A brand new year often brings with it the need to get organized which sparks a cleaning frenzy. That’s right, the holidays are over and it’s time to “clean out” that refrigerator. While you’re at it, what about tackling your food pantry or freezer too. But, do you really understand expiration dates? Here’s an explanation and a few helpful hints to make your task a little easier.
The label “sell by” is most often a grocer term that lets the meat or dairy clerk know when to swap out stock. You normally can safely eat a food a few days after a sell-by date but it is NOT recommended to go much beyond that date.
The “best before” stamp refers to quality and taste standards. The length of time that food is good after this date depends on the type of food product (see lists below).
The term “use by” is a hard-and-fast rule! It is NOT safe to consume a product beyond the stated date.
Raw Meat
Expiration dates are more important than ever with raw meat. It doesn’t matter if it is ground hamburger or a pound of steak, the FDA recommends that you eat it or freeze it within two days of purchase. But what if the date is days away? Or, if the sell-by date is five days away? Well, home refrigerators usually aren’t cool enough to keep the meat fresh for more than two days. And, what about freezing? OSU guidelines for food management recommends that any frozen ground meat should be used within three months; pork holds for six months; and beef, lamb, veal and venison last eight to 12 months. And remember, if meat is brown or green, has a slimy sticky or dry texture or a sour odor, it’s no good! Just remember that ground beef has more surface area than other meats and may spoil sooner due to bacterial growth.
Condiments
Generally, condiments that have a higher sugar and salt content stay fresh longer and have a longer shelf life. But since, many condiments don’t carry expiration dates, use this rule: “when in doubt, throw it out”. Here’s a guide to how long the following condiments will last once opened:
ketchup, one month in pantry, six to eight months in fridge
mayonnaise, two months in fridge
jellies and jams, one year in fridge
mustard, six to eight months in fridge
peanut butter, two to three months in fridge
pickles, one to two months in fridge
sour cream, two weeks in fridge
salad dressing, three months in fridge
butter, three months in fridge (can be stored in the freezer for up to a year).
Packaged Foods
Take a quick look in your pantry. Are there chips from three months ago? Crackers from last summer? A box of cereal from who-knows-when? Well, the dates on food packages have more to do with quality than they do safety. So, they may be stale, but they’re unlikely to be unsafe for consumption. However, there could be an issue in the oils in them getting rancid. If you open a bag of chips or pretzels that’s past the sell-by date and it smells bad, throw it out. And be especially careful with any packaged item that contains flax, since it tends to get rancid more quickly.
Dairy Products
I am sure we’ve all had a carton of milk in the fridge that’s past its expiration date and have done the sniff test before pouring it over our cereal. So you probably realize that the sell by date on the carton doesn’t necessarily mean the milk will be spoiled on that date. The reason milk carries a sell-by date is because it is affected by many things in the environment. If stored around 37 degrees Fahrenheit, pasteurized milk will remain fresh for two to five days after its sell-by date. What about yogurt? Be sure to use within seven days of opening and keep tightly covered, however if it is unopened, it should still be good up to a few weeks after the date stamped on it.
Frozen Foods
Other than frozen meat, most frozen foods can last months, even years in the freezer without risk of spoilage. However, keep an eye out for freezer burn after a period of time. It’s not unsafe to eat, but they may not taste very good.
Fruits and Vegetables
Of course, fruits and vegetables are perishable, but they don’t come with expiration dates. So, just remember that most vegetables are best if used within a week of purchase, although carrots can often last longer. Potatoes, stored in a cool, dry place, might last a month or more. If they start sprouting, they need to be pitched. Onions stored the same way will often last even longer. And here is something I didn’t know, don’t store your onions and potatoes together – they will make each other spoil faster.
Canned Foods
Some manufacturers like to claim that canned foods don’t spoil for at least two years, but guidelines from the University of Minnesota say to store them below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and not to keep them for more than 12 months. Just keep in mind that high-acid canned foods (tomatoes, grapefruit and pineapple) can be stored on the shelf 12 to 18 months and low-acid canned foods (meat, poultry, fish and most vegetables) will keep two to five years—IF the can remains in good condition and has been stored in a cool, clean, dry place.