As you may know, a lot of food comes with expiration dates, but these are not always trustworthy. This is a big issue when it comes to dairy items like yogurt.
Some food is still good for weeks after the best-by date, but how long is yogurt good for after the expiration date?
Yogurt is good for 1-2 weeks after expiration if it is stored correctly.
Going to enjoy your breakfast and getting a mouthful of bad yogurt is an experience no one wants. That is why it is so important to know whether your yogurt has gone bad.
This article is going to delve into the world of yogurt and find out exactly how long it is good for past its expiration date.
Let’s get into it.
How Is Yogurt Made?
Yogurt is a very popular breakfast ingredient that is often enjoyed with granola, honey, and fruit. It can also be used in drinks like smoothies, marinades, and sauces.
It is a fermented milk product that uses bacteria to start fermentation. [*]
The sugars in the milk ferment and produce lactic acid, which affects the milk protein and gives the yogurt its creamy texture.
Vegan yogurt is usually made using coconut milk or other nondairy milk and is created slightly differently from regular yogurt.
Yogurt is made of just a few ingredients:
1. Full Cream Milk
This is the only ingredient that you really need for yogurt.
The bacteria are added, and the milk will ferment and thicken to the texture that we are familiar with. The sour flavor comes from the lactic acid that is produced during fermentation.
Plain and Greek yogurt are only made up of milk and some additives and preservatives.
3. Flavorants (OPTIONAL)
Yogurt comes in many flavors, so these are added to a plain base after fermentation.
Sugar is the number one additive for yogurt as it makes the sour taste more palatable.
Other flavors may include fruit purees, chocolate chips, artificial flavors, and colorants.
Expiration Date on Yogurt
When you buy any product, you will notice an expiration date. But what does this mean?
The expiration date is a close estimation of how long a tub of yogurt should last. This can change. However, depending on how it is stored.
While, in some circumstances, you can eat yogurt past its expiration date, you will have to rely on your taste buds to let you know if it has truly gone bad.
We recommend only tasting a small portion to see if it has gone bad, just in case.
We also suggest disposing of your yogurt a day or two after the expiration date but no longer than that, even if it tastes ok.
How Long is Yogurt Good After Expiration Date?
If stored correctly, yogurt can last 1-2 weeks past the expiration date. [*]
This is obviously a pretty wide timeframe, so it is crucial that you know how to tell if your yogurt has gone bad. Especially since it is dairy, and bad dairy is very unpleasant.
We suggest buying small quantities of yogurt at a time to ensure you can use it all before it goes bad.
Fresh yogurt will be:
1. Slight Sour Smell
The number one way to tell if your yogurt has gone off is by the smell when you open it.
It should be very subtle and slightly sour, but it will not be substantial. The only yogurt that will smell strong is one that has been flavored with fruit, but this scent will be very pleasant.
2. Thick, Smooth Texture
Good yogurt has a smooth, creamy texture.
The thickness will change from brand to brand, but Greek or double-cream yogurt will be the thickest.
3. Neutral, Slightly Sour Flavor
Plain yogurt will have a sour flavor that is pleasant and subtle.
If it is flavored, it should taste fresh with a hint of sourness.
Can You Eat Expired Yogurt?
We don’t recommend eating expired yogurt.
As we explored above, the expiration date may only be an estimation, but it should not be ignored.
If you don’t check the expiration date before you dish up a bowl, you may have a nasty and very unpleasant-tasting surprise.
If it is close to its expiry date, we suggest tasting a small portion before diving in, as eating expired yogurt can make you sick.
Now we are going to get into how to tell if yogurt is off so you can avoid eating bad yogurt ever again.
How To Tell If Yogurt Is Bad
So, now that you know what to look for in fresh yogurt what about when it goes off?
Off yogurt will be:
1. Bad Odor
The first thing you will notice when you open the tub is a bad smell.
It will smell very sour and unpleasant.
2. Watery, Split Texture
The thick texture of the yogurt will split to become lumps of thick white pieces floating in a watery liquid.
It will turn thin and lose its smooth consistency.
3. Mold May Be Present
A clear sign that your yogurt has gone bad is the presence of mold.
It will first appear on the edges where old yogurt has dried on the sides of the tub. Then the blue-green mold will spread across the yogurt and change color.
4. Sour Taste
The last resort way to tell if yogurt is off is to taste it.
It will taste very sour and rancid, like off-milk but worse.
What is the Best Way to Store Yogurt?
The best way to store yogurt is in the fridge in its original container.
Most packaging that yogurt comes in has a tight-fitting lid that will help keep the yogurt fresh.
Since it is dairy, it’s very important to store it in the fridge, or it will go bad after just a few hours.
FAQ
Conclusion
After all this talk of yogurt, what have we learned?
- Yogurt is good for 1-2 weeks after the expiration date.
- The best way to store yogurt is in the fridge.
- Eating off yogurt can make you sick.
We hope this has helped you tell whether your yogurt is still good and saved you from eating bad yogurt ever again.
