I like using sour cream in a variety of meals, but I don’t always use it all up. The container has been sitting in the fridge for a long, and I’m not sure whether I should use it. So, how can you know whether sour cream is dangerous for you, and what should you do if it is?
Sour cream has a longer shelf life than most milk products, but it will split, get lumpy, acquire an unpleasant odor, stink, and eventually mold. If your sour cream shows any of these indicators, it’s time to throw it away.
Sometimes things go wrong sooner than you think. But don’t worry, I’ll show you six warning signals to avoid using poor sour cream and becoming ill.
Contents
- How To Know If Sour Cream Is Bad
- Bad Sour Cream FAQs
- FAQs
- Is it OK to eat expired sour cream?
- How long does sour cream last in the fridge?
- Is sour cream supposed to be watery?
- How long is sour cream safe to eat?
- Why does sour cream get watery?
- Can I eat 2 week expired sour cream?
- How do you store opened sour cream?
- Should you stir sour cream?
- Why is my sour cream watery and grainy?
- Why does my sour cream look like cottage cheese?
How To Know If Sour Cream Is Bad
It’s Expired
Before using sour cream, always check the expiration date. Sour cream may become bad beyond its expiry date, even if it has never been opened. If the expiration date has passed, discard it and replace it.
Don’t just depend on the written dates and believe your stuff will be OK till then. Many variables influence the shelf life of sour cream, the most important of which is storage temperature in the grocery store and at home.
whether you can’t find the date, one of the other symptoms will let you know whether your sour cream has gone bad.
It Smells Awful
When dairy products like milk and yogurt go sour, they frequently emit a pungent foul odor. Sour cream is the same way. If it smells really sour, vinegary, or off, it’s time to throw it away.
If in doubt, take a smell before using it in a recipe. If the odor is off, don’t consume or cook with it. Simply toss it away.
It Tastes Off
I don’t encourage knowingly tasting off things, but if you do and it has a harsh, sour, or bitter flavor, throw it away.
Consuming contaminated sour cream may result in food poisoning, necessitating a trip to the emergency department.
It’s Lumpy
Curdling or lumpy sour cream is another indicator that dairy has gone bad. This is common when it is stored at an excessively high temperature, on the counter, or left out overnight. If you go food shopping on a hot summer day, try bringing everything home in a cooler.
Do not make the same mistake I did. If it seems lumpy, double-check the sour cream and not the cottage cheese.
Unfortunately, the lumpiness is still more evidence that it cannot be preserved and must be removed.
It’s Watery And Separated
When you open your sour cream container, you could see some liquid collecting in the low regions on the surface. Some liquid separation is OK; you may combine the sour cream and it will still be edible.
However, if there is a lot of liquid in your container of sour cream that seems to be separated, you should not ingest it. It’s also possible that the leftover solids are lumpy. When two indicators appear, you know your sour cream is rotten.
There’s Mold
If there is any discoloration or mold, do not use it. I’ve noticed dark blue and fuzzy mold on sour cream, but several others have also reported seeing pink mold.
Don’t think you can just scrape the mold off the top and utilize the remainder. Mold has a complicated network of roots that may reach far into the surface of your sour cream. They are so little that you won’t be able to see them unless you use a microscope.
While still delicious, sour cream should be white. Bacterial growth may also appear and cause the hue to shift to yellow, blue, or pink. Throw it away if the color changes.
Bad Sour Cream FAQs
What Does Bad Sour Cream Look Like?
Mold or bacteria developing on sour cream may cause it to seem lumpy, runny, or a different color.
What Does Bad Sour Cream Smell Like?
Sour cream that has gone bad smells like sour milk, cheese, or yogurt. The best and most popular description is that it smells terrible.
What Does Bad Sour Cream Taste Like?
When sour cream becomes bad, it might taste rancid or harsh. If it doesn’t taste right, it’s probably gone rotten. It should not be used.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Sour Cream?
Yes, contaminated sour cream may make you ill. Mold or bacteria developing on sour cream may cause moderate to severe food poisoning. If you have food poisoning, you may feel stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and other symptoms. It may appear within a few hours or days after drinking poor sour cream. If you see any of these symptoms, get medical care right once. You might like Does Tofu Go Bad? How Long Does Tofu Last?
FAQs
Is it OK to eat expired sour cream?
When sour cream becomes bad, it becomes harmful to ingest and increases your chances of getting food poisoning. So, keep in mind that any written dates on your sour cream are not a guarantee. If kept poorly, it might spoil considerably sooner than this date. However, it may last a little longer by chance.
How long does sour cream last in the fridge?
As a general rule, the product will remain fresh for about two weeks after opening the container. You may use your best judgment to confirm the product’s freshness by smelling, tasting, and inspecting it.
Is sour cream supposed to be watery?
So although some liquid on top of your sour cream is typical, you should still check to ensure that the sour cream hasn’t gone bad.
How long is sour cream safe to eat?
Once a container of fresh sour cream has been opened and the top seal has been broken, it will keep for about two weeks. Use the expiry date and packing date indicated on the tub as a reference; if kept correctly, you may be able to extend this date by a couple of days.
Why does sour cream get watery?
Because sour cream has a high water content, it often separates in the container. Simply keep the Sour Cream carton upside down in the refrigerator to prevent this.
Can I eat 2 week expired sour cream?
Sour cream (opened or unopened) may be kept in the refrigerator for up to three weeks beyond the sell-by date, according to the USDA.
How do you store opened sour cream?
After you’ve opened and used some sour cream, lay a piece of plastic wrap immediately over the surface of the sour cream, pressing it in thoroughly against the different hills and valleys. This is similar to avoiding “skin” on homemade pudding. Replace the cover and store in the refrigerator.
Should you stir sour cream?
You just need to do one thing to achieve a picture-perfect dollop: Before scooping, give the container a thorough swirl. This incorporates the liquid that sits on the surface or pools in fissures, quickly making the dairy homogeneous, shining, and creamy.
Why is my sour cream watery and grainy?
When frozen sour cream is defrosted, it has a lumpy or gritty texture, as opposed to the smooth texture of fresh sour cream. This is because sour cream separates during the freezing and thawing process, separating the fat from the cream’s liquid portion.
Why does my sour cream look like cottage cheese?
Sour cream may be kept in the freezer in large quantities. However, freezing does modify the texture of sour cream. As it freezes, the liquid separates, giving it the appearance of cottage cheese when it thaws.