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Why is there an expiration date on my sour cream , when it is already sour? (Original Post) debm55 12 hrs ago OP
Just wait until about six months after that date ... surrealAmerican 12 hrs ago #1
Oh, we always throw it out it we reach the experiation date of beyond. Thank you surrealAmerican debm55 12 hrs ago #2
Because leftieNanner 12 hrs ago #3
True, HAHHAAHAH, Thank you leftieNanner. debm55 12 hrs ago #4
Past that date, it goes good. Laffy Kat 12 hrs ago #5
Thank you Laffy Kat. debm55 10 hrs ago #8
Fear Of Lawsuits? ProfessorGAC 11 hrs ago #6
Thank you very much, ProfessorGAC. Great information. I threw mine out though. Next time I'll know. debm55 10 hrs ago #7

surrealAmerican

(11,759 posts)
1. Just wait until about six months after that date ...
Wed Jan 21, 2026, 07:31 PM
12 hrs ago

... and you'll know.

Seriously, that's a "sell by" date. The stuff lasts way longer than that.

debm55

(56,690 posts)
2. Oh, we always throw it out it we reach the experiation date of beyond. Thank you surrealAmerican
Wed Jan 21, 2026, 07:34 PM
12 hrs ago

ProfessorGAC

(75,958 posts)
6. Fear Of Lawsuits?
Wed Jan 21, 2026, 08:21 PM
11 hrs ago

Seriously though, the pH of sour cream is not low enough to prevent bacterial growth or mold formation.
The proteins can be bacterially decomposed into a mines and formamides.
Fortunately, those smell bad so it's easy to know if it's bad. Plus as the milk proteins break down & the fat hydrolyzes it separates into curds & whey. The whey would show as a yellow, watery liquid on top.
And, mold is visible, even at very low levels because it's dark against the white product.
Yeah, it's already soured but no so far as to prevent microbes from thriving on the lactose in there.
It lasts a long time and is good at least 3 weeks after the sell-by date, but if definitely can spoil.

debm55

(56,690 posts)
7. Thank you very much, ProfessorGAC. Great information. I threw mine out though. Next time I'll know.
Wed Jan 21, 2026, 10:09 PM
10 hrs ago
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