Yogurt keeps for about 1-2 weeks past the date in the fridge, and 1-2 months in the freezer. The table below splits those times by opened and unopened โ and a date still in range never overrides what your nose tells you.
Yogurt is a fermented food, so an unopened tub usually stays safe a week or two past the printed date. The clear liquid on top is whey, not spoilage โ stir it back in. A domed lid or any mould, though, means bin it immediately.
Storage times
| Unopened | Opened | |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | Not recommended | Within 2 hours |
| Fridge | 1-2 weeks past the date | 5-7 days |
| Freezer | 1-2 months | 1 month |
Throw it out if you see this
- A domed, puffed lid
- Visible mould
- Fizziness or a yeasty, alcoholic smell
Storage tips
- Spoon out a portion rather than eating from the tub
- Stir the whey back in
- Freezing turns it grainy โ save it for smoothies
Sell-by and use-by are not the same date
A sell-by date tells the shop how long it may display the product; a use-by date tells you how long it stays safe to eat. They are not interchangeable, and a use-by date is usually later than the sell-by date printed on the same product.
Every printed date assumes the package is unopened and stored at the labelled temperature. Once opened, follow the "opened" column below instead of the printed date โ and if the smell, colour or texture is off, throw it out regardless of what the date says.