An odd story, but true.... The dates on milk jugs are there for a reason, right? I thought so, until my most recent purchase. I'm not much of a milk drinker, it mostly goes in my coffee, so the gallon in the fridge normally expires half used. On Feb 3rd, according to the receipt, I purchased a jug of milk from the local grocer. The expiration date was on the 7th of Feb. While I normally don't 'sniff the milk', I was in a fix for coffee one day and was desperate. It was the 10th, and the milk was still good. What a bonus! I had beaten the milk Gods! So the next day, I sniffed again. And the next. And the next. This morning, with about 1/4 of the milk left, I sniffed again. And, by golly, the milk is still good! Right, 18 days after the sell by date and 22 days from purchase, the milk in that jug tastes and smells just as good as the first day I purchased it.

Here is my thing: All this time, was I cheating myself of hard earned money to replace milk that was actually good? Are farmers doing hokey things with their cows? Are the grocery stores conspiring with milk vendors to drive revenues? Or, has my recent sinus infection affected my sense of smell and taste? The last question is doubtful, I haven't gotten sick and my coffee isn't getting clumpier. If you don't sniff your milk, you should! It could save you the cost of a new gallon!

March 1 Update: I used the milk from the jug previously mentioned again this morning. It was still okay! I've purchased another gallon, which is on standby just in case this one fails me. Eventually, it will go bad or run out.