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Food Safety Resources

Common Questions

Why is my milk frozen? We freeze milk well before its expiration date to optimize its shelf life. Keep milk frozen until ready to use, disregard the “sell by” date. Place the frozen milk in the refrigerator to thaw. Depending on the size of the container, it may take a day or longer to defrost.

Once milk thaws, milk can safely be kept for the number of days it would have been safe after its expiration date:

  • Whole milk: 5 days after thawing
  • 2% milk: 6 days after thawing
  • 1% milk: 7 days after thawing
  • Skim milk: 10 days after thawing

Do not refreeze milk after thawing the first time. If you receive milk unfrozen before its expiration date, you may freeze it before the expiration date for use later. Freezing may cause the milk to separate. To restore some smoothness, you can stir, shake, or beat it with a hand mixer or immersion blender.


Why are my bananas brown? We keep bananas in our cooler to slow down the ripening process. The skin may darken, but the bananas will be just right for several days. Store peeled over-ripe bananas in the freezer to use in banana smoothies, banana bread, or ice cream.


What Date-Labeling Phrases are Used? There are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions used on food labels for open dating in the United States. As a result, there are a wide variety of phrases used on labels to describe quality dates.

Examples of commonly used phrases:

  • A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
  • A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
  • A “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below.
  • A “Freeze-By” date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.