Don't Toss The Liquid Sitting On Top Of Yogurt — Stir It In For A Probiotic Boost Instead

You open a cup of yogurt, and there it is: a watery (kind of sour-smelling) layer that just kind of sits on top of the more solid stuff below. This thin, watery layer on top of your yogurt usually isn't a sign that it's gone bad. Rather, it's the result of a natural phenomenon known as the whey separation defect. Whey is a naturally-occurring dairy protein, and liquid whey naturally separates from yogurt over time. It's actually loaded with nutrients, and often includes probiotics that can support gut health. There's no need to pour it off of your yogurt (unless you want to) — it's perfectly fine to stir it right back in with the thicker portion. Stirring the liquid whey back into the rest of the yogurt will smooth it out a little bit, and it also gives it some tang.

You'll notice at least a little bit of liquid whey at the top of most types of yogurt, unless the manufacturer added stabilizers during production to stop the natural separation process. That being said, while normal whey is fine to ingest, you should check for any signs that the liquid could be something else that isn't safe to eat. If you notice what seems to be an extreme amount of liquid on top of your yogurt and you aren't sure whether it's normal, look for some other telltale signs that your yogurt has gone bad. A puffy container, visible mold, and an excessively lumpy texture are all signs that your yogurt is far beyond its time and needs to hit the trash can.

The type of liquid whey found in yogurt is known as acid whey. As its name implies, it contains lactic acid, a probiotic that supports gut health and may support a healthy digestive system. While it can be a little strange to think about, probiotics are live bacteria that naturally occur in yogurt, and they work to help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your body. Probiotics aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and they can vary from one brand of yogurt to the next. If you're eating yogurt to support your digestive health, it's a good idea to pay attention to what brands make you feel the best.

If you prefer your yogurt to be a thicker consistency and you're ok with forgoing the health benefits you may get from mixing the liquid whey back into the thicker part of the yogurt, there are a still a ton of ways you can put whey to work instead of tossing it down the sink. It can be used in place of water and milk when you're baking, and there are a quite a few bread and pizza dough recipes out there that call for liquid whey. It can also be used as part of a marinade — the acid in whey can work well to help tenderize meats. While you certainly may be doing your gut health a favor if you stir liquid whey back into your yogurt, there are plenty of other ways to put it to good use if you'd rather pour it off — just don't let it go to waste.