How to store sour cream

How to tell sour cream has gone bad

• Mould on sour cream means the whole tub goes out. USDA does not allow scooping it off, because mould spreads through the soft cream.
• An off odour or off flavour, or yeasty growth, is the sign it has spoiled.
• Clemson extension gives opened sour cream 2 weeks in the fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below. Freezing is not recommended; the texture separates.

Sources: Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS); Safe Handling of Milk and Dairy Products (Clemson University Extension). 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.