Eating expired foods can be risky business. With frozen yogurt, it really depends on how long it’s been in the freezer and how it was stored. Here’s a deep dive into the safety of eating expired frozen yogurt.
How long does frozen yogurt last in the freezer?
Properly stored frozen yogurt will maintain best quality for about 4-6 months in the freezer, although it will usually remain safe to eat after that. The expiration date on the container is for best quality, not necessarily safety.
Here are some general guidelines on how long frozen yogurt will last in the freezer:
- Unopened frozen yogurt: 4-6 months past the printed date
- Opened frozen yogurt: 1-2 months
These timelines assume the frozen yogurt has been continuously frozen and stored at 0°F or below. Thawing and refreezing will shorten its shelf life.
How to tell if frozen yogurt has gone bad
Here are some signs that indicate your frozen yogurt may have gone bad and is best discarded:
- Ice crystals, freezer burn, or opaque/whitish discoloration on the yogurt
- Off odors, such as sourness or spoiled dairy smell
- Change in texture, like grittiness or dry patches
- Mold growth anywhere on the yogurt
- Yogurt has completely thawed then refrozen
Your nose is often the best tool in determining if your frozen yogurt has spoiled. Give it a good sniff test. Off odors, sourness, or very strong freezer odors usually mean the yogurt is no longer good.
Can you eat frozen yogurt past the expiration date?
Yes, you can safely eat frozen yogurt past the printed expiration date, provided you have stored it properly in the freezer. The expiration date is simply the last date by which the manufacturer can guarantee the best quality, not safety.
Frozen yogurt can last 4-6 months past its printed expiration date if it has been kept frozen the entire time. If there are no signs of spoilage like texture changes, freezer burn, or off odors, the frozen yogurt should be fine to eat. Make sure to consume it within a short period after thawing.
How to store frozen yogurt properly
To get the longest freezer life and quality out of frozen yogurt, be sure to store it properly. Here are some storage tips:
- Keep frozen yogurt stored at 0°F or colder at all times.
- Minimize temperature fluctuations by keeping the freezer door closed.
- Use oldest yogurt first and don’t overstock the freezer.
- Seal opened containers tightly and remove as much air as possible.
- Avoid repeated thaw and refreeze cycles.
Proper freezer storage prevents off-flavors, texture changes, freezer burn, and growth of harmful bacteria. If you follow these guidelines, frozen yogurt can safely last 4-6 months past its printed date.
Can you refreeze thawed frozen yogurt?
Yes, it is safe to refreeze thawed frozen yogurt, although the quality may start to degrade. If the yogurt was allowed to thaw in the refrigerator, then refrozen fairly quickly, the changes will be minimal.
But yogurt left thawed at room temperature or repeatedly thawed and refrozen can lead to more significant texture and flavor changes. The yogurt may become icy, grainy, or drier.
To refreeze thawed frozen yogurt, place it back in the freezer before it reaches 40°F. Use refrozen yogurt within 1-2 months for best quality.
Is moldy frozen yogurt safe to eat if you cut off the mold?
No, you should discard the entire container of frozen yogurt if any mold is spotted growing on the yogurt. Mold can send roots down deep into the food, so cutting off the surface mold does not make it safe to eat.
With dairy products like frozen yogurt, mold contamination poses significant health risks. Mycotoxins from the mold can cause allergic reactions and food poisoning. It’s best not to take any chances and to toss the frozen yogurt if mold is present.
Can you eat freezer burned frozen yogurt?
You can safely eat frozen yogurt affected by minor freezer burn, although the quality will be poorer. Severely freezer burned yogurt with thick ice crystals should be discarded.
Mild freezer burn appears as small ice crystals or white-ish, dry spots on the yogurt. It causes dry, watery textures and loss of flavor. As long as the yogurt has no off odors, it is safe to eat but the taste will be inferior.
Heavy freezer burn with large areas of ice crystals can promote spoilage by allowing oxygen exposure. Severely freezer damaged yogurt should be thrown out.
Will expired frozen yogurt make you sick?
Eating expired frozen yogurt past the recommended storage times can potentially make you sick, although the risk is generally low if the yogurt was stored properly.
Over time, harmful bacteria like Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli can grow in frozen yogurt, even when frozen. Consuming contaminated yogurt poses risks of food poisoning.
However, with proper freezer storage, the chances of bacterial growth in frozen yogurt are very slim, even after the expiration date. But eating yogurt that has thawed and sat at room temperature for many hours could make you sick due to rapid bacteria multiplication.
How long bacteria can survive in frozen yogurt
Here’s approximately how long some common types of dangerous bacteria can survive in frozen yogurt:
| Bacteria | Refrigerated yogurt | Frozen yogurt |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 months |
| Listeria | 1-3 months | 6+ months |
| Salmonella | 3-4 weeks | 6-12 months |
| E. coli | 3-4 weeks | 12+ months |
As shown, freezing inhibits bacterial growth but does not kill all bacteria. Proper handling and storage reduces the risk of foodborne illness from eating expired frozen yogurt.
