How to tell if buttermilk has expired?

Question

My buttermilk seems to always separate way before it's expiration date. I have been throwing it out when this happens... and that is getting wasteful. Do I just need to shake or stir or has it really gone bad? (This is for an uncooked application.)

Answer 1

It shouldn't do that.  Maybe all you have to do is turn up your fridge.

Answer 2

One  thing  I  never  throw  out  is  buttermilk.  I  use  it  a  lot  in  cooking,  especially  corn bread.  I  often  give  the  closed  carton  a  good  shake  just  before  I  pour  any  out.  And  I  always  buy  it  in  the  quart  size.  At  the  store  when  I  am  selecting  it,  I  always  try  to  get  the  freshest  date  carton.

Buttermilk  can  be  used  to  marinate  your  chicken  the  night  before  you  fry  it.

Answer 3

Check the date

Answer 4

Buttermilk, like yogurt and sour cream, is cultured.  It is a controlled "spoilage" that digests some, but not all, of the lactose.  So it takes longer for any other bacteria to spoil it.  The date on the carton is more for liabilty purposes than for turning bad.  And if you shake it daily it should help prevent seperation.  Your buttermilk is fine.

Answer 5

i had a very bad experience in case of butter milk.  I had left it without shaking for nearly 3 days and it started developing some germs in it.  With this i could tell the expiry is valid till two days.  every two days, put some salt and shake it vell and remove the solid part of butter milk to avoid further decaying of butter milk