You Can Safely Consume These Products After Their Expiration Date

Don't automatically throw away food products just because they've passed the date on their packaging! Many items are perfectly safe to eat weeks, or even months, beyond their listed date.

You've probably hesitated before tossing out a yogurt or a can of food past its expiration date. What if you didn't need to throw them out at all? Let's take a look into the world of expiration dates to reveal a surprising truth that could change your food habits.

First, it's crucial to differentiate between two types of expiration dates. The "Use By" date is strict and found on highly perishable items like meat, fish, and dairy. Once this date is passed, it's strongly advised not to consume these items as they can be harmful to health.

However, there's another date: the "Best Before" date. Unlike the "Use By" date, this indicates that the product might lose some flavor or texture after this date but remains safe to eat. Many foods can be consumed without risk after their "Best Before" date.

Common products like pasta and rice can be cooked and eaten up to a year after their "Best Before" date if kept dry and away from light and heat. Similarly, canned vegetables and fruits are edible years after their expiration date as long as the can isn't damaged or rusty.

Other items like oil, honey, sugar, and spices can also be consumed years past their "Best Before" date with no health risk, though they might lose some flavor. Even chocolate remains edible for two years beyond its expiration date, though it may whiten over time, affecting only its taste, not its safety.

Even some items with a "Use By" date have leeway. Yogurt, for example, is safe to eat up to three months after its expiration date if it isn't swollen or foul-smelling.

Sterilized dairy products, like UHT (long life) milk, can also be consumed up to two months past their date if unopened. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within a few days.

In general, aside from high risk products like meat and fish, most foods can be eaten after their expiration date. To check if a product is still good, inspect it: if it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it's likely still safe. Your nose and taste buds are good indicators of food quality.