Greek yogurt is distinguished from other types of yogurt by the whey removal method. Whey is a liquid made up of lactose, a naturally occurring sugar found in milk. Yogurt is made by fermenting milk.
Greek yogurt that has been strained contains less sugar than regular yogurt—eliminating the whey results in a creamier, thicker yogurt with a tart flavor. Confident makers plump up regular yogurt and promote it as “Greek-style” yogurt, which may lack the health benefits associated with Greek yogurt. Additionally, low- or no-fat Greek yogurt may lack some of the health benefits of traditional Greek yogurt. With that said, many people also want to know – can yogurt get warm?
Below are some general tips for keeping all kinds of yogurt, not just Greek yogurt:
- Before buying yogurt, check the best before date on the package and choose the product with the furthest date.
- Refrigerate yogurt as soon as you buy it and keep it out of the door on the more excellent shelf rather than in the refrigerator.
- Consume the yogurt within three days of opening the package.
- Seal yogurt tightly to keep out the scents of strong-smelling items.
- Use a clean spoon to scoop out as much yogurt as you intend to eat into your dish at one time. To avoid cross-contamination, do not return unused parts to the original container (speed up spoilage).
- Manufacturers do not recommend frozen yogurt as the process will affect the texture and flavor. However, if you still want, the yogurt will stay well, but that doesn’t mean that the flavors will.
Is Greek Yogurt Bad If It Gets Warm?
If the yogurt has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours, it should be discarded. If the temp is 90°F/32.2°C or more, you have only one hour to consume the yogurt left out of the refrigerator. While our office is typically more relaxed than the 90-degree mark, it turns out that going an unopened yogurt to consume slowly is not a good idea from a food safety standpoint.
Signs that your yogurt has gone wrong are not always immediately apparent. One classic character is that Greek yogurt has begun to sour higher acidity in the yogurt. Discoloration or moldy spots are another, more certain sign that your yogurt has gone wrong. Those, without a doubt, avoid. And in the long run, it’s probably more cost-effective to discard your yogurt than it is to save a few dollars.
How Long Can You Leave Greek Yogurt Out Before It Goes Bad?
For unrefrigerated yogurt, there’s a simple rule to follow, and it’s the same period that applies to milk. Do not leave the yogurt out at room temperature for more than two hours or one hour if the weather is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32. 2 Celsius) or above. Instead, keep it refrigerated once you bring it home from the store. Bacteria can thrive if food is left out in the open for an extended period.
Yogurt may be kept fresh with these extra recommendations and information:
- Refrigerated yogurt should be kept at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Yogurt’s shelf life can range from seven to 14 days when properly stored. However, yeast, molds, and bacteria can form and degrade your yogurt if reserved for an extended period.
- Keep room temperature yogurt no more than two hours in the fridge.
- The carton of yogurt should be returned to the refrigerator after you’ve eaten only a portion of it if you plan to eat the rest.
- Unrefrigerated yogurt containing sugar and fruit may encourage the growth of bacteria.
- Pasteurized milk should be used while producing yogurt at home. Cover the yogurt and keep it in the fridge once it has thickened and attained the correct acidity. Storage time is no more than two weeks.
Can You Eat Unrefrigerated Greek Yogurt?
Refrigerate yogurt to maintain freshness. According to many dairy manufacturers, seven to 14 days for conventional yogurt and a week for Skyr and Greek yogurt can be extended if it is kept refrigerated.
If in doubt, take a three-point inspection of the carton’s appearance, aroma, and texture, and taste, of course, before eating it. Mold? This raises a red flag. The smell of decay? Ditto. Use your senses in this case. Within a week of opening the package, use the product.
The USDA recommends that yogurt left out at room temperature be consumed within two hours. Even if it hasn’t gone wrong at this point, the longer it sits out, the more acidic and rancid it becomes, wiping off any beneficial bacteria that may have been present. Before it goes rotten, it will not taste delicious. Unopened yogurt in its original container can be frozen for later use. Freeze the yogurt before the “best before” date on the carton.
How Do You Know When Greek Yogurt Goes Bad?
The living bacterial cultures in yogurt act as a preservative, allowing it to last relatively long (one to three weeks) when closed. Mold can, however, begin to form after the death of these organisms. Therefore, it’s best to look for a significant amount of liquid on the surface (don’t worry; Greek yogurt is especially susceptible, but any excess is a red flag), curdling near the bottom, and any signs of mold. These are indications that the overall product is likely to be defective.
