Safely Eating Expired Foods
The food bank gave me a hand-out about how long you can safely eat unopened foods past their expiration dates, and I thought other people might find it helpful.
Milk, cream: within 10 days past expiration date
Soft cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese: consume within 14 days past expiration date
Butter, hard cheese: consume within 3 months past expiration date (personal note: if cheese gets mold you can cut off the moldy parts the rest is still fine)
Frozen butter: consume within 12 months past expiration date
Eggs (in shells): consume within 1 month past expiration date
Egg substitutes: consume within 10 days of expiration date.
Fresh: consume on or before expiration date
Frozen: defrost in fridge or microwave, and eat immediately after defrosting.
Not do eat: meat with severe freeze burn, discolored meat, and meat not frozen before expiration date
MEAT & DAIRY SUBSTITUTES:
Liquid products (rice milk, almond milk): consume withing 10 days past expiration date
Shelf stable liquid products: consume within 12 months past expiration date
Margarine: consume within 6 months past expiration date
Meat substitutes (tofu, etc): consume on or before expiration date
Frozen meat substitutes: consume within 12 months past expiration date if frozen before expiration date
Dried beans, pasta: consume indefinitely
Dressings, mayo: consume within 12 months past expiration date
Cereal, crackers: consume within 12 months past expiration date
Canned foods: may be consumed indefinitely (except for pineapple and tomato)
Jarred foods, canned tomato and pineapple: consume within 18 months past expiration date
Fresh juice: consume within 3 months past expiration date
Fresh bread, pastries: consume on or before expiration date (personal note, I find that sandwich bread is good to eat so long as it’s not stale or growing mold)
Frozen bread: consume within 6 months past expiration date
Fresh produce: ripe, edible, and mold-free
Sliced melon: consume on or before expiration date
Deli items, packaged by store: consume within 48 hours of expiration date
Pre-packaged prepared foods packed by manufacturer, fresh: consume within 14 days past expiration date
Pre-packaged prepared foods packed by manufacturer, frozen: consume within 12 months past expiration date
Food that is stale, has insects, or mold
Food in open, punctured, bulging, or seriously damaged cans
Food in a jar that is leaking or has a broken seal
Food that is discolored or has an off-odor
Product has been thawed then re-frozen
Please use your best judgement and when in doubt, throw it out.
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