How long after the the sell by date on milk does the milk go bad?

Question

i always throw my milk out on or b4 the date on the carton. Although it says sell by... when does the milk really go bad?? Just wondering...

Answer 1

I think the 'official' time is 4-6 days after the sell by date if your fridge is kept at a steady 40 degrees and it is skim milk. 3-5 days for 2% and 1-3 days for whole milk.

I'd rather dump milk that smells funny or 'on date'; thus wasting $1 or $2---rather than pay a doctor and ER HUNDREDS for treatment of salmonella poisoning.

I couldn't imagine being so hard up for cash or milk that I would risk mine or my children's health. Some good alternatives for cereal without milk are:

Yogurt
Orange juice
Plain (no liquid)

You can also purchase dry milk to keep in your pantry for emergencies.

Answer 2

I used to run a grocery store warehouse so I know it depends on how it was kept in refrigeration:

1. Was the milk kept under the proper refrigeration when it was at the plant, left the plant and made it to the store, went from store to your home, and finally in and out of the fridge.

Time out of refrigeration can shorten a shelf life and sell by date of your milk. The best test is when the milk is close to the sell by date, look in the bottle and sniff it. If you see milk separating or smell a slight sour odor that means it is going bad. I have had milk that was fine days after the sell by date, while other milk went sour 2 days before the sell by date.

Answer 3

It depends on the milk quality, if it is cheap it may go bad as soon as 1-2 days after the sell by date...organic/no chemical milk may last a day or two longer than that. The best thing to do is smell it, or taste it. If you can't get rid of the taste from your tongue it has gone bad for sure.

Answer 4

It varies depending on the size and color of the container, and how the milk was pasteurized and handled.

A solid colored container will keep the milk fresher longer than a clear one, and the bigger the container the more air stays inside of it as the milk level goes down.

I don't drink a lot of milk, but we usually chuck ours by the due date - after a quick smell check you can tell if its good or bad.

Answer 5

I have never found milk to last too much longer than the sell date. Maybe just a day or too. You can judge the freshness of milk by its smell first, then taste. If it both smells bad and tastes sour, its a sure bet that you should only use it for cooking, if at all.

Answer 6

You have about 1 week AFTER the sell by date to use milk and other dairy products. My dad used to deliver milk so this is how I know this.

Answer 7

I am lacking a good sense of smell so I throw it out the day after the sell by date.

I have a phobia about spoiled milk.

Answer 8

It depends on whether the milk is whole or lower fat. I use 2%..and it stays usable a lot longer than whole. I use it till it starts to smell bad. I don't know where you live...but here, milk costs more than a gallon of gas. And I'm not throwing it out till I have to!

Answer 9

I always use it a few days past the "sell by" date on the carton. If it smells, curdles when you put it in coffee or tastes bad throw it out!

Answer 10

depends on the quality of the milk, normally one to two days after sell by date