What the expiration dates of products actually mean. Food safety.
Here's what different expiration dates of products really mean, how long you can store expired products and how to get the most out of your products so that no food (or money) is wasted.Terms of use and expiration dates
Use/consume before indicates when the product will have the best taste or quality. This is not the date of manufacture and not a guarantee of product safety
The expiration date is the last date recommended for using the product at maximum quality.
How long can I store the products after the expiration date?
The expiration date is not a deadline for getting rid of products. Knowing this can help you make more informed decisions about the safety and freshness of food, using your own senses of taste, sight, smell and even touch. But only when it's safe.
You can evaluate the products for signs of spoilage by looking at the presence of mold or discoloration, feeling any "unpleasant" odors, as well as feeling the texture and hardness. (For example, spoiled meat often feels slimy to the touch, while rotting foods may seem soft). Of course, if the food has any wrong taste, for example, a sour taste, it is better not to use it.
There are certain practical rules regarding how long you can store some common expired products. Fresh eggs can remain edible for three to five weeks after purchase. Estimates vary for milk, but properly refrigerated packaging should be stored up to five to seven days after the printing date. The same goes for properly stored bread (just don't forget to check for mold stains).
It may surprise you, but many dry foods, such as oats, pasta, or rice, can remain edible for months or even years after the expiration date (oat flakes stored in a low-oxygen environment can still be edible even after a whopping 28 years). So don't throw away a box of cereal just because its expiration date has expired! Rather, check its edibility with your senses.
The dangers of storing food after the expiration date
Since the expiration date technically does not relate to food safety, but rather to their quality, the main danger of eating expired food (theoretically) is that it may not be of the highest quality. For example, canned vegetables with expired shelf life may become soft, and frozen fruits may not retain their rich taste.
Time also plays an important role in food safety. There is a risk of poisoning from eating expired food. This risk increases the longer the product has lain after the expiration date.
Dangerous bacteria that grow in rotting foods contribute. If an unpleasant smell, mold or other signs make you suspect that the food has gone bad, throw it away immediately.
Using food before it spoils
No one wants to throw away good food, but the reality is that many people have a bad habit of throwing away edible foods.
Want to know how to make the most of your grocery haul before time runs out? Here are some suggestions:
Plan your meals
Start by planning your meal. You can even try the app to make the task easier! By determining what you plan to cook for a meal during the week, you will know what you need to buy. This can save you from excessive purchases.
The practice of "first bought, first eaten"
As soon as your groceries are delivered home, commit to practicing the "first bought, first eaten" method. This means that if you bought one product before another (or if there is something that will spoil faster than the rest), use it first. You can even equip your refrigerator or pantry in this way by placing products with a shorter shelf life in front, and those that will last longer in the back.
It is important to note that most grocery stores use this principle as a standard storage practice, so try to choose those products that are further on the shelf, because, most likely, it will be made before the front products and, accordingly, it will have a longer shelf life.
Freeze food
When you have more food than you can use, consider a few simple ways to extend the shelf life of the product. The freezer is the best friend for storing food for a longer period of time. Many fruits can be frozen for later use, as well as fresh meat, many herbs and some vegetables. Even dairy products such as milk and cheese can extend their shelf life in the freezer.
Result
Shelf life can be a useful guideline for determining the level of quality of products, but it is not necessarily the best criterion for freshness. To determine whether the food is suitable for eating, rely on your feelings first.
