How To Tell You Milk Has Gone Bad: 5 Ingenious Ways

One tall glass of milk has been every Indian household's miracle portion for health and nutrition since time immemorial. Milk is often dubbed as 'complete food' by nutritionists across the world, because of its rich content of protein, fat, carbohydrates, all known vitamins and various minerals essential for sustaining life and maintaining good health. But, we all know a whole glass of milk is also no good for health, if it is spoilt. If anything, it would only upset your stomach and have you rushing towards the loo every now and then. Let's not forget the unpalatable taste and smell of the milk that would play its own role in being an absolute mood-spoiler.It is very essential to check and verify the "best before" date written at the back of the carton or packet, before consumption. Scientists recommend using milk before three days of its 'best before' date. However, there are many instances when the milk can go bad much before the 'best before' date. Determining fresh and stale specimens of milk is not a very tough task. A few tests can help you tell one from the other.  
1. Smell TestThe primary and the simplest test to check whether or not the milk has gone bad is to smell it. A carton of fresh milk would not have any unusual odour. An unpleasant smell is basic characteristic of spoilt milk.
 2. Inspect The Consistency And TextureMilk is a thin and smooth liquid. If it happens to have lumps or has a distinct yellowish colour than pure white, it is a sign that the milk is not fresh or appropriate to consume. To check the texture of the milk you can try a simple test too. Pour some milk into a glass, if it begins to curdle, or gets a yogurt or cottage cheese like texture and consistency. (Aslo Read: Should You Be Drinking Skimmed Milk? )
 3. Check The ColourThe colour of pure and fresh milk is clean white. It is even slightly yellow or pale white; there is a strong chance that your milk is not safe to consume. To inspect the colour better, you can pour the milk in a transparent glass and observe it against the light. If the colour is anything but white, your milk has gone bad. 
 4. Check Whether The Milk Was Sitting Out In Room Temperature For Too LongSo, you have checked the expiry date at the back of your carton. Your milk is still a good two days away from expiring. Yet, it has started to taste, smell and look weird. Wondering why? This could be because your milk was lying out for too long in the room temperature. Make sure, if the milk is sitting out, it is only at the recommended 39 degree F (4 degree C). If it is not in use, do keep the milk back into the refrigerator to preserve it for long.    (Also Read: What Is Rice Milk? How Is It Different From Other Forms Of Milk? )
 5. Microwave A Sample Another quick test that you can run is a simple microwave test. Pour some of your milk in a glass container and put it in the microwave for a minute. Take the container out, and observe this milk. If the milk happens to have lumps or is odd in texture and colour, it is not safe to consume. (Also Read: 5 Untold Things About Milk That We All Must Know! )
 As the old saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. It is always better to toss away the spoilt milk, than to be at the risk of food poisoning.