Whether you’re pouring milk on your favorite cereal, marinating chicken in buttermilk, or crumbling blue cheese onto a wedge salad, dairy products are essential to our diets and cooking routines. But because of their nutrient-dense environments, milk, yogurt, and other items are also stomping grounds for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to thrive—particularly if they’re stored incorrectly or kept past their prime. 

“When it comes to food safety, it is best to discard expired foods to prevent foodborne illness,” says Connie Elick, a registered dietician and instructor of plant-based culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education Los Angeles campus.

These are the three most dangerous dairy products to keep in your refrigerator past their expiration dates, according to Elick. Plus, warning signs of spoilage to look for to keep your meals worry-free and tips for prolonging the shelf life of your dairy.

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