Can you drink milk past the date on the bottle? An in-depth guide to spoilage and safety

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study cited by Healthline, up to 78% of consumers throw away milk and other dairy products after the date on the label has passed due to confusion over labeling. This has a significant impact on food waste, but the question remains: can you drink milk past the date on the bottle? The answer is often yes, but it requires understanding what the labels actually mean.

Quick Summary

Date labels like 'sell-by' and 'best-by' on milk indicate peak quality, not safety. With proper refrigeration, milk can be safe to consume for several days after this date. The most reliable way to check for spoilage is by inspecting its smell, texture, and appearance.

Key Points

Date Labels are Guides, Not Rules: The "sell-by" or "best-by" dates on milk are indicators of peak quality, not hard safety deadlines.
Use Your Senses: Rely on your nose, eyes, and taste buds to check for spoilage, such as a sour smell, curdled texture, or yellowish color.
Store Milk Correctly: Keep your milk on an interior shelf of the refrigerator, not the door, to maintain a consistent, cold temperature below 40°F (4°C).
Freezing is an Option: You can freeze milk for up to three months to extend its shelf life, though it may change the texture upon thawing.
Risks are Real: Drinking genuinely spoiled milk can cause food poisoning with symptoms like nausea and diarrhea due to bacterial overgrowth.
Reduce Food Waste: Understanding the true meaning of date labels and proper storage can help you avoid unnecessarily throwing away perfectly good milk.

Before you pour that carton down the drain, it's essential to understand that food product dates are often about quality rather than safety. The date printed on your milk bottle is an estimate from the manufacturer, not a hard-and-fast rule indicating instant spoilage. The true safety of your milk depends on how it's been handled and stored. You can learn to trust your senses and reduce food waste by identifying the difference between a quality marker and a sign of true spoilage.

Decoding Milk Date Labels

The dates printed on milk cartons can be misleading, and with no federal standard (except for infant formula), the phrasing can vary. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) offer guidelines on what different labels generally indicate.

Sell-By: This is primarily for the retailer's inventory management and tells them when to pull the product from the shelf. It gives the consumer a timeframe to use the product at peak quality, and milk can often last for several days past this date if properly refrigerated.
Best if Used By/Before: This suggests the date by which the milk will have the best flavor and quality. It is not a safety date, and the product is still likely safe to consume past this point.
Use-By: This is the last date a manufacturer recommends for peak quality. It is also not a mandatory safety marker, though it's a good indicator that quality will begin to decline.

The Pasteurization Process

Most commercial milk in the United States undergoes pasteurization, a heating process designed to kill harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, extending its shelf life. However, pasteurization does not eliminate all bacteria. The remaining bacteria will eventually multiply and cause spoilage, especially if the milk is not kept at a consistent, cold temperature.

Your Sensory Guide: How to Spot Spoiled Milk

When assessing your milk's freshness, your senses are the most reliable tool. Ignore the date and perform a quick check for these tell-tale signs of spoilage.

The Sniff Test: A fresh carton of milk has a very mild scent. Spoiled milk will produce a distinctively sour or rancid odor caused by lactic acid produced by bacteria. If it smells bad, don't drink it.
Visual Check: Pour some milk into a clear glass. Fresh milk should be white and smooth. If it has a yellowish tinge, develops mold, or appears discolored, it is spoiled.
Texture and Consistency: Fresh milk is a smooth liquid. If you pour it and notice clumps, lumps, or a thickened, curdled texture, it is no longer good to drink.
The Taste Test (with caution): If the milk passes the smell and visual tests, you can taste a tiny sip. If it tastes sour, acidic, or otherwise 'off,' spit it out and discard the rest.

The Real Shelf Life Beyond the Date

With proper storage, milk can last several days beyond the 'sell-by' or 'best-by' date. Unopened pasteurized milk can last for up to 5–7 days past its date, while opened milk typically lasts 2–3 days past the date. However, ultra-pasteurized (UHT) milk, which is heated to a higher temperature, can last much longer, even unrefrigerated before opening.

