There are various labels on the products that tell you about the freshness of the products. For example, “sold by” labels are just so stores know when to remove a product from their shelves. “Best When Used” labels tell us that something is still safe to eat after this date, but the taste may be different. So maybe these dates don’t exactly indicate that we should throw out the food and buy it fresh.
-
Eggs
Properly refrigerated eggs are estimated to last 3-5 weeks. However, this does not mean that after this time you cannot eat the few eggs that are left in the package. It is best to break the eggs and check their color and smell. A rotten egg will have signs of discoloration and a really overpowering smell that makes it the complete opposite of appetizing.
-
Hard cheese and butter
Hard cheeses tend to keep longer than soft cheeses due to their lower water content. Depending on the type of cheese, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks after opening. Parmesan cheese can be stored for 3 to 6 weeks, cheddar for 3 to 4 weeks, and edam and gouda for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to store the cheese in an airtight container, or even in the freezer if you don’t plan on using it anytime soon.
Butter will keep in the fridge even longer after opening the package. You can also use them 1-2 months after their expiration date, or 2-3 months if the package is unopened. The reason butter lasts so long is because it doesn’t contain much lactose and is mostly made up of fat. The best way to store butter is to keep it in its original packaging or wrap it in extra aluminum foil.
-
Milk and yogurt
Many people are afraid of drinking expired milk, thinking that it is not safe, but it is still safe to drink after a week, if the milk has been stored properly with the lid on tightly and the smell is still good. But even though it’s slightly acidic, you can still use it in cooking or baking as it can be a great substitute for buttermilk. You should not be afraid of serious diseases, since all harmful pathogens are already killed during the pasteurization process.
Yogurt is also safe to eat one to two weeks after its expiration date, as long as it looks and smells good. What we mean by spoiled yogurt will show signs of discoloration or worse, mold. As long as it looks perfectly white, you can be sure that you can add it to your breakfast.
-
Cereals
An unopened bag of cereal can last 6-12 months in the cupboard, and an opened bag will be good 4-6 months past the expiration date. The expiration date is only an indicator of when the maximum quality of the product will begin to decline. That doesn’t mean it’s not safe to eat cereal and buy new packaging, it’s just money down the drain. If the cereal isn’t safe to eat, you’ll notice bad odors, bugs and flies on the packaging, or even mold.
-
Peanut Butter and Applesauce
An opened can of peanut butter will last 2-3 months in the pantry and 6-9 months in the fridge. But it can last even longer if it is 100% natural. However, even when spoiled, it will not go moldy, but rather taste very different and unpleasant. Remember that separate oils don’t mean your peanut butter is bad, but it could mean a solid product.
An unopened can of applesauce can be stored for 2-4 months past the expiration date. However, an opened jar, whether homemade or store-bought, can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. You can still taste the product to make sure it tastes good, but it will most likely taste great. Some brands allow you to use their products even 30 days after opening the bottle.
-
Seasonings
Ketchup is without a doubt one of the most popular condiments and an open bottle can last up to a year in the fridge. It depends on the quality of the mark and you will notice that it has gone wrong if you see separation and darkening. Even an ordinary open bottle of mustard is very strong and can last 12-18 months when refrigerated. Warning signs that it has gone bad are discoloration and a bad smell.
An open jar of mayonnaise can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 months, as the low temperature slows down the growth of bacteria. However, an opened jar that is left out of the refrigerator will keep for about 8 hours. If you’re making your own mayonnaise, keep in mind that you’ll need to use all of it within a week before it goes bad.
-
Chips, cookies and crackers
The bag of chips can be stored for up to 1 month after the expiration date. That doesn’t mean they won’t be healthy to eat, but they will likely lose their crunchiness. You can store them in a cool, dry place and seal them tight to make them last longer. Crackers and pretzels, on the other hand, can be stored for up to 3 months after their expiration date.
Packaged cookies can be stored in the pantry for 7-10 days (soft) and 2-3 weeks (hard) after opening. You can extend their life by placing them in the freezer where they can keep for 4-5 months. Homemade cookies can last the same amount in the freezer, but only 2-3 days (soft) and 2-3 weeks (hard) in the pantry.
-
Meat and fish
Fresh meat should not be left in the refrigerator after purchase for more than 5 days and should be frozen when not in use. So, depending on the type of meat, it can maintain its freshness and flavor for up to 12 months in the freezer: 4 to 12 months for steaks, 3 to 4 months for raw ground beef, 1 to 2 months for sausage, and 9 months. -12 months for poultry. Make sure your freezer is working properly, as the number of bacteria in poorly stored meat doubles every 15 to 20 minutes.
Fresh fish, on the other hand, lasts only 1-2 days in the fridge, while smoked fish lasts 5-7 days. Just like with meat, you can extend the life of fish by placing it in the freezer for 3 to 9 months, depending on the type of fish. If the fish has gone bad, you will notice a slimy texture and a bad taste once thawed.
-
Cake mix
Bakery boxes often contain flour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa, and other flavoring ingredients. This means that they can be stored for a long time, even after opening. In this case, they can be used even after 4-5 months if they are properly stored in a cool and dry place.
However, you will need to check your cooking mix for flour bugs, as they can appear at any time. Also known as weevils, they eat your food while mating, which means they reproduce quite quickly. Therefore, if you see small black dots in the flour, it means that you need to clean it before using it. It is not necessary to throw away the packaging, but to inspect the level of damage.
-
honey
Raw honey is one of the few foods that won’t go bad, whether it’s stored properly or not. Honey that is not mixed with other syrups will crystallize or darken, but this is natural and does not mean it should be thrown away. All you have to do is store the honey in a glass jar with the lid tightly closed at all times. It’s the only product that has an expiration date tacked on so companies can keep selling new cans and buyers can pay more money.
Do you always throw out expired food without even checking it, or do you always check something to make sure it’s still good to eat?
