No Need to Throw Away: 5 Surprising Ways to Use Expired Milk
The expiration date on dairy products might have passed, but there's no need to throw them away just yet. You can still use the milk in various ways up to 5-7 days afterward. Here are 5 surprising uses for sour milk.
(Image illustration: shutterstock)We often store milk in the fridge door or on the top shelf, but this is a mistaken habit, and the general recommendation is to store milk at the bottom of the fridge.
Stored correctly, and you find the milk has soured and its expiration date has passed? There is no reason to throw it away, as you can still use it in various ways for up to 5-7 days afterward. Here are 5 surprising uses for sour milk:
1. Enhance Cooked Dishes
Cooking at high temperatures destroys the bacteria in sour milk, which is why it can be used in various dishes. It's recommended to use expired milk to cream potatoes, pastas, soups, and more.
2. Main Ingredient in Baking
Sour milk is a wonderful substitute for yogurt, butter, or sour cream, ingredients often required in various baking recipes from pancakes to breads. The taste of sour milk is well-noticed in the food, and there are even recipes that specifically call for its use. If you find such a recipe and don't have expired milk, just add vinegar or lemon juice to fresh milk.
3. Cheese Making
In making many cheeses, expired milk is the main component, and it's preferable to use it rather than fresh milk. With sour milk, you can make cottage cheese, seasoned white cheese, and even Bulgarian cheese.
4. Plant Care
Expired milk can be used for gardening: dilute the sour milk with water in equal parts and pour the mixture into the plant beds. The plants will grow strong and healthy thanks to the calcium in the milk.
5. Freezing Milk
If the expiration date is approaching and you won't finish using the product in time, an effective solution is to freeze it. Be sure to pour out a bit of the milk before freezing if it's in a full carton or bag, as the liquid expands during freezing. Later, when you want to use the milk again, you should thaw it in the fridge overnight, and you'll have fresh milk like the day you bought it. Another thing - make sure before use that the milk has completely thawed, as the creamy and watery parts thaw at different times.
