How To Know If Buttermilk Is Bad - The Best Way

Buttermilk is popularly used in baking and gives baked goods a slightly spicy flavor. Buttermilk is the runoff liquid found after butter is churned and is now a cultured product rich in probiotics, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Since it’s usually used for baking and not much else, buttermilk is often left in the fridge for a long time.

If you have buttermilk in the fridge, how can you tell if it’s gone bad? There are several ways to tell if your buttermilk has gone bad. You can smell the buttermilk, look at its texture, taste it, or check the expiration date. If something looks off, chances are the buttermilk has gone bad and needs to be thrown away.

It can be hard to tell if buttermilk is bad, especially if you’re not used to using it at home, as it has a very different texture to milk and also a stronger odor, which many of us associate with milk. in bad shape Here’s everything you need to know about whether buttermilk is bad, why it can go bad, and how to extend its shelf life.

Signs That Buttermilk Is Bad

There are a few signs to look for to know if buttermilk is bad or not, so if you’re not entirely sure if it’s bad or not, you can check other signs to make up your mind.

Using your different senses, here are some signs to look for to know if your buttermilk has gone bad.

Smells

Buttermilk has a slightly stronger odor than regular milk or other dairy products, but the odor tends to become more sour as the product spoils.

There is a period in storage of buttermilk when it can be difficult to detect a particularly sour smell, but if it has soured well, you should be able to detect it right away.

Remember that an unopened carton of buttermilk will have a stronger odor since the odor hasn’t had a chance to get out, so keep that in mind when you smell freshly opened buttermilk.

The buttermilk should still smell buttery and sour, but not sour.

Sight

You can tell if the buttermilk has gone bad or not just by looking at it. When spoiled, buttermilk may have a slight discoloration.

Buttermilk that is past its expiration date may even have mold on the surface and around the lid.  This is due to increased growth of bacteria, and if there is mold on the buttermilk or container, you should throw it away immediately, as it’s not worth getting foodborne illness from drinking bacteria-infested buttermilk.

Texture

One sure way to tell if your buttermilk has gone bad is to look at its texture (and feel it if you’re brave enough).

When it starts to go bad, the buttermilk takes on a thick, lumpy texture. It will be difficult to pour and there will be large clots. There is no way to salvage buttermilk that has gone clumpy, as it has most likely gone bad.

Note that buttermilk naturally has a small number of clumps, but this should not interfere with how the buttermilk is poured and the small clumps should break up when whisking and mixing with other ingredients.

Try out

You may have overlooked the other signs that the buttermilk is bad, and the flavor may be the next option.

Buttermilk has a slightly sour taste , but if the buttermilk tastes sour or strange in any way, you should throw it out.

The buttermilk should also have a buttery flavor , with some creaminess, and this too goes away when the buttermilk starts to go bad.

Date of Expiry

One sure way to tell if your buttermilk has gone bad, if you’re not sure by looking at the other signs, is to look at the expiration date.

If you can’t tell if it’s gone bad by smelling, tasting, and looking at the texture, and it’s before the expiration date, it should be fine to use.

However, if it is a week past the expiration date, you should discard the buttermilk.

Why does buttermilk go bad?

Like any other dairy product, buttermilk eventually goes bad. Buttermilk is high in lactic acid, which is hostile to the growth of harmful bacteria; However, this doesn’t last forever, and after a few weeks, harmful bacteria begin to grow as the whey continues to ferment and becomes more acidic.

This bacterial growth is what makes buttermilk go bad, and makes it risky to drink past its expiration date, as there is a greater chance of foodborne illness.

How long does buttermilk last?

All buttermilk has an expiration date and a sale date. It’s important to note that you should be able to use the buttermilk about a week after the expiration date, but this also depends on how the buttermilk has been stored and transported.

Once the whey container is opened, the degradation of the product is faster. It is best to finish a bottle of buttermilk within a week or two of opening.

Again, this also depends on how well the buttermilk is stored and whether it has been contaminated by other products.

Whether opened or not, buttermilk should be kept in the fridge.

Tip : If you want your buttermilk to last longer and not need to be kept in the fridge, you should consider powdered buttermilk. This is the one my mom always used growing up.

How to Extend the Shelf Life of Buttermilk

Buttermilk should be kept in the fridge and not left at room temperature. If you don’t plan to use the buttermilk right away, leave it unopened, as an opened carton of buttermilk won’t keep as long as an unopened one.

Practice good hygiene when using the buttermilk, keep your fingers away from the lid when pouring it, and never drink directly from the carton, as this could introduce bacteria into the buttermilk, which could cause it to spoil more quickly.

I also advise you to use a quality airtight container to store the buttermilk, which will make it last much longer. If it’s liquid buttermilk, I’d use these containers from Amazon, and if it’s powdered buttermilk, I’m completely obsessed with this set from Rubbermaid.

You also have the option of freezing the buttermilk to further extend its shelf life. Freezing will alter the consistency a bit and could cause the buttermilk to clump a bit and separate, so it’s best not to use frozen buttermilk for drinking or no-cook recipes.

However, frozen buttermilk will still have its acidity content, which is what most people look for when using it in baking, as it helps baked goods rise.

Buttermilk can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months, and although it can be used afterward, its quality will deteriorate quickly.

Frozen buttermilk is also great for tenderizing meat by letting it marinate in the buttermilk overnight or a few hours.

Related questions

What is whey powder?

Powdered buttermilk is a good option if you don’t use buttermilk very often, and you don’t want to have to replace spoiled buttermilk in the fridge every two weeks.

Powdered whey has a very long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature.  You only have to do what you are going to use at once, so there is no chance of wasting it.

Powdered buttermilk is typically used for baking , and is not as suitable for drinking. It certainly won’t have the same taste or consistency as real buttermilk, but it’s worth it if you don’t want it to go to waste.

Can I use expired buttermilk?

Expired buttermilk is safe to use as long as it does not have a strong, unpleasant odor, is too thick to pour, or is moldy.

You can use expired buttermilk to add to recipes that require cooking, such as pancakes, biscuits, and cakes.

If the buttermilk is past its expiration date but still seems okay otherwise, you can freeze it for later use, but it shouldn’t be refrozen afterward.

Is buttermilk supposed to be lumpy?

Buttermilk usually has some small clumps that can be skimmed off , but if it gets too lumpy and you can’t pour it out, then you shouldn’t use it.

How can I make buttermilk with milk?

If you need buttermilk but don’t have it, you can make it yourself with regular milk.

Add some distilled white vinegar, or alternatively you can use lemon juice, to the regular milk and let it sit for 10 minutes.  This will thicken the milk and can be used in place of the buttermilk.

I highly recommend this Preppy Kitchen video on YouTube. It shows you three different ways to make buttermilk yourself at home.

Keep buttermilk fresh for longer

If you don’t want to have to worry about whether or not your buttermilk has gone bad, keep it refrigerated and use it within a week or two. If you need a longer shelf life, you can place the buttermilk in the freezer.

The best way to tell if buttermilk has gone bad is to smell it, look for any signs of spoilage, and check if the texture is too lumpy. If there are any signs that the buttermilk is bad, you should throw it away.