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

FAQs

What foods can you not eat after the expiration date? ›

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.

Dented or bulging cans should not be opened — place the cans directly in the trash. Depending on the food, most likely it is desirable for compost even if expired. Sauces, soups, or anything made with oils are not desirable. However, cans of fruit and vegetables, if not packed in oil or syrup, are great for compost.

Any pre-packaged food product having a durable life of 90 days or less must have a durable life date on the label, expressed as the “best before” date, and instructions for proper storage. Look on the label for the statement “best before” coupled with the month and date, for example, best before OC 15.

Good news: Shelf-stable canned goods are safe more or less indefinitely, lasting up to five years or more according to the USDA.

Whether it's a can of soup or a forgotten can of cranberry sauce, you might be tempted to throw them away. Not so fast! According to the USDA, shelf-stable foods are safe to eat indefinitely and you can eat them well past their expiration date.

When you open a canned tomato product that is past its date, take a look and a sniff. If it smells off or has an altered color, throw it away. Be prudent. A really good looking can of tomatoes, not swollen, leaking, dented, or rusted, that is a few months past its date, is more than likely okay.

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.

As a general rule of thumb, most canned foods (for example, canned tuna, soups, and vegetables) can be stored for two to five years, and high-acid foods (canned juices, tomatoes, pickles) can be stored for a year up to 18 months, according to the USDA. Watch out for dents and bulges in cans, though.

What makes canned food go bad? ›

Food reacts chemically with the metal container, especially high-acid food like canned tomatoes and fruit juices. Over several years, this causes taste and texture changes. It eventually lowers the nutritional value of the food. Temperatures over 100 degrees F are harmful to canned foods.

If you have a collection of canned goods in your pantry or cupboard, you'll be glad to know that it can last indefinitely—or at least several years (yes, years!) past the date on the label, according to Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.

Freezing cheese stops bacterial growth completely. Frozen cheeses should be used within six months of freezing and then used within two to three days of thawing.

Toothpaste typically has an expiration date that is approximately two years from the manufacture date. The next time you run out of toothpaste and find an old tube that has been in one of your travel cases for years, make sure you look for its expiry date.

You can get food poisoning from expired foods if they are spoiled or contaminated, so it really depends on what you're eating and exactly how expired it is. Perishable foods such as meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables are more likely to make you sick.

No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.