spoiled milk?

[TimG]

Wondering if anyone else has this issue...whenever we buy milk, whether from Jensen's or Stater Bro's down the hill and regardless of the expiration date, it starts to sour within 3 days. Not sure if this is an effect of the high altitude, or the milk around here is not very fresh, or maybe we just have the world's worst luck buying milk....

[Wrightwood]

Sounds different than our experience. We generally buy milk from Jensen's and a gallon lasts until the expiration date. We do have our refrigerator set fairly cold.

[KW]

Ours sometimes sours before the expiration date, but we don't go through milk very fast. I think if you keep it in the back of your fridge and especially not in one of the doors, and don't leave it out while you eat your cereal, etc, that might help. We get ours out, use it, and put it right back in. Just a thought....

[Jirka]

Our daughter (in Anaheim) was having this issue a while ago . . . tried cleaning the fridge to ensure no mold or bacteria was the cause and got a thermometer to watch the temperature (fridge needs to be 40 degrees or colder). The only thing that fixed the problem was a new fridge. 

[SpeedRacer]

Organic is the way to go...lasts for several months.

[ezzpete]

Haven't had that problem.

[onhands]

We don't drink a lot of milk, because of the carbs, but we almost always have heavy cream on hand.  We buy it 5 at a time from Costco and it seems like cream stays good for a long long time, in general.  I'd say it easily will last 4 months unopened and 2 opened.  It may last even longer because I've never actually had any go bad on me.  When we were drinking fat free years ago it always seemed like you had to use it within a few days or it went to waste.

[Phyto Guy]

If one places warm items in the refrigerator the ambient temp rises. This is great for hard working bacteria but not for you. If done as a normal practice will shorten the life of a product. Check the gasket of the fridge with a dollar bill to check for temperature leaks. If it falls, the gap is to big to hold a good seal. Try it in several places.  Always put cold food back in the fridge immediately. A mechanical sniffer is available on line for home use. It's good for many items to see if they are going bad.   http://www.myfoodsniffer.com/  This is the site for FOODsniffer (maybe two words).
 Food spoilage is not just one thing it has many causes. If your milk is going bad early, other food may be also. Like throwing dollars in the garbage.

[Jeremy]

We don't drink a lot of milk, because of the carbs, but we almost always have heavy cream on hand.  We buy it 5 at a time from Costco and it seems like cream stays good for a long long time, in general.  I'd say it easily will last 4 months unopened and 2 opened.  It may last even longer because I've never actually had any go bad on me.  When we were drinking fat free years ago it always seemed like you had to use it within a few days or it went to waste.

Cream is pasteurized more than milk to get a longer shelf life since it is typically used less often. Milk isn't pasteurized more because it could start to affect taste, not a problem with cream since it is not usually drank straight 

[ForestGal]

I have consumed fat free milk only, for more years than I will mention, and to me, it seems like the fat free kind stays tasting fresh longer than milk that contains more fat.  Maybe it's just my fridge, it's a nice one, about 5 years old, and it's set at 39 degrees.

[onhands]

Cream is pasteurized more than milk to get a longer shelf life since it is typically used less often. Milk isn't pasteurized more because it could start to affect taste, not a problem with cream since it is not usually drank straight

Well, I learned something new today.  Thanks Jeremy.

from wikipedia: "High-temperature, short-time (HTST) pasteurized milk typically has a refrigerated shelf life of two to three weeks, whereas ultra-pasteurized milk can last much longer, sometimes two to three months. When ultra-heat treatment (UHT) is combined with sterile handling and container technology (such as aseptic packaging), it can even be stored unrefrigerated for up to 9 months."

[Forester]

We drink almond milk. It lasts months with less guilt.

[tcaarabians]

Yes, we have the same problem. Thanks for all the tips. cheryl o7o

[RobertW]

Most cartons display the "Sell By Date", not the "Use By Date".  Typically the store is allowed to sell the milk right up to the date on the carton and it should be good for another week.  The problem is, as has been mentioned here, temperature.  Every time the milk reaches a temperature of over 40 degrees you lose a day.  This can happen multiple times during transportation. I suspect that during transportation or while being received through the back room doors the milk sits for a period of time and goes over the 40 degrees.  You should never leave your milk out on the table while eating your cereal, or you'll lose more days.  Here at Gelson's Market the pallet of Milk and Dairy products goes directly from refrigerated truck to the Dairy Box.  It is not allowed to sit for any period of time in the back room.  The Receiver is also REQUIRED to take the temperature on the outside cartons and record it.  This record is to be made available not only to our own Quality Control personnel who inspect the stores daily but also to the County Health Department upon their inspecting the premises.

[sagespirit]

As always, Robert W's reply is very helpful. My sense is that transport, even in refrigerated trucks, in the height of the summer, esp. during construction and delays, also impacts all the refrigerated products we buy. I find the local eggs at Jensen's, that are from farms in Redlands, for example, last much longer, and taste better, than other eggs.

That said, I drink Trader Joe's Vanilla Rice Drink 95% of the time. Comes in a carton with a shelf life of about 9 months. I can buy many at a time for the pantry and don't have to worry about running out. Once open, refrigerate and use w/in 7-10 days. I also drink almond milk.

When I do need cows milk for something (recipe, guest, a change) I buy Horizon or Alta Dena organic milk at Jensen's and it always lasts beyond the expiration date. I've been surprised how long it lasts, actually. Same thing w/1/2 and 1/2 or cream. No problems so far.

My fridge is also very cold no matter what setting I put it on.  To our health and proper food storage!

[daf]

Just another note on temp.  If you have a really packed refrigerator, the ambient temp is lower than a moderately loaded unit.  This is because you have reduced air space which chills for food.

[Nolena]

I did have a problem with that sometimes when I used to drink milk.
I got a refund when I took it back to Jensen's.
Now that I don't eat dairy products, it is no longer an issue.