topic Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt? in Kitchen

How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

glmama — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:06:08 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I was cleaning my fridge yesterday and came across two yogurts that got pushed way back on the shelf. Their stamped date is March 2nd. It is now March 24th. Would you eat these? I'm curious what everyone thinks and how everyone approaches these food expiration dates. We eat a lot of yogurt in our house--especially my older son and myself. I buy the big tubs for at home and I also buy the convenient, smaller size for lunch boxes.

Whaddaya think? Curious minds want to know!

TIA

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

brii — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:07:29 GMT

I wouldn't eat yogurt that expired that long ago.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

terrier3 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:08:51 GMT

We have a yogurt maker at our farmers market.

He said that yogurt was created to preserve milk that otherwise would spoil and the bacteria in yogurt is beneficial.

He said he has eaten yogurt that was 6 months past the expiration date!

That's too long for me...but unless something funky is on the top of your containers, it should be OK.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

glmama — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:20:23 GMT

Hi Brii & Terrier-Thank you!

I *tend* to lean toward your thoughts, terrier. However, there's a part of me that feels like brii. I am not typically panicked about expiration dates on some items. But I really wanted to know what you all thought.

I was just saying to my DH last night as I cleaned my pantry that when we were little canned goods didn't have an expiration date on them. At least I don't remember them having one. Now, everything is dated. Hmmmm???

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:21:14 GMT

Haha. I have a container of yogurt also with the March 2nd expiration date. I was going to chance it and decided that was just stupid. I'm not gonna make myself sick over a $1.00! It went into the trash.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

RainyDayGal — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:23:17 GMT

I MIGHT go 2-3 days, but not 22 days.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

grandkidsrgreat — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:24:46 GMT

I would (and have) eat it. But ... I wouldn't feed it to anyone else.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

expatgal — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:25:01 GMT

TRASH IT! Take it from someone who has one too many horrific bouts of food poisoning. You do not want to chance it.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

glmama — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:26:56 GMT

Love reading all your replies.

My DH and I joke that at the ILs house we have to ""Check the expiration date"" on just about everything. Everything seems to be hanging on by a thread.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

gazelle77 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:27:26 GMT

probably unopened 2 weeks??? Usually yogurt will get sour smelling when really going bad.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

blueroses47 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:28:17 GMT

I tend to regard expiration dates as guidelines, it's way more important to use your eyes and sense of smell and your common sense when assessing food, at least it is to me.

If something is tightly sealed and refrigerated or kept at the right temperature and looks and smells fresh (as well as a small taste test), I don't throw it away because it's past the date.

There was just something on TV regarding this question, and that's what the (so-called) expert also said, these dates are guidelines, not anything written in stone.

I do pay attention to these dates when buying perishables from the stores, though. I try to buy the ones with the farthest away dates.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

nikki48 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:29:43 GMT

I would trash it! Your stomach will thank you for not playing that game of roulette.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

Crazed4Gems — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:30:04 GMT

Let your nose be your guide! Maybe it's OK after all this time? If it's not OK, your nose will tell you!!

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

Anniecamp — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:40:05 GMT

My dd's dairy man told her that yogurt is good for at least a month past that date on the package, and that those dates are just for them to have a reference in rotating their stock. They eat yogurt that's past the package date all the time.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

mikki_g — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:41:31 GMT

I ate a Fage this weekend (3/22) that had a date of 3/7.

Tasted fine to me.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

santorini — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:42:44 GMT

I wouldn't even consider it. I'm very picky about freshness dates.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

luvdoodles — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:42:45 GMT

I would toss it, I don't like taking chances, I am the same way with milk or other dairy products. I really don't care for dairy products much anyways except for cheese. I got so sick the first time I tried greek yogurt. Never again.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

Sabatini2 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:42:51 GMT

I agree w/ the posters who say go ahead & eat it! Not a biggie, & Crazed4Gems is right - let your nose be your guide. But I'm betting that it's AOK.

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

Venezia — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:43:29 GMT

On 3/24/2014 Crazed4Gems said:
Let your nose be your guide! Maybe it's OK after all this time? If it's not OK, your nose will tell you!!

I agree with this advice. Remember, many years ago we didn't even have those dates stamped on products; we relied on our own good sense. I have eaten yogurt that's way past the "best by" date and I'm still here to talk about it. (I won't tell you how long past so I don't shock anyone, but the six months is not a stretch.)

Re: How long past-date would you eat a container of yogurt?

scotnovel — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:48:37 GMT

There is an eatbydate.com web site that gives you info about all types of foods. According to that site, it depends on the type of yogurt - with fruit or without, Greek, drinkable, reduced fat, regular, opened, unopened. Some is ok 1-2 weeks and some is longer.

You might check a site like this one in the future. It is probably more accurate than what we all think is the right answer.