Eat it or throw it out?

I've been out of town since Sunday nite, and this evening I found FIVE Dannon Greek Yogurts in the fridge that expired on Nov 25...I would definitely eat them if they were only a day or two past the date, but six days?? Is that still ok? I hate wasting food (hence my extra 100 pounds!), but I also get nervous about expired foods.

Thoughts? Thanks!!!

Replies

  • psmd
    psmd Posts: 764 Member
    honestly....as long as it's been refrigerated the whole time, then smell it and base your decision on that :tongue: good luck with that!!!
  • ratellcm
    ratellcm Posts: 164 Member
    I eat expired individual yogurts, I think it's fine a little longer because it's a sealed packet.
  • if it doesn't look or smell funny, i'd eat it. most foods are marked to expire before they'll actually expire, as an extra safety precaution, so you're probably good. i accidentally ate a funky muffin the other day but i'm fine :)
  • epona_mus
    epona_mus Posts: 207 Member
    They should be fine. Most yogurt is stamped with a "sell by" date rather than an expiration date. The yogurt is usually good (unspoiled) for at least 2 weeks past this date.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Remember, by definition, yogurt is already spoiled to begin with. :laugh:

    If it looks and smells like it should, it's fine. Just make sure to check it out first.
  • juliep1974
    juliep1974 Posts: 222 Member
    I eat expired (and unrefrigerated) yogurt all the time - it lasts well past its expiration date. As long as it smells fine, you'll be ok.
  • The best before date is there so the company won't get sued if you get sick from it. Most good lasts A LOT longer than you'd think past that date.

    For yogurt, all you literally have to do is smell it and look at it. If it smells like yogurt and doesn't look bad (even some water collection on the top is okay) you can eat it. With dairy products you can tell pretty quickly anyways when something has gone bad.
  • i accidentally ate a funky muffin the other day but i'm fine :)

    This made me laugh out loud!!!
  • Remember, by definition, yogurt is already spoiled to begin with. :laugh:

    My husband said the same thing!! :laugh:
  • Susan_Marie67
    Susan_Marie67 Posts: 23 Member
    I'd throw it out.. but that's just me. It's probably fine but I'm one of those individuals that pay attention to the expired dates on foods. I might eat it if it was a day...maybe two over the expiration date.. but even that is stretching it for me.
  • SafireBleu
    SafireBleu Posts: 881 Member
    I'd throw it out.. but that's just me. It's probably fine but I'm one of those individuals that pay attention to the expired dates on foods. I might eat it if it was a day...maybe two over the expiration date.. but even that is stretching it for me.
    ^^^Yes this. I'd throw it out.
  • Play_outside
    Play_outside Posts: 528 Member
    I eat things past their dates ALL the time, as others have mentioned, look at it and smell it. Yogurt especially is something that is good for quite some time past, and particularly the individual ones.
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    Eat it. I've eaten yogurt a couple of MONTHS past the expiration date. Yes, MONTHS. I know everyone thinks I'm gross now. Maybe the bacterial cultures were dead or something, but it smelled/tasted fine and I had no ill effects.

    As others said - don't worry about dates - trust your nose!
  • It says best before not bad after :) I would eat it
  • It's fine... yogurt is one of those things, like sour cream, unless it's green, it's good.
  • EricNCSU
    EricNCSU Posts: 699 Member
    Yeah, yogurt will be fine. Just like other dairy (milk cheese etc) it is a "best by" date, the expiration is several weeks later.. and someone beat me to the "expired already" but the natural bacteria in yogurt will keep the bad stuff from growing..

    Plus yogurt is very acidic from the lactic acid bacteria so low pH, not much stuff (mold etc) will grow in it.
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    Open it... if it isn't green or black or yellow, then I'd say it's ok. The expiration date is not an absolute. Sometimes my bread turns moldy before the expiration date. Sometimes my skim milk last DAYSSSSS after the expiration date-I think it's because it's mostly water.

