(Have I) got milk?

Virsoul

I bought some groceries yesterday and put them away when I came home. That is, everything except the milk. I'm not sure how I missed it, but when I awoke the next morning there it was starring me in the face. I put it in the refrigerator right away, but I'm not sure if it's good anymore.

Conditions:
Left on cool counter out of sunlight. Most of my house is cold enough to warrant a light jacket or blanket.
Jug is unopened.
1% if that matters.
Left out 8-12 hours (I can't remember exactly how long)

If I drink it, will I get sick?

INeedNoSalt

don't drink it.

they wouldn't sell it if they'd done just that, so you probably shouldn't drink it.

Dark Moon

It might be safe for consumption, but it's unlikely to be palatable. Milk isn't a fantastic bacterial growth agent, but it's never sterilized, only pasteurized. Chances are the only major bacterial growth will be Lactobacilli, which are, in the quantities you'd find in milk left warm that long, generally regarded as safe. However, Lactobacilli are great at producing lactic acid, which causes the signature taste of sour milk. Depending on what exactly survived the pasteurization, there's a slight chance something more harmful might have taken this opportunity to flourish too.

In other words, for the cost of a new jug of milk, don't bother suffering through a whole container of sour stuff.

Mojo_Jojo

It's most likely perfectly fine. Just open it up and give it a taste. It's very obvious when milk has turned.

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

I've done this before... several times.

it shouldn't ruin the milk, though it will reduce the lifetime of it.

always smell the milk when you open it and you should be fine. you'll be able to tell when it's sour

Virsoul

Smells and tastes fine. I'm going to try a bowl of cereal. If I get sick, I'll post here tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!

Jam Warrior

Milk becomes undrinkable due to taste long before it's a health hazard. If it smells and tastes fine, it's fine.

Szechuanosaurus

Also, unopened fresh milk seems to have a ridiculous lifespan these days. I remember when we used to get cartons of milk, kept refrigerated, three day lifespan once opened at max. The milk these days lasts well over a week refrigerated even if they've been opened. I don't know if it's thanks the the plastic jugs it comes in now or new methods of pasteurisation or if it's actually just milk flavoured liquid plastic or what.

Basically, your milk will probably just go bad a day or two quicker than normal.

Cerpin

Dark Moon wrote: »

It might be safe for consumption, but it's unlikely to be palatable. Milk isn't a fantastic bacterial growth agent, but it's never sterilized, only pasteurized. Chances are the only major bacterial growth will be Lactobacilli, which are, in the quantities you'd find in milk left warm that long, generally regarded as safe. However, Lactobacilli are great at producing lactic acid, which causes the signature taste of sour milk. Depending on what exactly survived the pasteurization, there's a slight chance something more harmful might have taken this opportunity to flourish too.

In other words, for the cost of a new jug of milk, don't bother suffering through a whole container of sour stuff.

Pasteurised milk is unlikely to go sour as the lactic acid bacteria are readily killed by pasteurisation. Instead, others will predominate and likely cause the milk to spoil.

I would drink it happily enough, but its lifespan will be much reduced.

The Cat

if it smells wierd or curdles when poured into coffee, it goes down the sink. Otherwise, it just won't last as long as it 'should'. Trust your nose, unless your nose is not good at smelling things.

NargorothRiP

Kinda wierd off topic, but i noticed the milk lasting alot longer to. my roommate left his milk in the fridge 5 weeks past the sell by date and was still good. lol

tsmvengy

As others have said - if it tastes bad or funky, don't drink it.

Otherwise you are fine.

Szechuanosaurus

NargorothRiP wrote: »

Kinda wierd off topic, but i noticed the milk lasting alot longer to. my roommate left his milk in the fridge 5 weeks past the sell by date and was still good. lol

I've never chanced it that long. Unusually cold fridge?

The Cat

define "good".

Szechuanosaurus

The Cat wrote: »

define "good".

In terms of karma - it hadn't killed anyone...yet.

KidDynamite

I always knew that milk would fall in with the wrong crowd.

Just give it the sniff test.

The Cat

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

The Cat wrote: »

define "good".

In terms of karma - it hadn't killed anyone...yet.

hah.

any animal product that doesn't go off within a week can no longer be classed as food, to my mind. On the upside, you've got a 50-50 chance of it either giving you cancer or superpowers.

TL DR

INeedNoSalt wrote: »

don't drink it.

they wouldn't sell it if they'd done just that, so you probably shouldn't drink it.

Figgy

I think the greater question here is why your house is so cold that you need to wear a jacket?

Szechuanosaurus

Figgy wrote: »

I think the greater question here is why your house is so cold that you need to wear a jacket?

Possibly the same reason he's checking to see whether he can still drink milk he left out all night rather than just going out and frivolously buying a new carton.

Figgy

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Figgy wrote: »

I think the greater question here is why your house is so cold that you need to wear a jacket?

Possibly the same reason he's checking to see whether he can still drink milk he left out all night rather than just going out and frivolously buying a new carton.

Can't sleep. Milk will eat me.

Seriously.. I'm cheap too with my heating.. but.. a jacket indoors?

Tofystedeth

Figgy wrote: »

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Figgy wrote: »

I think the greater question here is why your house is so cold that you need to wear a jacket?

Possibly the same reason he's checking to see whether he can still drink milk he left out all night rather than just going out and frivolously buying a new carton.

Can't sleep. Milk will eat me.

Seriously.. I'm cheap too with my heating.. but.. a jacket indoors?

I wear layers in my house. Long underwear, thick pajama pants. T-shirt + longsleeved shirt + thick bathrobe. Sometimes a stocking cap. My thermostat is set at 57, but it probably doesn't get that warm most of the time in the winter. And still my gas bill is pretty bad. Stupid old, inefficient house.

Virsoul

I seem to have made it through the night.

The reason my house is so cold is I only heat my bedroom. The time I spend in the rest of the house is minimal. Also, for some reason when they built this house, all of the heating in the main areas comes from the inside ceiling via heating coils (I guess the didn't know heat rises). So, in order to heat the living room, kitchen, etc. you have to crank up the heat to a ridiculous setting and my electricity bill is subsequently raped. Much more efficient to use a space heater when I spend time out of the bedroom as a makeshift fireplace.

Quid

Figgy wrote: »

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Figgy wrote: »

I think the greater question here is why your house is so cold that you need to wear a jacket?

Possibly the same reason he's checking to see whether he can still drink milk he left out all night rather than just going out and frivolously buying a new carton.

Can't sleep. Milk will eat me.

Seriously.. I'm cheap too with my heating.. but.. a jacket indoors?

This isn't uncommon and really is a pretty good way to save on heating.

Shogun

I love wearing a hoodie and sweats in a cool house. Just makes me comfortable. Anyway the milk will be fine, but if its not just use it to fry up some chicken or something.

Trinis

The milk is fine, the French leave their milk at room temperature all the time, although mostly it is unpasteurized. Also thumbs up for wearing jackets in the house during winter. Some of us are just ecologically conscious or flat our poor.