Kitchen

[paShar]

On 2/14/2015 Tenners said: That's a real tuffy! My mom loved buttermilk and tried to get me to drink it. I always thought you should just pour it down the sink it tasted so bad!

I agree Tenners! When I was little my dad gave me buttermilk and told me it was a milshake. I'm now 66 years old and just the thought of buttermilk makes me queasy (and I can't even remember what it tastes like). I see so many recipes that call for buttermilk that I'd like to try but I can't bring myself to buy it.

[AuntG]

If is isn't like curds, I think it is fine to use in recipes.

[Zhills]

I think it is fine. If it is 'bad' you will know!

[adoreqvc]

My nose knows.....I smell it and never really trust expiration dates because unless everything dairy is way back in the refrigerator it will usually expire early if left towards the front, and on the side of the refrigerator door.

Also I make my own buttermilk so it is fresh when I need it.

I just add vinegar to regular milk, stir it well, let it stand about 10 minutes and I have fresh buttermilk every time I need it.

[athenian]

Hi paShar! You can use milk with either lemon juice or vinegar in a recipe that calls for buttermilk--1 cup milk with 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice or vinegar, stir and let it sit for five minutes. There is also a powdered buttermilk which is available from cooking supply stores.

[shaggygirl]

According to the website stilltasty.com (where you can look up the shelf/refrigerator/freezer life of just about anything & everything) buttermilk whether opened or unopened is good for 2 weeks when refrigerated.

[nomar]

I have kept buttermilk way past the expiration date and it is fine. Especially since it is unopened.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

I think it was forrestwolf who said that buttermilk gets better with age, up until a certain point.

I used to toss it a couple of days after the expiration date, but I followed her advice and continued to use it longer, just shaking it up a bit - never had a problem or complaint. You do get to a point where it's no good - it sort of separates and looks nasty, so then I toss it.

[Tigriss]

You can use it since it is unopened and not exposed to airborne bacteria/fungus, though it won't last long, so use it up. I have the powdered kind since I hardly use it.

[house_cat]

I asked DH to go buy me a new carton, just in case, but it looks perfectly fine. I guess I'll freeze the new one in portions so that this doesn't happen again.

Thanks everyone.