Does yogurt go bad?

You’ve seen yogurt everywhere—from restaurants to grocery stores and even in your own kitchen. It’s one of the most common foods available in the grocery aisles—if not the most common. But, for some reason, whether it’s purchased at the grocery store or made at home, people are hesitant to eat it after a few weeks. Is this unfounded fear, or is there actually a reason to be concerned about yogurt going bad?

Do yogurt expire?

There are two types of yogurt: pasteurized and unfermented. When unfermented, the bacteria in the yogurt continue to multiply after the yogurt is made. This allows the yogurt to stay creamy and thicker. When pasteurized, the bacteria are killed before the yogurt is made. This prevents longer-term fermentation and allows manufacturers to keep pasteurized yogurt on shelves longer.

Is yogurt expired?

A yogurt's expiration date is on the packaging and tells you the date it was made. Most yogurts have an expiration date of about one month after opening. If you have yogurt left over after that date, it's still edible, but it may have gone bad.

How long do yogurt expire?

For dairy products, the general rule is that yogurt will expire, or become unsafe to eat, after about three months. If you purchased yogurt more than six weeks ago and it’s still sealed in its container, you can safely eat it. However, if you see any mold or signs of spoilage on the yogurt, you should throw it away.

How do you know yogurt is expired?

Defining the expiration date on yogurt is tricky since there are several factors that affect yogurt's shelf life. It's best to read the expiration date on the yogurt container and to refer to the manufacturer's website for more information. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, yogurt should be good after three weeks in the fridge, as long as it's kept at 40 degrees or less. Yogurt is also safe after two weeks if it's frozen. If you've purchased yogurt that's more than two