Tips for safely eating expired frozen yogurt
Here are some tips to minimize your risk when eating expired frozen yogurt:
- Check for signs of spoilage like off odors, texture changes, or mold.
- Avoid yogurt that has been thawed then refrozen.
- Discard severely freezer burned or moldy yogurt.
- Heat thawed yogurt to 165°F before eating to kill bacteria.
- Stick to the recommended freezer storage times of 4-6 months.
- Keep yogurt frozen at 0°F or below.
- Consume within 1-2 days of thawing.
Being a smart consumer and following proper storage methods is the best way to reduce foodborne illness risks when eating expired frozen yogurt.
Who is at higher risk from eating expired frozen yogurt?
Some groups of people are at higher risk for foodborne illness and should take extra care with expired frozen yogurt:
- Pregnant women – increased susceptibility
- Young children – underdeveloped immune systems
- Older adults – weaker immune function
- Those with weakened immune systems – HIV, cancer, transplants
- Those with chronic diseases – diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune disorders
People in higher risk groups are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications if they consume contaminated frozen yogurt. They would be wise to discard expired yogurt instead of eating it.
Foodborne illness risks from major pathogens
Here is an overview of risks posed by some of the most concerning foodborne pathogens that can be found in frozen yogurt:
Salmonella
- Very common in dairy products
- Resistant to freezing temperatures
- Causes salmonellosis
- Symptoms in healthy adults: diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea
- More severe outcomes in at-risk groups
E. coli
- Found in the intestines of animals
- Can survive over 12 months frozen
- Causes bloody diarrhea, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
- Life-threatening complications possible in vulnerable populations
Listeria monocytogenes
- Hardy bacteria resistant to freezing
- Causes listeriosis
- Pregnant women at high risk of miscarriage, stillbirth
- Can be fatal in elderly and immunocompromised
Safe food handling and adhering to expiration dates minimizes risks from these and other pathogens in frozen yogurt.
How long can frozen yogurt be left out unrefrigerated?
Frozen yogurt that has been thawed should not be left out at room temperature unrefrigerated for longer than 2 hours. After sitting out for more than 2 hours, the yogurt enters the danger zone of 40-140°F where bacteria multiply rapidly.
Here are some general guidelines for thawed frozen yogurt when left unrefrigerated:
- 1 hour: Still very safe to eat or refreeze.
- 2 hours: Borderline safety, consume quickly.
- 3-4 hours: At higher risk for bacterial growth, unsafe.
- Over 4 hours: Discard immediately.
The warmer the ambient temperature, the less time thawed yogurt can safely sit out. Discard thawed frozen yogurt if left out overnight.
Can you get food poisoning from frozen yogurt?
Yes, it is possible to get food poisoning from contaminated frozen yogurt, although proper handling greatly reduces the risk. Bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can survive freezing temperatures.
Foodborne illness is more likely to occur if:
- Yogurt is kept thawed at room temperature for many hours
- Repeated freeze-thaw cycles occur
- Yogurt is stored for months past the expiration date
- Proper freezing temperature (0°F) is not maintained
- Packages are left open exposing yogurt to air and other contaminants
Practicing good food safety when handling and storing frozen yogurt keeps your risk of foodborne illness very low.
Can expired frozen yogurt make babies sick?
Yes, babies and young children face higher risks of getting sick from spoiled frozen yogurt. Their underdeveloped immune systems make them more vulnerable to foodborne pathogens.
Feeding expired frozen yogurt to babies is not recommended. The consequences of infections from bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella are more severe for infants. It’s better to err on the side of caution and not give babies yogurt past the expiration date.
Pregnant women should also avoid expired frozen yogurt, since foodborne illness raises risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects. When in doubt, throw it out instead of taking risks!
Should you smell expired frozen yogurt before eating it?
Yes, it’s a good idea to rely on your sense of smell when determining whether expired frozen yogurt is still safe to eat. Take a big whiff of the thawed yogurt first before tasting it.
Here’s what to watch out for:
- Sour or off odors – A sure sign the yogurt is spoiled and should be discarded
- Weak yogurt smell – The good bacteria may be dying off indicating the yogurt is old
- Strong freezer burn smell – The yogurt could be freezer damaged
- Normal yogurt aroma – A good sign it’s still fresh enough to eat
Trust your nose over the printed expiration date. But when in doubt, throw it out.
Conclusion
Eating expired frozen yogurt comes down to proper storage and handling. Frozen yogurt stored continuously at 0°F can often be safely eaten 4-6 months past the printed expiration date. However, yogurt that has been improperly thawed, transported, and refrozen may not be safe to eat even if not expired.
Check for signs of spoilage, avoid yogurt with repeated freeze-thaws, and be extra careful when serving to high-risk groups. While the expiry date is a decent guideline, your eyes, nose, and common sense are the best tools for determining whether expired frozen yogurt has truly gone bad.