Are you wondering if those cups of yogurt in your fridge would last? Peradventure, you've stocked up too much than you can imagine, and you can help but think, “Does yogurt go bad?” well, here's the good news!
You are in the right place. I'd be explaining a few things you need to understand as regards yogurt. Its shelf-life and if you consume it after its past expiration date.
Now, to the big question, does yogurt go bad? Yes, it does, although it depends on the type of yogurt and method of preparation.
How to tell if yogurt go bad
Note that in the long run, yogurt goes bad.
Here are a few things to look out for in other to ascertain if your yogurt is bad:
- Appearance: It's the first test to see if your yogurt is spoilt. If you notice any deviation from your yogurt's initial appearance, you probably should discard it immediately. If you notice mold growth, curdling, or water on the surface of your yogurt, it's gone bad.
- Taste: If your yogurt doesn't taste right, it's about time you toss it. Immediately. It's probably past its shelf-life.
- Smell: If your yogurt smells sour or stale instead of fresh, you should toss it immediately.
You should note that once you leave your yogurt for more than a week opened, it's very likely it goes bad. Consequently, an unopened yogurt with weeks past its expiry date shouldn't be consumed as well.
Peradventure you left your yogurt under room temperature by accident for more than 2 hours, discard it! Please do not attempt to consume such yogurt; it's probably stale and not good for your health.
How to store yogurt
It would be best if you always stored your yogurt under a cold temperature (at least 40°F or less). You could store them in the fridge or freezer, depending on usage. If your yogurt doesn't have a lid, transfer it into a plastic container, make sure it's airtight and store them in the fridge.
- Opened: Once you open your yogurt for consumption. Note that the estimated shelf life irrespective of the sell-by-date is 7-10 days. Be sure to keep the lid sealed and stored in the fridge. Use clean utensils when scooping yogurt, make use of dry and clean Utensils to avoid cross-contamination. Do not double-dip.
- Freeze: depending on usage, you should freeze your yogurt if you won't be making use of it anytime soon.
How long can yogurt last?
There are different types of yogurt; hence, they have varying expiration days. However, here are some of them in a broad group
- Frozen yogurt: They are best stored in the freezer. If unopened, they can last for 2-3 months past the expiration date printed on the container.
- Drinkable yogurt: These are the regular ones you probably buy in malls. They can last for at least 7-10 days past the printed expiration date if unopened and stored in the fridge. However, to increase its shelf-life, you could store it in the freezer. It could last up to 2 months past its printed expiration date.
- Greek yogurt: if unopened, the Greek yogurt could last for at most two weeks in the refrigerator and 1-2 months in the freezer past its printed expiry date.
- Reduced-fat yogurt: It could last for 1-2 months when stored in the freezer and 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator after expiration of unopened
- Yogurt with fruit: If your yogurt contains fruits, it could last for about two months in the freezer and up to 10 days in the fridge past its printed expiration date if left unopened.
Be sure to note that irrespective of the type of yogurt whether, Greek yogurt, reduced-fat yogurt, or any other firm of yogurt, they could only last for a week in the fridge. A month in the freezer once opened.
Can you eat expired yogurt?
According to the Department of Agriculture, United States, you should toss expired yogurt if it's stored under room temperature for a maximum of 2 hours. Can you eat expired yogurt? Yes, you can if it falls under a reasonable period and still retains its quality.
However, if the expired yogurt is in an unopened container before consuming, you could experience a little stomach upset. Contrary, if it's in an opened container, the side effect may be worse, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Conclusion
Yes, yogurt goes bad. There are different types of yogurt, and each has a varying shelf life. Yogurt left unopened for more than 2 hours under room temperature shouldn't be consumed. If you want to be sure if your yogurt is fit for consumption, smell it, check for mold growth, or you can taste it.
Once it's anything different from its initial quality, dispose of it immediately. In other to keep your yogurt from going bad, consider storing them in the freezer.
