Experts say you've been storing your milk in the wrong place — what you need to know

Milk is one food staple that most of us buy on repeat. As soon as I wake up, I pour a splash into my morning brew and then enjoy it stirred into my overnight oats. I don’t think I could go a day without using it in some way within my diet.

However, I do notice that it can turn sour before the ‘Best By’ date, even when I know my fridge is set at the correct temperature. So, I wondered what I was doing wrong until I discovered I’d been storing my milk in the wrong place.

It seems logical to me to store my milk in the door of my refrigerator — surely this is what they are designed for, to store cartons, bottles, and tall objects that won’t necessarily fit on a shelf? What’s more, as a frequently used item, it’s easy to grab rather than rummaging through the back of your fridge. However, storing my milk in the fridge door could be the reason why my milk is turning sour prematurely.

When I know the milk is getting near its ‘Best Buy’ date, I always give it the “sniff test”, just to check that it’s still safe to drink, but I could eliminate this problem by changing where I place it in my fridge.

Why you should avoid storing milk in the fridge door

Storing milk in the fridge door can cause its temperature to fluctuate every time you open the fridge. This temperature change can make the milk spoil faster than if kept in the back. This advice is given by Nicole Martin, PhD, assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology at Cornell University, and supported by U.S. Dairy.

And the problem is amplified when the milk is stored in a small container with Martin stating, “If the milk is in a smaller container (e.g., a quart) versus a larger container (e.g., a gallon), the product will warm up faster, and this can allow bacteria to grow a little faster.”

So, although storing your milk in the fridge door is handy, the warmer temperatures created when you’re opening and closing the door can allow bacteria to grow.

Instead of using your fridge door to store cartons of milk, use it for items with a longer shelf life, such as condiments, dressings, and soft drinks.

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