Foods Safe For Consumption After Their Expiration Date

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

There is a reason there is a label with shelf life on foodstuffs, but this reason is not always what you think.

While some dates are printed so that the consumer knows when a particular food should be discarded, in other cases the product label is a marker of freshness rather than an expiration date.

After all, we often buy food with the intention of using it for weeks and sometimes months, and producers and sellers keep track of these dates to make sure that the food reaches us as fresh as possible.

This article explains what you need to know for the shelf life of foodstuffs and how you can significantly extend it with certain foods and save a good amount of money.

All 14 foods should not be discarded after their expiration date and you will understand why.

Meat and Fish

The expiration date label, which is usually affixed to the packaging of fresh fish and meat, is printed so that retailers and sellers know when to start withdrawing the product from store shelves.

But as far as the consumer is concerned, you don't have to throw away expensive meat or fish, after the expiration dateif you make sure they are well frozen or chilled.

Raw fish and meat will remain usable only 1-2 days after purchase if you keep them in the refrigerator. But if you freeze them in the freezer, the shelf life can be extended for months.

Poultry can be stored in the freezer for up to 9 months if cut into pieces and up to 12 months if whole.

Fish can be frozen for 6-9 months if purchased fresh, but can be stored frozen for up to 12 months if you purchased it sealed and not thawed during transportation.

Red meat can be stored for up to 12 months in the form of steaks and cutlets and up to 4 months if minced.

Like raw meat and fish, the shelf life of smoked and cooked products can be extended by 1-2 months if you freeze them.

This is because freezing significantly slows down the process of oxidation and multiplication of harmful bacteria in food.

Eggs

Eggs are another food that can be eaten after the expiration date printed on the carton or egg.

Regardless of this date, it is good to use raw eggs 3-5 weeks after you buy them. If you doubt the freshness of an egg, just crush it in a separate bowl before cooking.

The rotten egg has a strong sulfur odor that is difficult to confuse. It is also good to know how to store eggs.

If you bought eggs that have not been refrigerated, storing them in the refrigerator is not mandatory, but refrigerated eggs should always be stored in the refrigerator.

Hard cheese

Unlike soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, soft mozzarella or ricotta, which must be tossed according to the expiration label, most hard cheeses are safe to eat after the expiration date.

The harder the cheese, the more fermented and more resistant it is to bacteria. That is why aging cheeses, such as parmesan, can remain edible for months.

When trying to determine if a piece of cheese is still edible, your nose and eyes are the best remedy.

If the cheese smells different than before or has started to grow mold from the middle, it is best to part with it.

But if it smells good and there is a little mold on the side, just cut off the affected part and you will be left with an ideal cheese for consumption, as mold is a natural participant in the production of hard cheeses.

Cereals

If it exists food without expiration date, these are dry cereals. The only subtlety is that you have to keep the box closed.

This will allow you to store cereals in the closet for 6-8 months. After this period, the cereals may taste a little stagnant, but even then you will not get sick if you eat them.

This is because cereals are dry and processed foods, which makes them among the easiest foods to store at room temperature.

Needless to say, if you add milk or they are boiled, you will have to eat them immediately, although the special oatmeal can be stored for several days in the refrigerator.

Yoghurt

Do not throw away an unopened jar or plastic container with yogurt just because the expiration date has expired. It will remain just as tasty and useful as 2-3 weeks ago.

If you want to further extend its shelf life, you can freeze it, which will extend the period of use up to 2 months.

However, after thawing, you will need to use it immediately. Any strange smell or the presence of mold is a sign that you should eventually part with the yogurt.

Nut oils

Nut oils (such as peanut butter) are those foods that can be stored for months, even after you have opened them, regardless of the expiration date.

It is certainly best to buy the freshest product in the store, because over time the taste of butter will begin to change, but even so it is still safe to eat. Oils that contain preservatives will stay fresh longer than those without.

It is best to keep them in the refrigerator: natural nut oils can be stored for up to 6 months after the expiration date printed on the jar, in case they are not open.

The unopened jar of nut oil, which contains preservatives, will be useful up to 12 months after the expiration date.

Products that contain other ingredients, such as liquid Nutella chocolate, have a shorter shelf life - they can be used up to 1-2 months after the date of the label.

Frozen fruits and vegetables

As already mentioned above, freezing prevents spoilage of food, and this also applies to frozen fruits and vegetables.

They remain safe to eat for up to 10 months after the expiration date if the package has not been opened.

However, if you have opened the package, try to use the contents as soon as you can, as freezing can make parts of the fruit and vegetables dry and hard.

Chocolate

The chocolate is also very durable and remains edible for months after the printed date.

Ideally, you should keep the chocolate at a constant room temperature, as sudden temperature changes can lead to liquefaction of some of the cocoa butter and its appearance on the surface of the chocolate in the form of flowering, which phenomenon should not be confused with mold.

Chocolate covered with a thin white layer is still safe to eat, but flowering can unfortunately make the texture of the delicacy less pleasant.

Some sauces

You are absolutely entitled to keep a bottle of ketchup or mustard until it runs out, as they, like some salad dressings, can stay tasty and fresh for up to 6 months after their expiration date, as long as you store them in the refrigerator.

Yellow mustard has the longest shelf life. You can keep it unopened in the closet for up to 2 years after it has expired. If open, it can last up to a year in the refrigerator.

Chips and crackers

Like pasta, packaged crackers, cookies and potato chips will last for months after their expiration dateso don't be afraid to pounce on a long-forgotten bag of chips that you suddenly find in the depths of your closet.

Keep in mind that they will probably have a stale taste, which is not a problem, as long as you tolerate the taste and do not smell unpleasant.

If we are talking about an open package of chips, however, try to eat it within a few weeks, as dry foods draw moisture from the air and will lose their ability to crunch quite quickly.

Pasta

Let it be clear that we are not talking about cooked or fresh pasta, ravioli or gnocchi, which are sold in the refrigerator part of the supermarket.

They are all intended for immediate use and would not last more than 5 days from the expiry date.

But as for dry pasta, their durability is quite impressive, as they can be used even if the expiration date expired a year or two ago, as long as the integrity of the package is not compromised.

Bread

Expired bread can be eaten as long as no mold grows.

The date that appears on the package refers to its storage at room temperature and it is possible to significantly extend its shelf life by simply placing it in the refrigerator.

After all, the best French toast is made from bread every two or three days.