Yogurt is a dairy product made by fermenting milk with live cultures of bacteria. Like many perishable foods, yogurt comes with a stamped expiration date to indicate the last day it should be eaten for best quality. However, the expiration date does not necessarily mean the yogurt must be thrown out that day.
Can you eat yogurt after expiration date?
Yes, you can generally eat yogurt past its expiration date, but the quality and taste will slowly decline over time. How long it stays safe and editable will depend on a few factors:
- Type of yogurt – Unopened vs. opened container
- Ingredients – Fruit, sweeteners, stabilizers
- Storage conditions – Refrigerated vs. freezer vs. pantry
As a rule of thumb, unopened yogurt stored continuously in the refrigerator should last 1-2 weeks past its expiration date before noticeable changes in taste or texture. Opened yogurt will last 5-7 days past expiration. Frozen yogurt may last 1-2 months past expiration before quality deteriorates.
How to tell if expired yogurt is still good
Here are some tips for evaluating if yogurt is still safe and edible after the expiration date:
- Check appearance – Discard yogurt if there is visible mold growth or if liquid has separated from the solid parts.
- Smell – Yogurt that has truly spoiled will smell rancid, rotten, or sour. Fresh yogurt has a tangy aroma.
- Texture – Yogurt naturally thickens over time. It may develop a more runny consistency as it gets older.
- Taste – Yogurt that tastes unpleasantly tangy or bitter has likely expired.
If the yogurt passes the sight, smell and taste tests, it should still be safe to eat even after its expiration date. Be aware the further past the date, the more its flavor, creaminess and nutritional value may diminish.
How long is yogurt good for when refrigerated?
Properly stored, unopened yogurt will typically stay fresh for:
- 1 week past the sell by or best by date
- 2-3 weeks past the expiration date printed on the container
Once opened, yogurt will stay good for:
- 5-7 days past expiration when stored in the refrigerator
The expiration dates above apply to regular plain yogurt. Yogurt with mix-ins like fruit or granola will have a shorter shelf life of around 5-7 days once opened.
Does freezing yogurt extend how long it lasts?
Freezing is an excellent way to extend the shelf life of yogurt beyond the expiration date. When frozen continuously at 0°F, unopened yogurt stays safe indefinitely. Opened yogurt will last 1-2 months in the freezer.
To freeze yogurt:
- Check for expiration date and make sure yogurt looks and smells fresh before freezing.
- Move yogurt to freezer prior to expiration date for best quality.
- Store yogurt in airtight freezer bag or container.
- Use within 1-2 months for best texture and flavor.
Thaw frozen yogurt overnight in the refrigerator before eating. The yogurt may have a thinner consistency after thawing but will be safe to consume if continuously frozen.
What happens if you eat expired yogurt?
Eating yogurt a few days past the expiration date is generally safe, thanks to yogurt’s low pH levels and the presence of “good bacteria” that keep harmful pathogens from growing. Over time, the beneficial probiotics will die off, causing yogurt to lose some nutrition and flavor.
However, contaminated, spoiled, or very old yogurt may cause food poisoning symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Fever
Babies, pregnant women, elderly adults, and those with weakened immune systems have greater risk of illness from eating expired yogurt. Always discard yogurt that looks, smells, or tastes unpleasant to avoid foodborne illness.
How to store yogurt properly
Yogurt has a relatively short shelf life compared to many dairy products. Follow these storage tips to help yogurt stay fresh as long as possible:
- Refrigerate yogurt at 40°F or below after purchase. The cool temperature slows bacteria growth.
- Check sell-by date and purchase yogurt with the farthest expiration dates.
- Avoid temperature fluctuations by limiting times the yogurt warms up during transport.
- Store yogurt towards back of refrigerator where temperature is most constant.
- Keep yogurt in original container until ready to eat.
- Seal containers tightly to avoid exposure to air and prevent contamination.
- Don’t store opened yogurt more than 1 week. Discard sooner if any mold, off-flavors or oozing liquid develops.
Additionally, freezing unopened yogurt enables it to keep much longer beyond the printed date. Thaw frozen yogurt in the refrigerator before consuming.
How to read yogurt expiration date codes
Knowing how to decipher the different expiration date labels on yogurt can help prevent prematurely throwing away edible yogurt. Here are some common phrases seen on yogurt containers and what they mean:
| Expiration Date Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sell by | Recommended last date of sale. Yogurt is still fresh for about 1 week past this date. |
| Best by | Suggested date for optimal flavor and texture. Yogurt usually tastes fine for 2+ weeks after. |
| Use by | Final date yogurt should be consumed by. Equivalent to printed expiration date. |
| Expiration date | Last day yogurt should be eaten for best quality. Yogurt is likely still good for 1-2 weeks after. |
The printed manufacture date is not an expiration date. Yogurt companies typically provide expiration dates 2-3 weeks beyond the manufacture date.
For freshest taste and nutrients, try to eat yogurt by the “best by” or “use by” dates. But yogurt stored properly may still be enjoyable past its stamped date.
Tips for using up yogurt before it expires
To avoid throwing out expired yogurt, here are some delicious ways to use it up more quickly:
- Blend into smoothies
- Stir into oatmeal or granola
- Mix into chicken salad, tuna salad or egg salad
- Use as vegetable dip
- Substitute for sour cream
- Make yogurt popsicles
- Top baked potatoes instead of butter or sour cream
- Mix with spices and use as dressing/marinade for meats
- Make yogurt raita or cucumber dip
- Use as base for creamy salad dressings or dips
Getting creative with leftovers and almost expired yogurt helps cut down on needless waste!
Conclusion
Yogurt that has been continuously refrigerated typically stays fresh and edible for 1-2 weeks past the printed expiration date, provided there is no visible mold or unpleasant odors. Freezing can extend the shelf life of unopened yogurt by several more months.
While yogurt may not be at peak quality after its expiration date, it is generally still safe to eat if properly stored. Always use good judgment when evaluating expired yogurt. Consuming contaminated or spoiled yogurt past its prime can potentially cause food poisoning.
Following yogurt storage tips, monitoring signs of spoilage, and freezing extras are some ways to maximize yogurt’s shelf life. But the best strategy is to use up opened yogurt within a week and try to finish unopened containers by the expiration date for optimal freshness and flavor.
