How long does yogurt last? Can you eat it past its expiration date?

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yogurt is definitely a staple food, even though it might not be on the same level as bread, milk, and eggs.

You can use yogurt as a base for dips, smoothies, and baked goods, or just dig in with a spoon, but it also packs an impressive nutrition punch.

Yogurt is a good source of calcium and good for the gut.Many varieties contain double-digit grams of the stuff.

The snack is easy to misplace in the fridge, leaving you with an expired tub of yogurt when you do find it.

Is it okay to eat yogurt past the expiration date?If the creamy stuff has gone bad, how can you tell?What is the worst thing that can happen if you dare to eat expired yogurt?

Don't stress about wasting food the next time you find that tub.It is good for longer than you think.

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.

The date on your yogurt is not an expiration date.It is usually a best by date.

Benjamin Chapman, PhD, a professor at North Carolina State University, says a lot of this comes down to quality.When the yogurt company thinks the product will be at its peak flavor, the date is stamped on your yogurt.

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.Chapman says that it will ferment more over time in your refrigerator.The flavor is going to get better.

Chapman says that you can enjoy many yogurts for a month or so past the "best by" date.

It's not the same if your yogurt has fruit on the bottom.Chapman says he would stick with that date.A totally different experience will be created by Yeast and molds on that fruit.

It may only last a week past the date printed on it if you opened it already.If you dip a spoon back into the tub at any time, you can make your yogurt go bad more quickly.

The yogurt has gone bad even if the smell is rancid.Chapman agrees.He says something else is growing in your yogurt that you don't expect.

There is a growing layer of liquid at the top of your tub.

If your yogurt comes from an open container, it may upset you a bit.If it's bad enough to bother you, you won't want to eat it.