Dairy Deals

When you see dairy items marked down at a store, do you turn them down because you are afraid of not using them by their expiration date? I'll let you in on a little secret: dairy items don't automatically expire on the date printed on their labels. Frozen butter can last up to a year (which is why I stock up during the holidays). Yogurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream can be good for up to a couple of weeks after their expiration date! Milk will not last as long, but you can get by with at least a few days.

If you see a deal on dairy, remember that if you freeze it right away, you can keep it for a few months. Frozen yogurt cups make a yummy treat. Milk can even be frozen. It does take up quite a bit of room in your freezer, though. Also, be cautious when freezing milk because it will expand as it freezes, which may cause the container to break. If you do freeze dairy, it can be thawed in the refrigerator or in a sink of cold water. Never leave it out on the counter to thaw as it can spoil or grow bacteria.

Warning: I often find pints, quarts, and half gallons of milk marked down, but compare their unit price to the unit price of a gallon of milk. Often, the gallons will be cheaper even if they are not marked down.