Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out! (2024)

FAQs

How long does canned food really last? ›

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.

Key Takeaways. Expiration dates on food are not required by federal law except on infant formula. Dates on food indicate how long they will retain their freshness and best quality. Most perishable foods are good well beyond the "sell by" or "use by" date.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, canned contents are safe to eat as long as the can is in “good shape.” The Canned Food Alliance agrees, citing 100-year-old canned food that was recovered from sunken ships and tested microbiologically safe.

While opening the jar, smell for unnatural odors and look for spurting liquid and cotton-like mold growth (white, blue, black, or green) on the top food surface and underside of lid. Spoiled low-acid foods, including tomatoes, may exhibit different kinds of spoilage evidence or very little evidence.

In most cases, the reasons for canned food going bad are: Exposure to air, leading to bacteria growth. High humidity or moisture in the air, causing mold. Hot weather, leading to rancidity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that most food is safe even after such dates unless “spoilage is evident.” Given the lack of clarity about what these dates mean, many consumers employ a “when in doubt, throw it out” strategy.

Most cases of consuming expired food won't lead to serious health issues. Your body is often equipped to handle small amounts of bacteria or toxins in expired food without significant harm. Assess Symptoms: If you start feeling unwell after consuming expired food, pay attention to any symptoms you experience.

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to buy food on its expiration date. Expiration dates have more to do with the food's overall quality and texture instead of when it is safe or not safe to eat. As long as there are no signs of spoilage, you can eat it, but it might not taste as fresh as it once was.

While each carton of eggs is marked with an expiration date, if properly stored at 40°F or lower, they should be safe to eat for longer—usually two to three weeks past the expiration date. If you need healthy recipes to use up the eggs in your refrigerator, try one of these delicious egg recipes.

What expiration dates can you ignore? ›

While it's important to be wary of expiry dates on foods like meat, fish, and dairy, other pantry staples have a much longer shelf life. From condiments to baking ingredients, there are plenty of products you can safely consume past the “best by” or “use by” date printed on the package.

An open jar of commercially processed peanut butter lasts up to 3 months in the pantry and up to 9 months in the refrigerator. Natural peanut butter has a shorter shelf life and lasts up to 6 months in the refrigerator once opened.

Foods canned at home are safe to eat for several years—says Nancy Urbanec, a nutrition and health expert with the Nebraska Extension in Douglas and Sarpy counties—so long as the food was properly canned in the appropriate type of jars (glass mason jars and metal bands can be reused) with new lids (fresh seals), and ...

In most cases, the best-by dates for cans of Spam are approximately three years after the manufacturing date. After the best-by date, Spam is still safe to eat; however, it may change in appearance, taste, or nutritional value.

Can eating old food storage make my family sick? Properly packaged and stored dry grains can be safely consumed for more than 30 years. Canned foods stored in a cool, dry location, that are not bulging or leaking, can be safely eaten for several years past their best-if-used-by date printed on the can.

As a general rule, unopened home canned foods have a shelf life of one year and should be used before two years. Commercially canned foods should retain their best quality until the expiration code date on the can.

Generally, high-acid foods (like tomatoes) will maintain their quality for 18 months after the "use by" or "sell by" date, while low-acid items (like meat and vegetables) will stay at their peak for two to five years.

In this aspect, canned goods are often recommended for stockpiling because they can last for several years. They also require minimal preparation and can be eaten immediately or heated before consumption.