Ever tossed milk because it smelled off? You might be throwing it out days before it’s actually gone bad, all because of how you’re sniffing it. While the sniff test is a common way to gauge a food’s freshness, chef Shivi Ramoutar has a secret weapon: pour it into a cup first.
According to Shivi, the smell of a bad bottle can easily mask the actual smell of the milk. By pouring the milk into a cup and letting it sit for a few seconds, you’re separating the scent of the container from the actual milk. This gives you a more accurate assessment of its freshness.
“Sometimes, [milk and yogurt] will smell off, but if you pour it [out], it’s fine,” Shivi explained. “When you open a bottle and it still smells a bit off, I’d pour it out before you smell it because in a cup it may not [smell]. It could be just the bottle that smells off at the top.”
Of course, this trick might not apply to unhomogenized milk, which often has lumps, so it’s best to check the best before date on that type of milk.
Remember that the sell by date on milk is simply a guideline for retailers. It doesn’t mean the milk will immediately spoil after that date. Stored correctly in your refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C), milk can often last for another 5-7 days. However, this can vary depending on storage conditions and the type of milk.
In 2022, supermarket Morrisons took a bold step towards reducing food waste by scrapping use by dates on 90% of their own-branded milk. They encouraged shoppers to use the sniff test instead. They highlighted the significant environmental impact of food waste, particularly when it comes to milk:
“Milk is the third most wasted food and drink product in the UK, after potatoes and bread, with around 490 million pints wasted every year. And milk has the largest carbon footprint of these products because its production is so resource-intensive. One litre of milk can account for up to a whopping 4.5kg of CO2!”
So next time you’re unsure about your milk’s freshness, give Shivi’s simple trick a try. You might just save yourself a trip to the grocery store and contribute to reducing food waste in the process!
Follow Shivi Ramoutar, TV Chef and Cookbook author, at @ShiviRamoutar.
