OK to drink orange juice past the expiration date?

[brentspeak]

I have a gallon jug of store-brand orange juice, made from concentrate, with a "sell by" date of Aug 15. Dump it, or ok to drink for a couple more days?

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. Smell test

If it doesn't stink, it's probably alright. You can always do a tiny test sip, too. That's what I do, anyway.

[Chan790]

2. It's probably fine...

Old OJ doesn't really spoil very quickly, it just starts to taste bad.

You could probably drink it safely for another two weeks. You just wouldn't want to. (This period of time is based on the assumption you're not a from-the-carton drinker. That would introduce bacteria and significantly shorten its' safe-period. OJ is high in sugars and that makes it a bacterial-breeding heaven.)

[JVS]

3. drink it!

[1]

4. pour some vodka in it just to be safe...

that'll kill any bugs.

[Taverner]

5. If its infected you can taste it

Since its simply sugar, you can taste the infection

[brentspeak]

6. Follow-up: I chickened-out, and poured it down the drain

After a taste-test, I determined that it was beginning to taste a bit "strong" as it got to about the 1/5 mark on the jug; the juice was also becoming thick/syrupy, too. Of course, that could have simply been due to the concentrate. The mention of "sugar" and "bacteria" was probably the clincher.

I think I'll just buy half-gallons from now on.

[madrchsod]

7. ya dump it

if it`s bad it`s an instant barf fest....my wife had this happen to her twice. worse she`s been a bartender for years

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. The answer is in your question.

It isn't an expiration date, it is a "sell by" date.

After that date it should no longer be on store shelves, but it does not mean it will instantly spoil over the next 24 hours. Even if you bought it the day before, it should still keep at least a couple weeks in the fridge.

I see you said you dumped it, but you probably didn't have to unless the sell by date was 2 months ago.

[RedShoes]

9. when in doubt, throw it out. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Skim the green algae off the top and it should be fine.

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. If you have to chew it...

then it is probably not safe.

[Saboburns]

12. Sure

Or mebbe not/