    Nothing is absolute, nothing is a guarantee.. I highly doubt you will die or get sick. But don't eat it tonight JUST because you are going to have to throw it out tomorrow. Don't waste calories because you don't want to waste foods. No kid is starving because you threw away a greek yogurt. People can get mad, but it's not like you bought that yogurt just to throw it away. You had every intention of eating it, but life gets in the way,,, don't let the additional calories get in the way of your weightloss.
  • TGomo
    TGomo Posts: 35
    While I am really careful about meats, etc., I will eat yogurt up to one month after expiration. Never any problems. As long as it has stayed in the fridge, you should be fine.
  • tanyaMax
    tanyaMax Posts: 524 Member
    what'd you end up doing? ate or threw out? CURIOUS!!
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I would throw it out because I hate yogurt.

    But seriously if it's bad you will definitely know. And as has been said before, that is the sell-by date. That means it can be sold until Nov 25, obviously you aren't expected to eat it the same day.
  • I always thought the date was a sell by date not a eat by date. The stores cant sell past that ate but I would think they are still good for 10 days or so!!!
  • No kid is starving because you threw away a greek yogurt.

    Hahaha!! Love this!!
  • LosingWeight2012
    LosingWeight2012 Posts: 62 Member
    I would throw it out. I think sell buy is the same thing as EAT by. I know most people disagree but I rather be on the safe side with what I put into my body. Uncooked meat, toss if it has been in the fridge longer than 2 days. I piss everyone off at my house with how I am with expired stuff. Milk goes in the trash if it still there the day before it expires. That rarely happens tho. With ANY food.
  • what'd you end up doing? ate or threw out? CURIOUS!!

    Gonna have some for breakfast in the morning, and maybe another for a snack later in the day. Thanks for all the good advice. For those who said throw it out...I am still keeping that as an option if I get squeemish about eating it!!

    As always, you all rock! Thanks.
  • UGH! I *JUST* dumped a whole container (32 oz) of plain yogurt down the sink YESTERDAY cuz it was 3 days past the date on container-

    but that's only because I've gotten quite sick on spoiled dairy before, and pewking up CHUNKY MILK is enough to make you pewk a second time from the smell/taste in your mouth...........
    so this gal wasn't taking any chances.

    although I did question, thinking: what's the difference between this yogurt _ IF it had soured_and sour cream?
    How do you know when THAT is bad? Hmmmmmm
  • KathyWel
    KathyWel Posts: 140
    I would eat it if it looked OK, in fact I just ate one today that expired Nov. 26 it was still good.
  • jwerman
    jwerman Posts: 176
    Open it... if it isn't green or black or yellow, then I'd say it's ok. The expiration date is not an absolute. Sometimes my bread turns moldy before the expiration date. Sometimes my skim milk last DAYSSSSS after the expiration date-I think it's because it's mostly water.

    Nothing is absolute, nothing is a guarantee.. I highly doubt you will die or get sick. But don't eat it tonight JUST because you are going to have to throw it out tomorrow. Don't waste calories because you don't want to waste foods. No kid is starving because you threw away a greek yogurt. People can get mad, but it's not like you bought that yogurt just to throw it away. You had every intention of eating it, but life gets in the way,,, don't let the additional calories get in the way of your weightloss.
    This is Great! Definitely about changing our mindsets as part of the process. We're told over and over and over growing up not to waste food, the hardest thing for me is not expired items to toss, it's restaurant food...I have to constantly keep my. Grandmother out of my head when eating a nice meal LOL! You know the nagging voice that says, " you paid $12.95 for that, now finish it!" I am happy to say I can push the plate away now, WITH food still on it! You'll get there too. Don't worry. :)
  • I was just wondering the same thing about some plain Greek yogurt I have had open for a week in the fridge. I make Ranch dip with it for my veggies. I am going to eat it tomorrow because THAT is the expiration date. I am squirrely about dates and all that too.
  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    Remember, by definition, yogurt is already spoiled to begin with. :laugh:

    If it looks and smells like it should, it's fine. Just make sure to check it out first.

    Came here to say this pretty much.
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