Tezzbuzz Desk- If curd is kept for a long time, its taste gradually starts turning sour. Sometimes the sourness of curd increases due to temperature or moisture. Just because it turns sour does not mean that the curd has gone bad. If the curd is not mouldy, has not acquired abnormal color and does not smell bad or rotten, then it can be used in a few ways.
If you want to use sour curd in food, then the easiest way is to make curry from it. Mixing sour curd with gram flour and spices gives good taste to the kadhi. If you want, you can prepare kadhi with or without pakodas. Apart from this, sour curd can also be used to knead dough or to add mild sourness to some dishes.
Sour curd is also used in cleaning brass and copper utensils of the house. The lactic acid present in yogurt can help loosen some of the dirt and grime on the surface. For this, apply some sour curd on the vessel and leave it for some time and then clean it with a soft scrubber. Before using it on any new or expensive utensil, test it on a small part.
There is also a domestic trend of applying sour curd on hair or scalp. However, there is not enough scientific evidence that it cures dandruff or any hair problem. If you want to use it as a hair pack, first do a patch test on a small part of the skin. If irritation, itching or redness occurs, wash it off immediately and do not use it again.
There are some home remedies for using sour curd in the garden too, but it is not considered right to apply it directly to the roots of plants. Adding dairy products to soil without adequate watering can lead to odor, insects, and other problems. If curd is to be used for plants then it is better to first adopt suitable organic fertilizer or composting method.
There is also a trend of making homemade face packs from sour curd. The lactic acid present in curd can have a mild exfoliating effect on the top layer of the skin. But sour curd can cause irritation on sensitive skin. Therefore, it is important to do a patch test before applying it directly on the face. If there is a cut, rash or any infection on the skin, then it is better to avoid such home remedies.
However, it is very important to keep one thing in mind. If the curd appears moldy, has changed color, has an unusual texture with too much water separated, or starts to smell foul, then it is not fit for any domestic use. The safest option is to throw away such curd.
In this way, there is no need to immediately throw the curd in the garbage just because it turns sour. Once its condition is fine, it can be used in curry and some household purposes. This can also help in reducing food wastage.