STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

laken1 · Hermes

Organic Milk drinkers

kate · BCBG

milk in our house never lasts that long (bf drinks a gallon of milk a day, no exaggeration...) but my guess is that you should probably abide by the 7 days (rather than the printed expiration date) just because it is no longer sealed. i always err on the side of caution, because i like you would rather waste milk than be sick.

but you should definitely be able to tell when milk goes bad by the smell...

Drew · Gucci

My understanding is that milk lasts about 7-10 days in the fridge, after opening the container. That being said, I drink it until it smells sour.

Also, I usually drink more soy milk, but prefer real milk with my egg whites (it makes them so much fluffier than soy milk). So, being that we don't use a lot, but I have weird ways of saving money, I freeze the milk in portions that I think will get used within a week. I have a commercial sealer and fill a bag up with milk, put it in the freezer over night standing up in a safe place (usually behind something in the rack on the door so it stays up safely), then vaccuum seal it, and keep it in the freezer until I am ready to use it. It usually takes a couple of days to thorougly thaw out in the fridge. I tried defrosting one on the counter, put it smelled sour when I opened it so I don't do that any more.

There is no taste or performance difference in milk that has been frozen. Ok, not sure you wanted that, but maybe it will help someone out.

Starstuff · Kenneth Cole

I think the expiration date is the last date the milk can be sold.

I would imagine that all milk says that it should be used w/in a week -- once you open the container, you let in air and can cause bacteria to grow (not that it's vacuum-sealed before, I just mean that in air there is bacteria, etc. which gets let in once you open the container.)

So, don't worry. Drink the milk until it starts to smell "off" - you'll be able to tell.

And congrats on buying organic -- I do too and it's important to me that the cows are treated humanely (sp?). Organic milk costs twice what conventional milk does here in NYC, but it's my way of putting my $ where my mouth is.

blubirde · Chanel

I only buy organic milk also. I don't use it a lot and I like that it doesn't go bad as quickly as regular milk. Plus I don't really eat cow so I'm happy to avoid the hormones, if at all possible.

As far as milk goes, I completely ignore the date on the carton and go by smell alone. You'll know easily enough if milk has gone bad or not, don't worry. It'll be gross, but you'll know.

Elle · Hermes

We only buy organic milk too - my favorite brand is Organic Valley, but we get Horizon if that's what's available. Non-organic milk always smells sour to me, even right after I open it, but organic never does. FH loves it so much more than regular milk, he actually sits down to drink a plain glass of milk a couple times a week now!

We don't go through it too quickly though, so we like the extended expiration on organic. Ours are usually open for more than a week (though usually not longer than 2) and they've always smelled fine and tasted fine and we've never gotten sick. Organic milks are extra-pasteurized, so IMO they last longer both before and after opening.

I do throw it out if we happen to go past the marked expiration date though.

HTH!

luckyclover · Dooney & Bourke

You should be able to smell when it goes bad. I love milk and drink quite a bit of it (usually with hershey syrup

) but I can always tell before it actually turns that it's going to....it just tastes different to me. If I don't get to it first and dump it out the other half will still drink it as it tastes the same to him.