So this is my first year buying my own groceries and all (yay off campus apartment) and I am free to buy whatever horrible food I want. I buy milk every trip. I started off buying regular gallons in the plastic container. But I noticed I was starting to not like it; I’d end up throwing a lot of milk away. It just tasted funky to me, but was not even close to its date. I was browsing the milk aisle of the local Hy-Vee and noticed they sell milk in glass containers from local farms. I picked up a bottle and damn it’s amazing! But last week I came home from a weekend away and wanted a glass of milk with my bagel in the morning. I couldn’t remember when I bought this particular bottle because I have no set grocery store schedule. I scanned the entire bottle and found no expiration date.
So what gives? Is this magic milk that doesn’t go bad? Am I supposed to look at the tiny price thingy at the store to determine the date? Just sniff it and take a chance? Anyone have experience buying milk like this that can give me a heads up?
My mom used to send me back to college with unpastured farm milk back in early eighties. The farmers didn’t date the milk for freshness (heck, you could even bring your own bottles and get it cheaper) because it was assummed that you knew it was from that days take and like good country folk would drink it up long before it went bad (or that you knew how long fresh milk lasted). My roommate gained 15 lbs in one semister drinking that stuff because he would always suck the cream off of the top. :smack:
In Canada they sell their milk in bags. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the damned expiration date, so I used the contact section of this particular brand’s website. They wrote back to let me know that it’s on the plastic clip that holds the bag closed. Not applicable to your situation, but I thought you’d like to know that you have sympathizers.
I can’t help you with the expiration date question, but - yes - this is what you should do if you’re dubious. If it doesn’t smell bad, it’s still drinkable, though perhaps not fully up to fresh.
Here in Minnesota. milk that is sold in glass bottles usually has the expiration date listed on the foil cap on top of the bottle. Often the date is simply embossed into the foil, not printed with ink, so it may be hard to see (especially once you have opened the foil cap). Try looking there. Sometimes turning the cap over and holding it up to the light at an angle will make it easier to see.
Take a little sip. You’ll know if it’s bad right away. Milk doesn’t usually last right to its due date but other dairy products like sour cream and yogurt will, if unopened, last for several days past their due dates.
Milk is an easy one - you don’t need an expiration date. Just smell it. There’s a period where we in the UK call it “on the turn”, where it’s not 100% but you could still use it in coffee or something, but within hours it’s “off” and you should pitch it down the sink/spoon it into the compost depending on how solid it has become. Though I think you can use “on the turn” milk for yogurt. Don’t quote me on that though.
Ugh, don’t remind me! Once, my family went on vacation for about 10 days. We got back, and I didn’t even think about it. Went to the 'fridge, and took a big gulp of milk straight from the carton. I got about three swallows in before I realized it was lumpy. GROSS!!!
In my experience, the date is a “sell by” date, and the milk is usually good for another five days.
The glass bottles aren’t actually gallons, they’re less. But I have a huge glass in the morning usually. These smaller bottles last me four or five days.
The cap on the milk is plastic too, so no date imprinted on it. It’s a pop off cap.
I guess I’ll chuck that milk and start trying to drink it quicker or something.
I was about to pitch in and say that the expiration date is based on the container not being opened and that once opened the milk will only last for about three or so days regardless of when the ‘expiration date’ is.
And then i saw your post…two weeks? No way! I won’t drink milk that hasn’t been freshly opened there and then although i know i’m fussy. But two weeks?
