Does Butter Milk Go Bad?

Leftover liquid after straining the milk fat is known as buttermilk. Buttermilk is used in baking and cooking to provide a tangy flavor. Like milk, buttermilk can get spoiled very quickly if it is not stored in the right conditions.

Buttermilk contains lactic acid and is low in fats. Therefore, bacteria can be formed very quickly in buttermilk and spoil it. Buttermilk usually comes in bottles, and a minimal amount of it is used. The rest of it should be stored properly to avoid spoilage.

How to Store Butter Milk?

Like other food products, buttermilk also needs proper storage to last for a more extended period. Buttermilk does not have a long shelf life. Therefore, it can get spoiled very quickly if it is not stored.

If you have bought a buttermilk bottle and have used very little from it and are confused about its storage, you need to take care of the following things.

Don’t place it at room temperature

Buttermilk does not have a long shelf-life. It needs a cool place to last long, and it cannot go right very quickly at room temperature.

It would help if you did not keep it at room temperature for too long. Place it away from heat sources, such as a microwave oven or at the back of the refrigerator.

Store it in the fridge

The fridge is the best place for storing food. Here most of the food products can be stored for a more extended period retaining their best quality. Similarly, keeping buttermilk in a fridge is the best option.

The shelf life of buttermilk is increased by storing it in a fridge. It can last for almost two weeks in the refrigerator retaining its best quality.

Store it in the freezer

If you want to store the product for a more extended period, you should go for freezing. In the freezer, buttermilk can be stored for a very long period. It can last up to three months in the freezer. It is better to use it within three months.

It would help if you used an airtight container for freezing the buttermilk. Defrost it before taking it out of the freezer.

Can You Freeze Buttermilk

Buttermilk contains lactic acid and very low fats. It is much thicker than the milk. If you do not want to use the leftover buttermilk, you can freeze it. Butter freezes very well, but buttermilk does not. The texture of the buttermilk changes after freezing it. It separates after freezing.

Frozen buttermilk cannot be used for drinking or uncooked recipes, but it is best for baking. It will retain its acid content, which is suitable for baking. Ice cube trays can be used to freeze the buttermilk if they are small and use an airtight container.

How Long Does Buttermilk Last?

We know that buttermilk does not have a long shelf life. The shelf life of buttermilk depends upon the storage conditions. If it is stored in the right conditions, it will last for as long as possible.

Buttermilk usually comes in bottles with a sell-by date mentioned on it. The manufactures provide these dates to inform that how long it can be stored. It is not an expiration date at all. The peak quality retains even after a week past that date.

It would be best if you used the buttermilk within a week after opening it. But if you don’t want to use it in a week, you should store it in a refrigerator or a freezer.

Unopened buttermilk can last for two weeks even after its sell-by date in a refrigerator but opened buttermilk can only stay for a week. It is better to use it before that time. However, it can be stored in a freezer for almost three months retaining its peak quality.

Buttermilk requires a relaxed environment for storage, but you have no idea how the buttermilk was stored before it came to you. So, it would be best if you tried to use it quickly not to go wrong.

How to Tell If Buttermilk is Bad?

It is not very difficult to tell if the buttermilk is terrible or not. The change in texture, smell, and taste gives us the signs of its spoilage. If you are not sure whether it has got spoiled or not, you should check these signs to make sure.

• Buttermilk has a tangier smell. The smell gets sourer when it is spoiled. It would be best if you give it a good sniff. If it smells rotten, then you should not use it and get rid of it at once.
• The color of the buttermilk also changes when it gets spoiled. Bacterial growth or mold formation results in the discoloration of buttermilk. If you notice any change in its color, then it means that the buttermilk has gone bad.
• The texture of buttermilk also changes after its spoilage. If you notice that the milk has gone thicker and chunkier, you should get rid of it. The formation of large clots also makes it difficult to pour.
• Try to taste the buttermilk. If the taste is a bit sour, you should not use it as fresh buttermilk taste tangier, and spoiled buttermilk tastes sour.

Sources

• Does it go bad
• Foods Guy
• Health line