How Long Does Sour Cream Last After Its Sell By Date?
As with other dairy products, sour cream has an expiration date but with proper storage can outlive this limit. Here are a few tips to keep it tasting its best longer.
First, check for signs of spoilage in the sour cream. If it smells off or exhibits watery separation layers on top, dispose of it immediately.
Store it in the Refrigerator
Sour cream has an extended shelf life after its sell by date if stored correctly. According to Weill Cornell Medical College, refrigerated sour cream may last two weeks after this date if stored correctly; however, its expiration date should only be used as a guideline and spoilage will still occur even though spoilage might take longer.
While sour cream may last beyond its sell by date, it should be consumed within an hour after leaving it sitting out at room temperature or it will start losing flavor and texture, leading to harmful bacteria growth that could potentially lead to foodborne illness. It is wiser to consume freshly made sour cream whenever possible rather than eating it after it has been left sitting out more than an hour at room temperature.
Remember to store the sour cream in an airtight container to prevent spoilage and maintain its texture for as long as possible in your fridge. A resealable plastic bag or mason jar with lid may work, ensuring a secure seal. To extend its shelf life in the fridge.
If your sour cream goes bad, its smell may give away its origins. If it emits an offensive aroma, it should be discarded immediately as this indicates spoilage that could result in illness if eaten. If it begins losing texture or turning dark in color as well, throw it away immediately as this could indicate overexposure to room temperatures for too long or due to improper storage conditions.
Discard it if it’s Moldy
If your sour cream has gone bad, it should be disposed of immediately. Even one week past its sell by date can allow mold growth that can make you very ill; cramps, nausea and vomiting may follow upon ingestion as well as food poisoning due to mold spores released into the environment by this mold growth.
Once sour cream has gone bad, it will be obvious both by sight and scent. If it has an off-odor, is very sour or contains dark specs then it must be discarded immediately. Additionally, any sign that it no longer white or has turned yellow indicates that its integrity has been compromised and should be thrown out immediately.
Even if it has only passed its expiration date by a few hours, moldy sour cream should still be discarded immediately as its spores may spread to other foods in your refrigerator and potentially lead to food poisoning. Furthermore, certain species of mold produce mycotoxins which can have serious health repercussions.
Once a container of sour cream has been opened and refrigerated, its seal should never be resealed. Once it is contaminated with mold growth, you should throw it away completely; however if only small spots of mold appear on its surface it might still be safe to consume but should still be refrigerated for safe consumption.
If you want to store sour cream for extended periods, transfer it into a freezer-safe jar or plastic bag, leaving an inch of headspace as the sour cream may expand when frozen. After that, place in the freezer and leave there until needed. However, keep in mind that frozen sour cream may develop freezer burn and lose some of its delicious texture; this is particularly likely if frozen in chunk form. For optimal results, transfer the sour cream to a freezer-safe jar prior to opening it. This will prevent its breakdown too rapidly and subsequent freezer burn. Furthermore, label and date it before freezing for best results.
Don’t Freeze it
Sour cream is highly perishable, and improper storage could hasten its spoilage significantly faster than anticipated. To maintain freshness of sour cream for as long as possible, the best method for keeping it in its fresh state is placing it immediately in the refrigerator upon purchase, using clean utensils when taking it from its container and never touching its surface – this will prevent any unwanted aromas entering and leading to spoilage before necessary.
If you must leave sour cream outside of the refrigerator for any length of time, be sure to secure it tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature. It is also important to remember that environmental factors can hasten spoilage of sour cream, such as temperature variations or exposure to air and moisture particles; such factors will compromise its quality and cause it to go bad before its estimated shelf life estimate – even if unopened!
After its sell-by date has passed, sour cream that has gone past its sell-by date may still be consumed; however, care must be taken with its aroma and taste. If it emits strong aromas or has an extremely sour flavor, discard immediately as this could indicate contamination with dangerous bacteria or fungus; it’s also important to take good care in discarding food that has gone bad as that could pose health risks.
Some sources claim that sour cream can be stored for up to one month in the freezer; however, this practice should be avoided as this increases risk. Instead, consume it within two weeks after opening for best results and always remain aware of when and how long it has been out of the fridge.
For longer-term storage of sour cream, place it into an ice cube tray or muffin tin to be frozen and transfer to a plastic freezer bag as necessary. Though frozen texture might differ slightly, this will likely have no lasting impact in any recipes in which it’s used.
Keep it in an Airtight Container
As long as it’s stored in an airtight container, sour cream should remain fresh up to two weeks past its sell by date, even if you forget about it. The key is keeping it cold in a refrigerator, away from other foods which might contaminate it; and avoid touching or handling it with dirty utensils that might spread bacteria and fungus from spreading into other dairy products.
If your sour cream has developed dark spots or mold, Eat By Date advises throwing it away regardless of its expiration date. These signs indicate exposure to unfriendly bacteria and fungi which may cause illness as well as accelerate spoilage of sour cream faster.
Mold and discoloration aside, another telltale sign of bad sour cream is its unpleasant aroma or flavor – these two symptoms alone confirm it is no longer safe to consume.
Sour cream is an indispensable kitchen ingredient, versatile enough to add delicious flavor and texture to everything from baked goods and savory dinners to cold veggie dips and cold vegan desserts. As such, you may often find an unopened tub in your fridge temptingly inviting you to consume its contents past its “best by” or “use by” date – however, always use caution and follow these guidelines when consuming tangy food!
Store-bought sour cream usually includes an “use by” or “best by” date that indicates its best before date, which should remain fresh as long as stored according to instructions.
Though it’s generally wise to eat sour cream within its best before/use by date, some consumers claim that it still tastes fine up to one month post-opening. When this occurs, keep in mind that these estimates are only estimates based on ideal storage conditions.