DecodedGuides

Dairy Products & Eggs

Milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs are among the most perishable items in the kitchen and depend on a steady, cold fridge to stay safe. Soft cheeses spoil faster than hard ones, and eggs, despite lasting for weeks, are worth checking before use.

Dairy Products & Eggs
FoodPantryFridgeFreezer
Almond milkUse by the package date
Butter1 to 2 months6 to 9 months
Buttermilk1 to 2 weeks3 months
Cheese(5 kinds)6 months6 months
Cheese Curds2 weeks4 months
Coconut milk(2 kinds)Use by the package date
Coffee creamer(2 kinds)3 weeks
Cottage cheese2 weeksNot recommended
Cream(5 kinds)1 monthNot recommended
Cream cheese2 weeksNot recommended
Dips2 weeksNot recommended
Egg dishes3 to 4 days2 to 3 months
Egg substitutes(2 kinds)7 daysNot recommended
Eggnog3 to 5 days6 months
Eggs(3 kinds)3 to 5 weeksNot recommended
Ghee6 to 8 months1 to 2 years
Kefir1 weekNot recommended
Margarine6 months12 months
Milk(5 kinds)Use by the package date3 months
Nacho cheese2 yearsNot recommended
Pimento cheeseUse by the package date
Powdered milk3 to 5 years
PuddingUse by the package dateNot recommended
Quark7 to 10 days
Rice milkUse by the package date
Ricotta2 weeksNot recommended
Sour creamUse by the package dateNot recommended
Soy milkUse by the package date
String Cheese5 months
Vegan Cheddar Cheese4 months
Whipped cream3 to 4 weeksNot recommended
Whipped topping(2 kinds)3 monthsNot recommended
Yogurt1 to 2 weeks1 to 2 months

Signs dairy products & eggs have gone bad

  • Sour, sharp smell from milk or yogurt that was mild before
  • Mould on cheese that is not part of the recipe
  • Eggs that float in a bowl of water instead of sinking
  • Slimy or watery texture on soft cheese or yogurt
  • Yellowing or watery separation showing up in milk

Storage habits

Keep dairy and eggs in the coldest part of the fridge, not the door, at 40 F (4 C) or below. Store eggs in their original carton to protect them and track the date. Reseal cheese tightly in wax paper or a container, and keep milk capped between pours.

Questions people ask