Can You Drink Milk That Has Expired Or That Is Close to Its Expiration Date?

How many times have you bought fresh milk, opened it and consumed little of it, or even forgotten about its presence in the fridge? Having milk that is close to expiration or even already expired is quite common, but this does not mean that its destiny is necessarily to be thrown away. In some cases, and according to some parameters, milk that is almost expired can be consumed, or it can still be reused in the kitchen; even milk that is already expired has a second life and you can use it in many areas. Here are all the tips and suggestions to avoid wasting leftover or forgotten milk.

How to Know When Expired Milk Is Undrinkable

In the United States, fresh milk is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and individual state laws, which set guidelines for expiration dates and safe consumption. U.S. regulations typically require milk to have a “sell-by” or “use-by” date generally set within 7 to 14 days after pasteurization. It’s important to note that in the U.S., milk sold in stores is pasteurized, which extends its shelf life compared to unpasteurized fresh milk. Once opened, milk should be consumed within 5 to 7 days if stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40°F. Always ensure the cold chain is maintained to keep milk fresh. Beyond this period, even if it looks and smells fine, it’s safer to avoid drinking milk to prevent any risk of foodborne illness.

If you are within the time frame, the milk may still be good, but how can you tell? You have to trust your senses. Milk that has already gone bad or is close to spoiling emits a bad pungent odor, may no longer have a liquid consistency and may even turn yellow. In this case, obviously, it is not recommended to drink it, while if it still has a normal appearance, smell and color then you can still consume it. And if you don't trust your senses, do the acid test and boil your milk that is close to expiration or expired: if no lumps form, it is still usable.

If the milk is not drinkable but still usable, do not throw it away! If it is close to its expiration date but not completely expired, it should not be drunk "raw" because the deterioration process of the milk components has already begun, but you can safely use it for cooking, for example to flavor soups, to create a cooking base for stews (for example braised or stewed meat) or to prepare béchamel sauce.

How to Use Expired Milk

If the milk is already well past its expiration date, or if it has not but has gone sour, you can still throw it away: this product, in fact, even if it is no longer good to drink or use in your recipes, can also be used outside the kitchen. Here's how to do it.

1. Fertilizer for Plants

Even if it is expired, soured and deteriorating, milk still has great nutritional properties. You may not be able to take advantage of it, but your plants can benefit from it: it is an excellent fertilizer, especially for plants that are a little dull or in the growth phase, because it is rich in a mineral that helps prevent problems such as rot, but also in proteins and sugars, which improve the structure of the soil. You can mix it with water and spray it on both the roots and leaves, where it has a protective action against fungal diseases. Be careful though, not all plants are suitable for being fertilized in this way: the most suitable are lemons, geraniums, tomatoes, peppers and orchids.

2. Facial Treatments and Beneficial Baths

Expired milk not only nourishes plants, but also the skin: one of the most common ways to reuse it is to prepare home treatments to make it smoother and more hydrated. If you want to prepare a hydrating mask, for example, you can combine a type of milk with a little oatmeal, spread it all over your face and then rinse after 10 minutes of application. If instead you want an effective but not too aggressive scrub, mix it with a teaspoon of bicarbonate and proceed as you would with a normal scrub; if you also add a drop of lemon you can also have an astringent action on the pores. Some also use it to enrich the bath in the tub, pouring a little into the water together with a spoonful of honey: there are those who swear that it is a true elixir for the beauty of the skin, so much so that it is said that it was one of the favorite treatments of Queen Cleopatra herself, but also of Poppea, Nero's wife, and Paolina Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister.

3. Clean the Silverware

Expired milk is very effective for cleaning and polishing silver and works as well as commercial cleaners or other natural methods such as lemon juice, toothpaste or white vinegar. To use milk, just put it in a bowl with some lemon juice and immerse the dishes you want to polish and let them soak for a few minutes, then rub gently, rinse and dry carefully. You will see that the silver will be shiny again and even the oxidation stains will disappear.

4. Make a Hand-Washing Paste

Expired milk can also be used to create a natural hand-washing paste, an abrasive paste cleaner to remove the most stubborn dirt, such as oil or grease accumulated on your hands after car work, paint or ink, or simply soil that you got on your hands after gardening. Mix milk with oatmeal or chickpea flour until you get a mixture with a consistency similar to that of a facial scrub: use it to clean your hands from the most stubborn dirt and rinse your skin well after use.

5. Remove Stains From Clothes

Just as it removes stains from hands, expired milk is excellent for removing the most stubborn stains from clothes: remember that the fresher the stain, the easier it will be to remove it, so it is important to act before it dries. Simply wet a sponge with milk and pre-treat the stain by dabbing, while if the machine is particularly stubborn you must first heat the milk slightly, then apply it to the area and rub, or leave the garment to soak in a solution of milk and warm water. In all cases, after using the chosen treatment, proceed to wash the garment in the washing machine as normal.

6. Polishing Leather and Patent Leather Items

Expired milk is also excellent for polishing all those objects or garments that are made of non-suede or patent leather, such as sofas, bags and shoes: milk, in fact, has the great power to make shiny surfaces shine, a bit like what happens with silverware. For a quick clean, simply soak a cloth in the milk and, after having soaked it well, wring it out properly and then pass it over your shoes or bags. If you want to do a deeper clean, you have to apply the milk directly to the bag or shoes, leave it to act and then rub with a dry cloth.