmed milk, including a lactose-free option.
- The Lactel Bio Écrémé product listing states that it contains 0.1 g of fat per 100 ml and can be stored at room temperature before opening.
- The Matin Léger Bio Écrémé listing states that it contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml; check the pack size and storage instructions for the exact product you’re buying.
Candia
Candia describes GrandLait as a range sourced from French dairy-farming cooperatives; which products are worth comparing depends on the range you choose.
- The Carrefour range includes a Candia+ lactose-free skimmed milk.
- Don’t assume a product is skimmed, microfiltered or suitable for cupboard storage just because it’s part of the GrandLait range or labelled ‘lactose-free’: check the label.
Carrefour
Its skimmed milk range lets you compare own-brand products with other brands.
- The Carrefour catalogue includes Carrefour Classic’ Lait Écrémé in 1 L cartons and in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
- For each product, check the processing method, pack size and storage instructions, as well as the selection at your local store.
Auchan
Its range brings together Auchan skimmed milk and other brands, which you can compare product by product.
- The Auchan catalogue lists Auchan Solidaires Cultivons le Bon Lait UHT skimmed milk in 1 L cartons and in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
- UHT skimmed milk isn’t necessarily microfiltered; check the product description if this process matters to you.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
The retailer’s product listings can help you tell lactose-free products apart from skimmed milk.
- A Délisse product listing specifies UHT processing and less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
- This same product contains 1.2% fat, so it isn’t suitable if you’re looking for skimmed milk. Also check which product your E.Leclerc store offers.
A skimmed milk pack on Joybuy
This multipack of skimmed milk could suit people who shop less often, as long as the size of each carton matches how much they drink. If you want to store it in a cupboard or are looking for microfiltered milk, check the product details and storage instructions on the packaging you receive.
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MATIN LÉGER skimmed milk, 6 × 1 L
This multipack is a good option if you shop less often and can finish each 1 L carton after opening. Check the packaging for the milk’s processing method and storage instructions before and after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Can you keep microfiltered milk in a cupboard before opening?
No, not if it’s the fresh microfiltered milk described by UFC-Que Choisir: it needs to be kept chilled, even before opening. For milk you can store outside the fridge, look for the words ‘UHT sterilised’ and follow the storage instructions.
How long can you keep an opened carton of UHT milk?
Keep it in the fridge and follow the storage time on the packaging first. The Professional Institute for Consumer Milk gives a general guide of two to five days after opening; this doesn’t replace the instructions for the product you’ve bought.
Is lactose-free milk always skimmed?
No: whether milk is lactose-free and how much fat it contains are two different things. An E.Leclerc product listing states that Délisse lactose-free milk contains 1.2% fat, so check the product description and nutritional information too.
Should you choose a smaller pack if you don’t drink much milk?
A smaller pack could be a better fit if you can’t finish a 1 L carton within the time stated on the packaging after opening. Compare the size of each carton, not just the number of cartons in the multipack.