Milk shopping

I read in a magazine a few years back that the ideal temperature for milk was 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit, and that if that ideal temperature is not maintained for as short a period as an hour, it can cut your expiration date by 50%. With that information, how long do you think it currently takes you from the time you normally pull the milk out of the case in the store, to finish you shopping, stop and get gas/mail/etc and them make it home, unload and put it in the fridge. I am guessing an hour-ish. So if you want to save money by not worrying about your milk going bad before the expiration date, here are a few tips.

• Do all of your other shopping and grab you milk products last.
• Have the checker sack your milk with your frozen veggies to help keep it cold.
• Consider putting a folding cooler in your vehicle and taking it in the store with you during the hot summer months. The time you spend in the store will help bring the temperature of the cooler down and you can pack all of your milk products and other freezer items in it before you go out into the heat. My foldable cooler fits on the floor board in the front seat where the AC works best helping keep it out of the summer heat.
• Do not stop to run errands after getting groceries, go straight home to unload making your milk a priority to put into the fridge
• Check your fridge temperature seasonally, putting your thermostat on the door, this is typically the warmest part of the fridge
• If you purchase more milk than you think you can drink before it spoils, freeze it. Just make sure that when you thaw it, you do it in the fridge, then shake well before using so that the "fat" gets mixed back in. The taste will shift slightly, but it is still safe to drink and cook with.