Six Signs That Sour Cream is Bad

Refrigerated sour cream has an extended shelf life when stored properly, yet can quickly go bad if mishandled or scooped with dirty tools introducing bacteria and mold growth into its environment.

As it’s often easy to tell when sour cream has gone bad, keep an eye out for signs such as an off smell or discoloration.

The Smell

People get sick every day from eating spoiled dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and sour cream. Once these foods develop an off-putting smell or taste – typically rancid or acidic aroma and an unusual texture; lumpy or runnier than its normal form may indicate this has happened.

Fresh containers of sour cream should have a delicious, tart and refreshing taste that leaves no trace. If it has developed an unpleasant or rancid flavor, it should be immediately discarded as this indicates the product has gone bad and been compromised by bacteria and fungi contamination.

Change in color can also indicate that sour cream has gone off, showing it has gone bad. Fresh sour cream should always remain white; any change to yellow, pink, or blue could indicate that bacteria or fungus has invaded its container and no longer makes for safe consumption.

Fresh sour cream should have a thick and creamy texture that’s smooth on your tongue, or at least easily spreadable across it. If its consistency becomes watery, however, it may separate into layers of liquid and solid cream; if its wateriness turns lumpy it is definitely going bad.

Once opened, sour cream should be sealed tightly immediately after it has been opened. A plastic airtight container or aluminum foil and rubber bands can help make for an adequate seal; alternatively it may help to use makeshift seals such as aluminum foil with rubber bands as an interim seal. Any leftover sour cream may be frozen for later use; alternatively it could be put in an ice cube tray and frozen – perfect for recipes calling for small amounts. It is important to check its expiration date as this may go bad more quickly than other dairy products; most will bear an “sell by” or “best by” date on its labels giving you an idea when its safe consumption can occur.

The Color

If your tub of sour cream has passed its expiration date and you’re wondering whether or not it is still edible, take a look at these six spoilage signs to determine its safety.

Sour cream’s color can serve as an indication that it has gone bad. A quality product should always remain white, and any deviations in hue that suggest yellowing or greenish tones indicate it has likely gone sour – this could also indicate mold or bacteria growth which can be dangerous when eaten directly.

An indicator that your sour cream may have gone bad is its slimy texture, often caused by contamination from dirty utensils or mold on its container. Either way, this makes scooping difficult and could be an indicator that its quality has diminished over time.

Sour cream that has gone bad may taste sour or acidic and have an unusual runny texture similar to buttermilk or vinegar. If this occurs, it is wise to dispose of the product immediately as it could contain harmful bacteria which could potentially cause illness.

Sour cream’s aroma can also tell you when it has gone off, with strong rancid aromas making it impossible to ignore. Clumps and chunks may form, similar to milk that has been sitting in your fridge too long.

Once sour cream goes bad, it will often start curdling at its edges – an easily detectable sign it should be discarded immediately.

The Texture

No matter what form it takes – recipe or individual consumption – sour cream should have an ideal creamy texture. When it begins to go bad, however, its consistency becomes lumpy and watery with less of its original tangy taste and more of an unpleasant rancid aroma – these are all indicators that it is time for discard.

If your sour cream has passed its expiration date but does not exhibit other warning signs, it could still be useful. To evaluate this sour cream’s quality and determine if it has gone bad, examine its texture and taste it; thick, creamy textures indicate good health while watery versions with chunks should likely be discarded immediately.

Sour cream that has gone bad can often have an off-putting or bitter flavor, although this shouldn’t be too noticeable in most instances. Sour cream should have a slightly tart taste without becoming sharp or bitey; therefore if yours has developed an unpleasant odor or sharp vinegary flavors it’s probably time to toss it.

Final telltale sign of bad sour cream is when it develops dark spots or mold on its surface or within its lid, such as black or green spots with bright bacterial marks or pockets of liquid that significantly change its texture compared to when first opened. While some dark spots on its surface is normal for sour cream, any that becomes black, green, or has bright bacterial markings should not be dark enough for consumption. It also should not contain pockets of liquid that have formed or has dramatically different textures from when first purchased.

Although sour cream may still be suitable to consume after its expiration date has passed, this practice is generally discouraged. Without adequate storage conditions in its container, the sour cream may dry out or start growing mold more quickly than expected; furthermore, using old sour cream could result in stomachaches and other unpleasant side effects so it is crucial to check its expiration date and warning signs prior to eating it.

The Expiration Date

Though sour cream lasts longer than many dairy products, it still can go off quickly when opened and stored properly. Therefore, it is wise to regularly inspect for signs of spoilage particularly once its “sell by,” “best if used by,” or “use by” date has passed.

If your sour cream has passed its expiration date, we suggest tossing it immediately. According to Weill Cornell Medical College, eating expired dairy products such as sour cream can lead to stomach ache and diarrhea.

Your color sense can also tell you if your sour cream has gone bad – typically creamy white in hue, it shouldn’t become yellow or grayish over time and this would indicate it should no longer be consumed.

As another telltale sign that your sour cream has gone bad, when it begins to separate. Whey may separate out from high points and pool at lower ones – though this should only ever occur in small amounts. If your sour cream has begun clumping together into lumps then it should definitely be discarded immediately.

Keep an eye out for any foul odor coming from your sour cream, as this could indicate microorganisms growing on it or simply an off-odor indicating its no longer freshness.

Sour cream isn’t as delicate as some dairy products and should generally be consumed past its expiration date without risk to health or spoilage. But to prevent health issues from developing it’s still wise to inspect for signs of spoilage; although not as long-lived as butter it keeps longer. If you want to extend its shelf life further try storing in an airtight container sealed tightly with aluminum foil or rubber bands to help avoid drying out and smells permeating the cream and always scoop with clean spoons to minimize chances of contamination!