Yogurt is a total breakfast champ (or p.m. snack) and killer base for dips, smoothies, baked goods, and more. It also packs an impressive nutritional punch: “Yogurt is a good source of bone-strengthening calcium and gut-healthy probiotics,” says nutritionist Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet. It can also be a solid source of protein (many varieties, especially Greek yogurts, contain double-digit grams of the stuff).

Despite its perks, though, it can be tricky to tell when this fermented favorite has gone from pleasantly tangy to straight-up sour—and unsafe to eat. So we turned to food safety specialist Benjamin Chapman, PhD, a professor at North Carolina State University to learn more.

Can you eat expired yogurt?

Yes and no. While most yogurts are fine to eat past the expiration date, any opened or fruit-on-the bottom yogurts should be discarded.

“A lot of this comes down to quality—not safety issues,” says Chapman. The date stamped on your yogurt is an estimate of when it will no longer taste good, and this guess comes from the yogurt brand. There's not much science behind it.

So, yogurt with a "best by" date that's come and gone isn't technically expired—and it is 100 percent okay to eat yogurt beyond this date. “It’s really only going to get more acidic and ferment more over time in your refrigerator,” Chapman says. “All that’s going to happen to the flavor is that it will get tangier.”

However—caveat alert!—not all yogurts are created equal.

If your yogurt has fruit on the bottom, it's a totally different story. In this case, “I would stick with that date,” Chapman says. “Yeast and molds will grow on that fruit and create a totally different experience.” (FYI, here's what happens if you eat mold.)

And, if you already opened your yogurt, it may only last a week past the date printed on it. This is especially true if you dipped an already-licked spoon back into the tub at any point, since microorganisms in the air and bacteria in your mouth can make your yogurt go bad more quickly, adds Chapman.

How long can you eat yogurt after the expiration date?

If you get freaked out by expired food, know this: With the exception of baby formula, federal law doesn’t require that food products have dates on them that say how long they're good for.

That doesn't mean you want to dig into yogurt that's been chilling in the fridge for years, though. The USDA recommends pitching yogurt after one to two weeks in the refrigerator or one to two months in the freezer. Not sure how long your Chobani has been sitting on the back of that shelf? It's best to use your good ol' instincts when determining whether to eat it or not. Allow us to explain...

How to tell if yogurt has gone bad

Sight

Take a look at the yogurt inside the tub. While a thin layer of liquid is normal (which is usually whey, or a liquid byproduct of the yogurt-making process), a thick layer or puddle can also indicate that your yogurt may be off, says Gans.

Use a spoon to stir the yogurt slightly—if you notice a lot of cottage cheese-like lumps, it's probably past its prime.

Smell

If your tub of yogurt has truly turned foul, your nose will give it away. “Even the slightest rancid odor means that the yogurt has gone bad,” says Gans. Chapman agrees. “If there’s a terrible odor, something else is growing in your yogurt that you don’t expect to be there,” he says.

    Taste

    Not seeing lumps or excess liquid, and there's no bad smell? Your last test is a quick taste. Take a tiny spoonful and check for funky or overly sour flavors, which are indicators of spoilage.

    Got it. So what happens if you do eat spoiled yogurt?

    If your yogurt is on the vintage side, but comes from an unopened container, it may just upset your stomach a bit, says Chapman. However, if it's bad enough to bother your belly, it'll probably taste off enough that you won't want to eat it.

    That said, if you eat yogurt that's been opened and gone bad, it could cause a foodborne illness and leave you with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, Gans adds. Again, though, it will taste bad.

    How to store yogurt to keep it fresh

    To safely make that yogurt last, good refrigeration is key. Make sure your yogurt goes into your fridge (which should be set to 40°F or below) as soon as possible after you buy it, Gans says.

    Once your yogurt is in there, don’t open it until you need it, recommends Chapman. And, if you bought a larger container, make sure the spoon you use to scoop out your portions is clean—and that you reseal the container tightly after using it.

    If you buy more yogurt than you think you'll eat within a few weeks, pop it in the freezer. “Yogurt may be frozen for one to two months without affecting the taste,” says Gans. From there, defrost (or enjoy a delicious bowl of fro-yo) and spoon away.

    The bottom line: You can typically eat yogurt beyond its "best by" date, but be wary of any changes in smell or flavor and note that fruit-at-the-bottom yogurts have a shorter life span.

    Headshot of Korin Miller
    Korin Miller
    Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
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    Samantha MacAvoy
    Assistant Editor

    Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.