Factors Affecting Milk's Longevity

Refrigeration Temperature: Keep your fridge at 38–40°F (3–4°C) for optimal milk storage.
Storage Location: The door of the refrigerator is the warmest part due to frequent temperature fluctuations. Store milk on an interior shelf where it is consistently colder.
How it's handled: Constantly leaving the milk out of the fridge or drinking directly from the carton can introduce bacteria and shorten its shelf life.

Potential Consequences of Drinking Spoiled Milk

While drinking a small amount of slightly soured milk might not cause harm, consuming moderately to large amounts can cause food poisoning. Symptoms can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The unpleasant taste is a natural defense mechanism that deters most people from ingesting enough to cause serious issues. Cooking with slightly soured milk can be acceptable for some recipes, but it's important to differentiate this from milk that is truly spoiled and contains potentially harmful, heat-resistant toxins.

Freezing Milk for Future Use

If you have a surplus of milk nearing its date, freezing it is a viable option to prevent waste. Frozen milk is safe indefinitely but is best used within three months for quality. Milk expands when frozen, so be sure to pour some out to leave headspace in the container. Note that freezing may cause a change in texture, making the milk grainy or separated upon thawing, which is why it's often best used for cooking or baking rather than drinking. Thaw it in the refrigerator over 24 hours.

Comparison Table: Date Labels vs. Indicators of Spoilage


Feature	Date Label (e.g., Sell-By)	Sensory Spoilage Indicators
Primary Purpose	Suggests peak quality for inventory and freshness.	Detects the presence of spoilage bacteria and chemical changes.
Determines Safety?	No, unless it is infant formula.	Yes, a sign of unsafe consumption.
Reliability	A best-guess estimate; can be inaccurate if storage is poor.	The most reliable method for home consumers to check milk safety.
Effect on Product	None on safety; gradual quality decline over time.	Causes sour taste, off-odor, and curdled texture.
Consumer Action	Consider freshness, but safe for a few extra days.	Discard immediately to prevent illness.

Conclusion: Trust Your Senses Over the Date

The dates on your milk bottles are not a magic cutoff point for safety but rather a guide for peak quality. By relying on your senses—sight, smell, and taste—you can accurately determine if milk is safe to consume. Proper storage, including maintaining a consistent and cool temperature on an inner refrigerator shelf, is key to extending milk's shelf life. By doing so, you can reduce food waste and save money without compromising your health. Always remember: when in doubt, throw it out. You can find more detailed food safety guidelines from the U.S. government on the FDA's website at https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm255306.htm.

Frequently Asked Questions

If stored properly in the refrigerator, unopened milk is generally safe to drink for 5–7 days past its 'sell-by' date. Once opened, it should be consumed within 2–3 days past the date.

The first sign of milk spoilage is typically a sour odor, caused by lactic acid produced by bacteria. If it smells 'off' or acidic, it's a clear indicator that the milk is no longer fresh.

Yes, if milk is only slightly soured but hasn't curdled, it can be used in baked goods like pancakes or biscuits, where the heat will kill the bacteria. However, if the milk is visibly spoiled or has a strong bad taste, it should be discarded entirely.

Drinking spoiled milk can lead to digestive discomfort or food poisoning due to harmful bacteria. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, though a small accidental sip is unlikely to cause severe illness.

No, freezing milk does not make it unsafe to drink, but it can cause the milk's texture to change and become grainy after thawing. The thawed milk is best used for cooking or baking rather than drinking plain.

Yes. UHT milk is heated to a higher temperature during processing, giving it a much longer shelf life and allowing it to be stored unrefrigerated until opened. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and consumed within a week.

The refrigerator door is the warmest part of the fridge and experiences the most temperature fluctuation from opening and closing. Storing milk on an interior shelf where temperatures are more stable will help it stay colder and fresher longer.