Okay, you’ve got me here. I’m guilty of a heinous crime against conservation of things in the fridge and I really don’t have a rational reason for it.  We all have things that really send us off the deep end that other people can just ignore.  I have three really big ones (and ask my wife .. probably a couple million little ones), one involved driving (particularly cell phone related things!), another regarding the conduct of young people (whole ‘nuther story!), but a more benign one is today’s topic.

Can I drink the milk in the fridge is it is past the printed expiration date? Well, my personal answer is absolutely not.  I can’t explain it. I’m downright freaky about dairy products (other than butter…) and the need to 1) keep them COLD, and 2) honor thy expiration date.

Can the milk carton sit on the table while kid number whatever has a bowl of cereal. Gives me the willies but it probably ain’t gonna hurt anything.  Should it sit there while all my kids wander in and have said bowl of cereal over a two hour period. Even hardy souls should probably quiver at that!

But what about the expiration date?  For me, it is sacred. But that’s just me. I practice just in time inventory management with the milk.  Would the “experts” say this is necessary. Well.. probably not. No one is gonna fault me for playing it safe – particularly since we never waste it, but most would tell you (and this is commonly practiced in the food service industry…) that you’re in good shape a good solid seven days past that expiration date if the container has been opened as long as it is kept cold,  perhaps ten if unopened.

By the way .. I don’t drink milk in restaurants…