But as long as milk has been properly refrigerated, it should be still drinkable up to a week past the date label — and maybe up to two weeks, depending on the temperature of your refrigerator. Generally, as long as the milk smells and looks OK, it's probably still safe to consume.
To put things straight before we begin, the answer to the above question is yes – you can drink milk past its expiration date and it's just as tasty and as safe to do so.
There are no official recommendations, but the general rule of thumb is as follows: Open milk: 3 days after the expiration date. Unopened milk: Up to 7 days after the expiration date.
Milk can stay safe to consume for several days past the expiration date. Expiration dates on food and drink products relate to their quality rather than their safety. Drinking spoiled milk can make people unwell, but it is typically easy to tell when milk is bad.
Side effects when drinking expired milk
Accidentally ingesting a sip or two of spoiled milk is unlikely to cause serious side effects. However, consuming moderate or large amounts can cause food poisoning and lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
But as long as milk has been properly refrigerated, it should be still drinkable up to a week past the date label — and maybe up to two weeks, depending on the temperature of your refrigerator. Generally, as long as the milk smells and looks OK, it's probably still safe to consume.
Milk can be refrigerated seven days; buttermilk, about two weeks. Milk or buttermilk may be frozen for about three months. Sour cream is safe in the refrigerator about one to three weeks but doesn't freeze well. For more information, you may call the FDA toll-free at 888-723-3366 or go to FDA's website.
According to Food Standards Australia, food marked with a use-by date — such as milk and other dairy products — should not be consumed and can't legally be sold once the date has expired. However food that has a best before date can still be eaten for some time after that date but “may have lost some quality”.
Check the milk's consistency for chunks or lumps.
However, the milk should move and pour smoothly. If you notice any lumps in the milk, it has gone bad. You may have to slosh the milk around in the container to see these, as lumps typically settle to the bottom. You can also examine the interior of the milk container.
Dust, dirt and manure can cause an unclean flavor of milk. Cows and their surroundings must be kept clean. Milking equipment that has not been properly cleaned and sanitized may be a factor. Washing a cow's udder with water and failing to dry them is one of the primary causes of unclean flavors.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, milk and other dairy products should be kept in the refrigerator at or, ideally, below 40°F. If the temperature gets higher than that, bacteria can start to grow in the milk, which is what causes the rotting and the smell.
Symptoms can occur several hours — or even several days — after drinking spoiled milk. Most often, food poisoning is mild and symptoms will pass within a day or two. Reach out to your doctor if you think you have food poisoning from spoiled milk and your symptoms persist.
Organic milk lasts longer because producers use a different process to preserve it. According to the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, the milk needs to stay fresh longer because organic products often have to travel farther to reach store shelves since it is not produced throughout the country.
The extended shelf life (seen in both organic and conventional milk) is because of the pasteurization process.
While some believe that milk will stay fresh as long as it is consumed before its 'use by' date, it is actually best to store fresh milk in the refrigerator at 4°C and consume it within three days after opening.
Does it smell or taste sour, or does it smell fine and taste a bit sweet? If it does smell or taste sour, then it indicates the presence of rancid fats and chemical oxidation. Try changing your diet to eliminate the problem. If it smells fine and tastes a bit sweet, put it in the refrigerator.
If milk smells odd but still tastes fine, it may still be drinkable. However, it is best to check the expiration date and discard it if it has expired or if the odor is particularly strong. It is also a good idea to check for any visible signs of spoilage, such as curdling or discoloration.
1 Sour milk is made.
This can be lemon juice, vinegar, a beneficial bacteria, or even another sour milk product. This is how homemade buttermilk and homemade sour cream substitutes are made. However, spoiled milk is usually milk that was left out for too long or was opened and then stored incorrectly.
Right about five days or so, verify with the smell test. (Friend of mine is a dairy manager.)
Yes, sour milk is safe to use
The best way to assess in which category that bit of leftover milk in your fridge falls is to follow your nose and taste buds. If the milk does not have any off-putting smell or taste, you can still use it. If milk has gone a little sour, it is still safe for consumption.
While you may not want to drink a glass of sour milk straight up, baking is a great way to use the stuff. The extra acidity results in added flavor in baked goods. You can also incorporate it into batters for frying, and just about any recipe that calls for buttermilk.
According to Eat By Date, once opened, all milk lasts four to seven days past its printed date, if refrigerated. If unopened, whole milk lasts five to seven days, reduced-fat and skim milk last seven days, and non-fat and lactose-free milk last seven to 10 days past its printed date, if refrigerated.
Aseptic milk will stay good in your pantry for up to six months. However, once you open it, it must be refrigerated immediately. Aseptic milk is best enjoyed within seven days of opening.