What does spoiled milk smell like?
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, “What does spoiled milk smell like?”. We will further elaborate on the ways to determine spoiled milk and what happens if you drink spoiled milk.
What does spoiled milk smell like?
Spoiled milk has an unpleasant and sour smell. The scent is not easy to ignore and gets more powerful over time.
The taste of spoiled milk also changes from naturally sweet to acidic or sour.
Ultimately, the texture of spoiled milk changes as well. You will notice a slimy, thick texture with a dirty, yellowish colour.
Milk can be spoiled due to different factors such as temperature, storage conditions, light and also due to the overgrowth of microorganisms in the milk.
If you want to confirm if the milk is spoiled, firstly sniff it. If you are still in confusion, then try taking a sip of it before adding it into a bowl of cereal, oats or using it for any other recipe.
What happens if you drink spoiled milk?
If you drink spoiled milk, it can increase your risk of getting foodborne illness because of the bacteria that have grown in the milk. It is better to toss out milk if you find it has gone bad as it is not worth putting your health at risk.
If you drink spoiled milk, it may result in
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
How to know if the milk has spoiled?
Smell the milk for an unpleasant scent
Sniffing your milk is possibly the most prominent way to tell if it has spoiled. Fresh milk will not have much of an odour at all. On the contrary, spoiled milk has an unpleasant odour. If you instantly shrink on smelling the milk, it is probably spoiled.
Even if the milk otherwise appears fine, if it gives off a bad smell that makes you pull back, you would be better off not to sip on it.
If it is difficult for you to determine if the milk smells bad, ask someone else to smell it or use other strategies to analyse or test the milk to be confident.
Make sure the milk is less than 7 days beyond its sell-by date
If you have stored the milk correctly, it will stay safe for 7 days past its sell-by date mentioned on the carton. However, if you notice the date has expired and the milk has been kept at room temperature, it means your milk has likely spoiled.
The shelf life of milk relies on the quantity of fat and lactose in the milk. Whole milk may only have a shelf life of 5 days beyond the expiry date. However, lactose- or fat-free milk may have a shelf life of as long as 10 days beyond the expiry date.
If the milk has expired for more than one week, it is generally safe to toss it out, even if it appears fine and does not give off a bad smell.
Check the milk’s texture for clumps or globs
Fresh milk has a thin texture that flows smoothly. The texture relies on the fat content. Creams or whole milk are more viscous as compared to skim milk. However, the milk must flow smoothly.
If you feel any clumps in the milk, it is likely spoiled. You may have to splash the milk around in its container to notice these, as clumps usually settle underneath.
You can also analyse the inside of the milk container. If you find any solid remains on the inside of the container, it indicates the milk has spoiled.
Examine the milk’s colour for yellowing
Pour the milk into a transparent cup and hold it in front of the light. If the milk is still fine, it will be of white colour, pure and clean. On the contrary, spoiled milk will have a dirty or yellow colour.
If it is difficult for you to identify the colour of the milk, place a white sheet of paper behind the cup and examine. If the milk gives a yellowish hue, it is probably spoiled.
Find out if the milk was kept at room temperature
Milk must be stored in a fridge if you want to keep it fresh. If it is left out at room temperature for a prolonged period, it might spoil– in spite of how old it is. If the milk is kept out for more than an hour, it is probably spoiled.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have provided an answer to the question, “What does spoiled milk smell like?”. We have further elaborated on the ways to determine spoiled milk and what happens if you drink spoiled milk.
