18 foods you can store past the expiration date

Pasta

Dry pasta can be stored for 1-2 years after the expiration date. But in boiled form, pasta should be kept only in the refrigerator and at most 7 days. Of course, we are talking about a finished product without sauces, minced meat and other additives.

Breakfast cereals

Feel free to leave the unopened package of flakes for another 6-8 months after the expiration date. If you have opened the box, try to consume the cereal within 4-6 months. Cooked grains such as oatmeal, on the other hand, can only be kept in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Eggs

Eggs are safe for health if stored below 18 ° C. If you buy eggs from trusted factories, and not from the hands of dubious private farms, you can turn a blind eye to the expired shelf life. And although the fresher the egg, the tastier it is, but even eggs that are 2-3 weeks overdue are often safe to eat (of course, not raw). However, do a little test before cooking. Dip the egg into a glass of water. If the egg sinks to the bottom, it is fine; if it floats, it means it is rotten. But hard-boiled eggs are stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

Raw meat

It is advised to store raw meat in the main chamber of the refrigerator no more than 2-3 days. However, if you put the meat in the freezer right after purchase, it can lie for several months. So, frozen minced meat is easily enough for 3-4 months of storage, and a whole chicken or turkey can be frozen for up to a year.

Although meat products that have been in the freezer for several months may be dry and less tasty after cooking, they will still be safe to eat.

Raw fish

Raw fish can last anywhere from 6 to 9 months, but only in the freezer. Home-smoked fish will stay in the freezer for 3-6 months. If you bought frozen fish in a package and it did not have time to thaw, feel free to send the product to the freezer for 10-12 months.

Canned food                       

In one study, scientists opened a 40-year-old can of corn and found it looked absolutely fresh and smells great. True, preparations with high acidity, for example, canned tomatoes and other vegetables, as well as fruits, should not be stored for more than a year and a half. But everything else can easily withstand up to five years on the shelf. For example, unopened canned fish (such as tuna) can be stored for two to five years after the expiration date. Canned meat will last the same amount. There is just one rule here: never eat from a jar that is bulging, badly dented, or leaking.

Cheese

As with many products, the look and smell will tell you more about the freshness of the product than the numbers on the packaging. However, you cannot risk it with soft cheese. But there is nothing to worry about about hard varieties. Hard cheeses can be stored in a sealed package in the refrigerator for six months, and after unpacking – 3-4 weeks. If the product is covered with mold, it can be cut off: in hard cheeses, mold cannot penetrate deeply. Then wrap the cheese in plastic wrap again.

Greens

Slightly wilted leafy greens, including bagged salads, can be revitalized by immersing them in ice water for 5-10 minutes. However, if the leaves turn black and become slimy, they have one way to go to the trash can.

Milk

The pasteurization process removes harmful bacteria from the milk. However, bacteria can lodge in the drink if it is stored outside the refrigerator.

As a rule, after the expiration date, whole milk can easily stay in the refrigerator for another five days. Skim milk may not be thrown away for another 7-10 days after the end date.   

However, pay attention to the look and smell of the drink. If lumps appear in the milk and it smells sour, the product is really spoiled.

Frozen berries and vegetables

Unopened packages of frozen berries and vegetables can be kept in the freezer for another 8-10 months after the expiration date.

Yogurt

Chilled and sealed, yogurt will be edible for another 1-2 weeks after the expiration date. And in the freezer, this milk dessert can lie for up to 2 months. True, after defrosting, it is only suitable for baking.

Bread

You can store the bread until mold develops on it. Moreover, in this case, it will no longer be possible to cut off the mold. Bread is a porous product, and even if you cannot see mold inside, that does not mean that it is not there.

Peanut butter

You don’t need to throw away an unopened can of peanut butter for another year after the expiration date. If the package is opened, the product is suitable for 6 months after the expired date. However, natural peanut butter has a shorter shelf life – no more than 2-3 months after the expiration date.

Sauces

Some sauces are still usable for up to a year after the expiration date. But on condition that the bottles were not opened. So, ketchup can not be thrown away for another 6 months, and the mustard will last up to a year.

Honey

Honey can be stored for a very long time, but only in a dry place. Honey is a product of very low moisture content. Very few bacteria and microorganisms survive in such an environment, which allows honey to “hold on” for so long. However, honey is able to absorb moisture from the air, and then it really spoils.

Dry mix for baking

If you bought ready-made mixtures for a promotion, and then safely forgot about them, you can still safely use the product for 4-5 months after the expiration date. But only on condition that the mixture was stored in a cool, dry place.

Pudding

This dessert is good for another 3-4 weeks after the expiration date. Again, provided that the package has not been opened.

Butter

If the oil is nearing the end of its shelf life, put it in the freezer and it will last longer. However, after defrosting, you will have to use all the packaging. Thawed butter is great for baking.