Are there ways to tell if sour cream is spoiled?
Yes! It’s a myth that sour cream is already in a “spoiled” state, and therefore “can’t go off.” Sour cream is a fresh, glossy blend of pasteurized cream and lactic-acid-producing bacteria. The term “sour” refers to the bacteria’s tangy, acidic flavor. The following are signs of spoilage caused by oxygen, humidity, bacteria, or poor-quality milk: • Moldy black, green dots and swirls on the surface • Blue, pink or yellow bacterial blemishes • Large amounts of watery whey on the surface of the sour cream • Strong doughy yeast-spoilage odor and a faint white or pink sheen • A bitter or “green apple” flavor Source(s): Dr. Robert Bradley, professor emeritus of food science, University of Wisconsin Cary Frye, vice-president of regulatory affairs, International Dairy Foods Association Handbook of Food Science, Technology, and Engineering by Yiu H.
