How Do You Know When Your Food is Really “Expired”?

The commercial featuring a woman yelling “expired, expired, expired!” as she goes through a relative’s refrigerator always gives us a laugh. But how do you really know when something is safe to eat, or has reached the point where it's best to toss it? Here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe and help you avoid food waste.

Food waste is a major problem in our society. Ideally, we should consume all the food we purchase or make.  Food we throw out is more than a waste of money. When it winds up in a landfill, it’s also bad for our environment. Being proactive and more mindful of what you purchase and eat is the best approach. Instead of buying that huge bunch of bananas and watching half of them go bad, buy a smaller bunch more frequently. When it comes to the food in your refrigerator or pantry, here are some common sense rules to follow:

Trust Your Senses

Any leftovers or deli meat that have been in your fridge for more than 3-4 days, should be tossed out. If that deli meat you purchased last week smells a little “off” or is a bit slimy, it’s time to toss it. According to the FDA, packaged lunch meats can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks before opening. After opening a package of lunch meats or buying sliced lunch meats at a deli, you can refrigerate them for three to five days.

Don’t ever leave food out on the counter for any length of time. Bacteria can grow in what is known as the “temperature danger zone” which is anywhere between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Food left in this danger zone for more than two hours can start to grow bacteria and become unsafe. This is especially true for cooked rice, which if left to come to room temperature, is refrigerated, and then eaten later, can make you sick.

Lastly, If you haven’t done so lately, check the temperature setting on your refrigerator and make sure it’s set between 35 and 38 degrees, and practice good refrigerator hygiene by regularly wiping down shelves.

Different Dates Explained

The woman in the commercial yelling, “expired, expired, expired” may have been overreacting a bit. Understanding the difference between the “best by” date, the “sell by” date and the “use by” date is an excellent way to stay safe and avoid food waste.

Best by date: This date guarantees the period of time the product will be at its best flavor or quality — when bread will still taste soft or crackers crisp. The food will still remain edible after this date, it is not about food safety, but about taste.

Sell by date: This date is determined by producers to inform sellers when to remove items from the shelves. The goal is to ensure consumers receive the item at its optimal quality, which can last for several days to several weeks past the date, depending on the item. Milk for instance, according to Consumer Reports, should last five to seven days past its sell-by date if stored properly.

Use by date: This is the last day the producer guarantees the best quality of the product. Except for the case of infant formula, this is not a safety date nor a mandatory label.

When stored properly in a cool, dry and dark environment, most canned goods can last for up to five years. Foods with high acidity, like tomatoes or fruit, are best used within 18 months.