How to store milk

How to tell milk has gone bad

• Spoiled milk has a sour odour, an off flavour and a curdled, lumpy consistency.
• These signs show up fastest when milk sits above 40 F (4 C), for example in the fridge door or on the counter. Keep it at or below 40 F and put it back straight after pouring.
• Clemson extension gives pasteurized milk 1 to 5 days beyond the sell-by date when it has been kept cold the whole time.
• Milk can carry harmful bacteria without smelling or looking wrong, so keep to time and temperature rather than the sniff test.

Sources: Safe Handling of Milk and Dairy Products (Clemson University Extension); Are You Storing Food Safely? (FDA). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

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.