Is It OK to Eat Expired Yogurt?
Yogurt is typically safe to eat for 1-2 weeks past the sell-by date if refrigerated properly and showing no signs of spoilage. The live cultures in yogurt help preserve it. However, always check for mold, excessive liquid separation, and off odors before eating.
Key Takeaways
- Yogurt's live bacterial cultures produce lactic acid, creating an acidic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria.
- Flavored yogurts with fruit may spoil faster than plain yogurt.
- Non-dairy yogurts have different shelf lives depending on their base; check specific guidance.
Explanation
Yogurt's live bacterial cultures produce lactic acid, creating an acidic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria. This natural preservation means yogurt often outlasts its printed date. The date indicates peak quality and flavor, not a safety deadline.
Signs that yogurt has genuinely spoiled include visible mold (any color), an unusually runny texture throughout (not just surface liquid), a strong sour or off smell different from yogurt's normal tanginess, and any pink or gray discoloration.
The watery liquid that forms on top of yogurt (whey) is normal and safe - simply stir it back in. This separation increases over time but does not indicate spoilage. Greek yogurt tends to last slightly longer than regular yogurt due to its lower moisture content.
Things to Know
- Flavored yogurts with fruit may spoil faster than plain yogurt.
- Non-dairy yogurts have different shelf lives depending on their base; check specific guidance.
- Yogurt with added probiotics is no less safe past the date, but the probiotic count may decrease.