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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.
While there are no set recommendations, most research suggests that as long as it's been stored properly, unopened milk generally stays good for 5–7 days past its listed date, while opened milk lasts at least 2–3 days past this date (3, 8 , 9).
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.
What do I do if I drank spoiled milk? Mild cases of food poisoning usually pass on their own in due time. Dr. Sonpal recommends making sure you're staying hydrated so your kidneys don't suffer.
A small sip of spoiled milk is unlikely to cause symptoms beyond a bad taste. Drinking larger amounts of spoiled milk can cause stomach distress resulting in abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea (like a food-borne illness). In most cases, symptoms caused by drinking spoiled milk resolve within 12-24 hours.
Risks of drinking spoiled milk
It can cause food poisoning that may result in uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You don't need to worry if you accidentally ingest a small sip of spoiled milk, but avoid drinking it in large — or even moderate — quantities.
The 'use-by' date indicates the date until which the product can be safely consumed and therefore it's best to avoid drinking milk beyond the specified 'use- by' date on the label. In Australia there are two main types of date marking: 'best-before' and 'use-by'.
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.
How Long Does Unopened Milk Last? According to Eat By Date, if unopened, whole milk lasts 5-7 days, reduced-fat and skim milk last 7 days and non-fat and lactose-free milk last 7-10 days past its printed date, if refrigerated.
Ultra-high temperature pasteurization increases how long milk stays good in a sealed container, but once open, the clock starts ticking on it as well. According to the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, you'll want to drink it within 7 to 10 days of opening.
Can I cook with 2 week old milk? It sure can! Milk normally has bacteria in it, and some of these bacteria are helpful bacteria and are completely safe to eat.
Fresh milk will never have any sort of obnoxious smell. The texture of the milk is enough to gauge whether the milk is fresh or gone bad. If your milk has a thick consistency, lumps, or looks curdled, it's time to toss it.
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.
Expiration dates relate to milk quality, not safety. Milk is generally safe to consume after the expiration date for at least a couple of days. People will typically be able to tell when milk is bad, as the smell and appearance indicate any spoilage.
At about 2 months, your baby may drink about 4–5 ounces (120–150 milliliters) every 3–4 hours. At 4 months, your baby may drink about 4–6 ounces (120-180 milliliters) at each feeding, depending on how often they eat. By 6 months, your baby may drink 6–8 ounces (180–230 milliliters) about 4–5 times a day.
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.
After opening, most milk manufacturers recommend drinking the milk at or within 7 days. This assumes the milk didn't have any bacterial contamination after opening and is stored in temperatures of below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.
The dates solely indicate freshness, and are used by manufacturers to convey when the product is at its peak. That means the food does not expire in the sense of becoming inedible. For un-refrigerated foods, there may be no difference in taste or quality, and expired foods won't necessarily make people sick.
Food can look and smell fine even after the use by date has passed, but the product will not be safe to eat. We can't see or smell the bugs that can cause food poisoning. Manufacturers are responsible for deciding whether to apply a use-by date or a best before date on their products.
Ultra-Pasteurization
Shelf stable milk is ultra-high temperature pasteurized, which will be labeled on the package as “UHT” or “ultra-pasteurized” milk.
How does this milk not spoil? The quick answer has to do with two different pasteurization techniques. The milk either undergoes high-temperature, short-time, (HTST) pasteurization or ultra-high temperature pasteurization (UHT) for a longer term shelf life.