Milk going off prematurely?

Pawnless Endgame · 20 Apr 2014 at 17:50

I seem to be going through a bad batch at the moment. E.g. a bottle today with a BBE of the 23rd already smells sour. I get them from different shops like Spar, Sainsbury's and Tesco but I guess they all have the same local supplier. Fridge is fine, at 3-4C and I haven't had any power cuts this year yet.

Anyone else getting this? Stafford area.

cheechm · 20 Apr 2014 at 23:10

Do you keep your milk in the fridge door?

bazzabear · 21 Apr 2014 at 09:05

Have you checked your fridge isn't broken?

G|mp · 21 Apr 2014 at 10:05

Are you just smelling the top of the bottle which tends to smell off sometimes?

Mark A · 21 Apr 2014 at 18:32

I've had this very occasionally. We get 12 pints a week from Tesco and it usually stays fresh for the whole week. Very occasionally we get a batch that goes off after a few days before the BBE date.

If you shop online with Tesco, just ring the free phone number and tell them that the milk has gone off early and they will refund you straight away.

Jokester · 21 Apr 2014 at 18:33

Got a thermometer you can put in the fridge to check it?

Participant · 21 Apr 2014 at 18:49

The rim can start to smell of cheese near the tip. Put some into a cup and it should smell less strong.

Pawnless Endgame · 25 Apr 2014 at 17:10

cheechm said:
Do you keep your milk in the fridge door?

Yup, fridge door, as with all liquids, and the fridge is fine 3-4C with thermometer inside.

G|mp said:
Are you just smelling the top of the bottle which tends to smell off sometimes?

Yes, and it smells foul

Mark A said:
If you shop online with Tesco, just ring the free phone number and tell them that the milk has gone off early and they will refund you straight away.

Thanks, didn't know that.

Participant said:
The rim can start to smell of cheese near the tip. Put some into a cup and it should smell less strong.

Thanks too - will have to try that next time.

D.P. · 25 Apr 2014 at 20:30

The BB data applies to when the milk is sealed. Once you open the milk (or other perishable) foods you only have a few days typically before bacteria and moud start taking effect. With cheese you rarely notice or it increases flavour, with meats its= may give you food poisoning, with milk it will start going sour.

Regardless of the BB data once opened I don't keep milk more than 1 week, 10 days tops but I wouldn't expect it to last more than 1 week.

arknor · 26 Apr 2014 at 18:15

I use it until bits are floating in my coffee.

Which is almost never milk just doesn't seem to go off in my fridge.

hawkhench · 27 Apr 2014 at 10:09

I've had it happen, but very rarely. Either you're really unlucky, or something's up with your fridge. Other alternative is to try Cravendale (or own-brand equiv) and see if that makes any difference?

DoneADougalOnSofa · 27 Apr 2014 at 10:13

Participant said:
The rim can start to smell of cheese near the tip.

Probably shouldn't have laughed at that bit...

arknor · 27 Apr 2014 at 12:13

hawkhench said:
I've had it happen, but very rarely. Either you're really unlucky, or something's up with your fridge. Other alternative is to try Cravendale (or own-brand equiv) and see if that makes any difference?

cravendale is most awesome indeed.

lasts far longer than supermarkets own brands

LeeUK · 27 Apr 2014 at 12:54

I can open a new sealed bottle of milk day after it has expired and it will still smell fresh for 3 days after in the fridge.

Cravendale is probably pumped with loads of chemicals, it has like a month shelf life in the supermarkets.