The date on a half of quart of milk is 9-20-09, should I use the milk to cook macaroni..

J

Jack C

New member
...and cheese? Help Please?
I don't know if the milk is bad by now. It smells ok to me but I can never smell the bad in milk. How else to you tell when the milk is bad?
 
i still use milk after one week after the date of milk is expired it still taste fine to me but you might want to take a little of the milk and try it first though thats what i do if it doesn't taste right throw it away and if it tastes fine use it
 
I wouldn't use it. I once carpooled with a lady whose job was testing milk samples for contamination. I asked her about outdated milk that "seemed OK." Her answer: "You wouldn't believe the kind of grief you are buying!"
 
I just answered a similar question about "out of date" tortellini. Firstly different dates have different meaning, e.g. Sell by date just means that's the last date a shop is allowed to sell it. Best before date is the last day before should still be at peak quality after that it will lose quality, such as not taste quite as nice but not necessarily being harmful. Use by date is a guidance as the last day you should use something, these are often massively exaggerated in order to minimise any chance of legal action against a company in the event of food poisoning etc. also it is likely that it increase sales as the more that is wasted means more is bought.

There was a tv show on a while back (I didn't see it but was told about it by my dad who is pays very little notice to food dates) and in it a food expert attempted to show these dates can often be largely ignored. He and his family were eating food that was several months "out of date".

Milk can go off though, it is unlikely to be particularly harmful but may not taste nice. Some people are very sensitive to off milk, it only has to start to turn for then to notice while others are sensitive at all and it has to really be off to notice.

Your best bet is to go with your own instincts, if it smells or tastes off to you the don't use it otherwise go for it, unless you are cooking for others that will notice it, perhaps get them ti check first, especially if they are sensitive.
 
2 ways to tell, other than smell:
Taste a tiny bit over the sink. If it's bad you'll know it! Spit and rinse.
If you can't bear to do it that way, heat a cup of water in the microwave and put a splash of cold milk in it. If it has even the tiniest lumps, throw it out.
 
I wouldnt. Me I would have thrown it out by the 19th. But thats me. I have very sensitive taste buds and can taste spoilage coming on long before the expiration date.

Taste it
 
That date is the last date that the milk can be sold to the general public. It is not an expiration date for usage. You can use it as long as it smells and taste fine with you. So just smell and have a small taste. If its good enough for you, then its good enough for cooking.
 
Trust me, if the milk was spoiled you'd be able to smell it! Milk begins to curdle and get thick and clumpy when it is going bad. it will also leave a residue (build up) around the ridges in the lid (inside bottle) where the lid screws on.
Dairy is usually good for up to 10 days past the expiration date. Even if it isn't at its freshest but is still good, you will not notice the difference in mac and cheese. Milk gets a bit stronger when it is getting ready to turn, but using it in a recipe will make it not noticeable.
I have safely used milk that is outdated 10 days or more past the due date. I have had milk spoil on me before the due date. It is very easy to tell when milk is bad, and I wouldn't throw away good food I didn't have to as it is too costly.
If you are not sure if it is spoiled, then ask a neighbor to tell you if it smells or looks bad, and if not, then you are okay.
Stores are not allowed to sell items out of date, but this does not mean you cannot use them. I am leaving you a resource so you won't think I am making this up about being able to use milk past the expiration and so you will feel safe using what you have.
Good luck~
 
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