There are a lot of factors that affect how long milk is good for after the sell-by date. The biggest is whether the milk has been through pasteurization. Pasteurized milk will last up to 7 days after the sell-by date if it’s unopened, 3-7 days if opened. So how can you make your milk last longer? Anti-spoilage strategies start at the store, so make grocery shopping your last errand so the milk doesn’t sit in your trunk. Grab the coldest carton with the latest date stamp. Add milk to the shopping cart last, keep all the refrigerated items next to one another in the cart, and pack them in the same reusable bag at checkout. As soon as you get home, put the milk in the refrigerator first in the coldest part of the refrigerator, which excludes the door. Unopened milk lasts longer, so only break the seal when you are ready to use or drink it.
