What you see: The milk you had frozen is now...weird. Maybe it’s chunky or separated or grainy. You might notice this after defrosting or while it's
How to evaluate dairy products after their “best by,” “use by” or “sell by” dates
The world of dairy products is vast, and includes some foods that can last a while, others that quickly spoil in obvious ways, and still others, like soft
Pitted surface of yogurt
What you see: Your yogurt’s surface looks pitted, with tiny depressions. What it is: Probably the remnants of some tiny bubbles generated during processing. Eat
Bubbles on yogurt seal?
What you see: Bubbles on the plastic film sealing up your yogurt. What it is: Probably a harmless processing issue. Eat or toss: If the yogurt otherwise
The mystery of the weird-smelling, weird-tasting parmesan!
What you see/smell: Your shredded Parmesan (or other Parmesan or aged cheese) might look normal, but have a metallic or chemically taste. What it is: It
Is milk still safe to drink when it starts to spoil?
What you see/smell: Your not-so-fresh milk smells a bit off; it might even be separating or clumpingWhat it is: Spoiled milk!Eat or toss: If it’s just starting
Can you eat expired yogurt?
What you see: A sealed container of yogurt that has been refrigerated, but is months past its "expiry date." What it is: Really old yogurt!Eat or toss: Discard
What if blue cheese gets fuzzy?
What you see: Your blue cheese seems to have developed fuzzy mold, beyond the blue areas you expected. What it is: More mold!Eat or toss: We’re calling this a
Can you eat moldy yogurt?
What you see: A green substance on the surface of the yogurt. What it is: Mold. Eat or toss: The mold could have penetrated deeper than you could see, making
How to tell if white stuff on cheese is mold
What you see: White stuff on your cheese. You’re worried about uninvited mold. What it is: If it’s soft and you can spot “filaments,” it’s mold. (If it’s
Aged cheddar with a crusty, white smear?
What you see: A smeary white crust on your aged cheddar. You may be paranoid that it's mold. What it is: Calcium lactate crystals! Eat or toss: Eat! Like the
Help! My food is eating holes into my foil!
What you see: Small holes in the aluminum foil you used to seal something up and silver-colored blobs on your food. What it is: A chemical reaction! The foil is
Don’t fear milk crusties!
What you see: White crusty flakes at the top of your milk jug What it is: Dried milk Eat or toss? Eat! Well, not that you need to go out of your way to consume
These white crystals are badges of savory cheese honor
What you see: White dots in your aged Italian-style or gouda cheeses that are clearly not mold. What it is: Crystals of an amino acid called tyrosine. Eat or
What’s up with the liquid on top of yogurt?
What you see: Yellowish liquid pooling at the top of your yogurt. What it is: Whey! Eat or toss: Eat! This is a natural part of the yogurt and doesn’t indicate
