In jars! In special containers! In their original packaging! Washed! Dried! Not washed! In a slightly open container with a paper towel! The internet is filled
Can you eat food after the “expiration” date?
Whether the package says “best by,” “use by,” or even “expires on,” food doesn’t instantly become poisonous once it hits its printed date. Many products are
Can you eat “expired” deli meats? What if your sliced turkey or chicken breast is past its “use by” or “sell by” date?
Quick summary: Whether you call them deli meats or lunch meats, as long as they're properly handled, these sandwich classics are safe for healthy people. Still,
How to evaluate greens past their “best by” date
Quick summary: If your clamshell or bag of fresh greens is a little past its “best by” date, but still looks fresh and dry, the greens are probably fine. If,
How to evaluate dairy products after their “best by,” “use by” or “sell by” dates
The world of dairy products is vast, and includes some foods that can last a while, others that quickly spoil in obvious ways, and still others, like soft
Listeria and the special shelf life considerations of ready-to-eat foods
When it comes to date labels, shelf life and food safety, there’s a narrow range of foods that merit some caution because, after an extended stay in the fridge,
How to assess *pre-cut and chopped* fruits and vegetables, after the “use by” or “best by” or “sell by” dates
Quick summary: While the skin on whole fruits and vegetables protects them, sliced and chopped produce has more vulnerable exposed surface area and can easily
Best by? Use by? How companies come up with date labels
Where do "best by," "use by," "sell by" and other date labels come from? Date labels, expiration dates, “best by” dates. Whatever you call them, you know
If a product says “use within X days of opening,” can you safely use it after the stated number of days?
Quick summary: How much you should respect those “use within” guidelines depends on the food's characteristics (especially how much water is potentially
How to evaluate shelf-stable foods after their “best by” dates
Quick summary: "Best by" dates on shelf-stable foods are typically set for quality, rather than safety reasons. Those dates are often conservative, which means
Can you cook with raw meat past “use by” or “sell by” dates?
The U.S Department of Agriculture recommends that raw meat be cooked within three to five days of purchase, and one to two days for ground meat. But, since
Inside the shelf life study process
What exactly happens when food companies set out to determine the shelf life of a new product? In some cases, they enlist the help of outside experts at private
Can you eat polenta after the “best by” date?
Today’s Behind The Date Label feature is San Gennaro polenta. Their pre-cooked, shelf-stable polenta is designed for home cooks to slice, pan-fry and serve. Big
