Of course, all food and drink products last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember, sour cream, like a lot of other dairy products, usually has a sell by date, which is simply the last date it should be sold, not consumed. Because of this distinction, you may safely use sour cream on your vegetables even after its sell by date has lapsed.

How to tell if Sour Cream is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your sour cream has gone bad. When sour cream is beginning to go bad, the water will separate and begin to pool... at this point, you should use up your sour cream in the next few days. You can tell if sour cream has gone bad if you notice dark mold on its surface, bright bacterial marks, pockets of watery liquid and a sharp, bitter flavor. When you notice mold on the inside of the lid and/or in the product - it's time to throw out the entire container.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Sour Cream to extend its shelf life?

Proper food storage is the key to extending the shelf life of sour cream.

Prior to purchase, you should leave all cream products on the shelf until you are ready to check out. Once at home, you can help all dairy products stay fresh longer by storing them in your refrigerator below 40°F immediately after use.

Like with most dairy products, you should store your sour cream in air-tight containers that help keep out moisture and other contaminants - the original containers actually work fine. In addition, you should always make sure to use clean utensils when serving sour cream in order to avoid cross contamination. Separate sour cream from onions, garlic, and citrus fruits so it doesn't absorb pungent odors.

Can you freeze sour cream? Freezing is not recommended as it will likely result in a lumpy texture and loss of flavor when the product is thawed.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Sour Cream:

How to use extra before your Sour Cream goes bad?

If you are afraid your sour cream will go bad before you use it all, try this suggestion:

How long is Sour Cream good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does sour cream last? That depends. How long do baked potatoes last? In general, sour cream lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient it is mixed with.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Sour Cream lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Sour Cream.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Sour Cream shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!