Is it Safe to Eat Greek Yogurt After the Expiration Date? (2024)
Yogurt is a lifesaver. As someone who values a good night's sleep, I prefer to sleep in as long as possible before running to my 9 a.m. class on the other side of campus. In order to not skimp out on the most important meal of the day, I keep my fridge full of fa*ge strawberry split cup Greek yogurts.
Since I try to stay organized, I buy enough individual yogurt cups at a time to get me through a couple weeks of classes before making another Whole Foods run. Sometimes I miss the mark and forget to check the expiration dates, leaving me with more cups of expired Greek yogurt than I know what to do with, and end up throwing away what studies suggest to be perfectly edible yogurt.
Every yogurt has a sell by date on the container. While it's easy to assume it's best to throw away the product after this date, this is simply the last day a manufacturer will support their product's quality, not its safety.
If Greek yogurt is properly sealed and refrigerated at the right temperature, it can be safe to eat yogurt 14 to 24 days after the sell-by date, but the taste will become more sour as the product gets older. The longer the yogurt sits in the fridge, the more watery substance forms on top of the yogurt. But never fear -- that substance is just whey, a natural protein found in dairy products that contains protein and is safe to eat.
Expired yogurt is a large contributor to food waste in America because people are unsure of "the quality or safety of the item."But now that you know you can eat yogurt for up to two weeks after the sell-by date, you can help lower food waste while enjoying a yummy breakfast. And if you're still unsure if your yogurt's safe or not, if it smells and looks alright, then keep calm and eat on.
If Greek yogurt is properly sealed and refrigerated at the right temperature, it can be safe to eat yogurt 14 to 24 days after the sell-by date, but the taste will become more sour as the product gets older. The longer the yogurt sits in the fridge, the more watery substance forms on top of the yogurt.
*If liquid gets cloudy, thick or slimy - don't eat. *If yogurt smells or is unusually lumpy - don't eat. *If yogurt has an orange/pinkish colour on top - that's the start of mold - don't eat. *If yogurt has any signs of mold - don't scoop out the mold - the whole container is unsafe.
Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.
The yogurt is probably fine. Check the consistency and whether it looks funny, smells funny, or has anything growing on it. It tends to get more tangy for a while, but is still perfectly fine to eat. After a while, It'll go bad, but you can smell that.
Typically, Greek yogurt will last for about 7-10 days past its expiration date if stored properly in the refrigerator, but it's always better to check the yogurt for signs of spoilage before consuming it. Yes, unless it looks, smells, or tastes bad. It helps to wrap any leftovers well or avoid cross contamination.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it should be fine (as long as your fridge has consistently been at or below the standard 40 degrees Fahrenheit), since yogurt is usually safe to eat for one to two weeks.
That said, it is best to follow the recommendations provided by the USDA—use yogurt within one to two weeks after the date of purchase. And if you notice signs of spoilage, the "use by" date and the recommendation no longer matters—throw it out.
To prevent any ill effects, there is a cap on how long you can leave it in your fridge. Per the USDA, opened yogurts can only last one to two weeks in the fridge after they've been opened — that amount of time accounts for proper temperatures while in storage — 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
If you experience abdominal cramping within hours or days of eating expired yogurt, the yogurt is a probable culprit. If such cramping is severe, worsens or persists, seek medical attention.
Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.
The United States Food and Drug Administration inspects other foods. Yogurt can be stored in the refrigerator (40 ºF) one to two weeks or frozen (0 ºF) for one to two months. Soft cheeses such as cottage cheese, ricotta or Brie can be refrigerated one week but they don't freeze well.
According to U.S. Dairy, yogurt can sit out for up to two hours at room temperature before it must be stored. However, that time frame is cut in half as temperatures rise. If the temperature is 90℉ or above, yogurt can only sit out for one hour.
All yogurt—whether full-fat or nonfat, strained (like Greek or skyr), plain or swirled with fruit—can be frozen for up to two months. Technically, it's safe to eat long after that, but two months is really the limit when it comes to taste and texture.
To prevent any ill effects, there is a cap on how long you can leave it in your fridge. Per the USDA, opened yogurts can only last one to two weeks in the fridge after they've been opened — that amount of time accounts for proper temperatures while in storage — 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
Greek Style Yogurt container is located on the side of the container. The expiration date on the 24 oz. Greek Gods® Greek Style Yogurt is located on either the lip of the container lid or the body of the tub.
While the tangy taste is a hallmark of Greek yogurt, not everyone enjoys its sharp, acidic bite. Thankfully, there are easy and delicious ways to mellow out that sourness. One easy trick is to mix Greek yogurt with a natural sweetener, like honey or maple syrup.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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