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Why storing milk in the fridge door can ruin its freshness — and what to do instead
Camilla Sharman
last updated
17 September 2025
Stop your milk from becoming stinky
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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.
Pecula 2 Pack Refrigerator Thermometer: was $9 now $6 at Amazon
This affordable refrigerator thermometer is a great way of monitoring your fridge through the hotter months. A consistent temperature will ensure your food stays fresh for longer, and is a good sign that your appliance is working in good order.
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.
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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
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / Millie Fender)
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.
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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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Camilla Sharman
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Staff Writer, Homes
Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides.
Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.
Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.
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5 reasons why you’re loading your refrigerator all wrong — and expert tips on how to do it right
Here’s Why You Should Be Removing Excess Packaging Before Putting Your Groceries in the Fridge — and It’s Not Just Because It Looks Nice
People are using Vaseline on their fridge to beat the heatwave — here’s why it makes more sense than you think
Think Your Drinking Water Is Clean? Why You Need to Clean Your Water and Ice Dispenser Now
People are putting a piece of paper in their fridge to see if their home is heatwave-ready — and it makes more sense than you think
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