Of course, yogurt lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. But remember, like a lot of other dairy products, it usually has a sell by date which is simply the last date until which a manufacturer will vouch for a product's quality, not its safety. All yogurt manufacturers that we checked with guarantee their product quality for 7 days beyond the printed sell by date, but do not state a timeframe for safety (although they agree yogurt can be eaten beyond the 7 days). Because of this distinction, you may safely use it to compliment your favorite meals even after its printed date has lapsed.

How to tell if Yogurt is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your yogurt has gone bad. A small amount of liquid is ok in most yogurts, it is called whey and actually contains several nutrients that should be mixed into the yogurt before eating. But an increased amount of surface liquid (or, in the case of Yoplait yogurt and a few others that do not have any excess liquid to begin with, it's when a puddle begins to form) and a curdling texture near the bottom of the container are the first signs of yogurt going bad. The final signal that your yogurt has indeed gone bad is the formation of mold and at that point you must throw the entire container away, no matter what. Live bacterial cultures in yogurt act as a preservative, but once those cultures start to die off then mold can start to form. Never consume mold in any shape or form!

If your yogurt has gone bad, check our substitution page.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Yogurt to extend its shelf life?

You can help all dairy products stay fresh longer by storing them in your refrigerator immediately after purchase. Once the package has been opened, yogurt can be kept for a few days if it is stored with the foil seal re-sealed (or in a tightly closed container) to keep out moisture and other contaminants.

For a long-term option, you can freeze your yogurt for a month or two while preserving its taste (but at the same time killing off a small number of the multitudes of bacteria), if you use a freezer safe container.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Yogurt:

How to use extra before your Yogurt goes bad?

How long is Yogurt good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does yogurt last? That depends. How long does frozen fruit last? In general, it lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Yogurt lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Yogurt.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Yogurt shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!