Can I Eat Tofu After The Expiration Date?

Can I eat tofu after the expiration date?

In this article can you eat tofu after the expiration date, what is the expiration date, what is the best-by date, what happens if you eat tofu after the best-by date, how long does tofu last, and how to store tofu for it to last longer.

Can you eat tofu after the expiration date?

Tofu does not have an expiration date. Instead, all products made with tofu have a best-by date which indicates for how long the product is still fresh and keeps its original flavor. Tofu can be eaten after the best-by date as long as it hasn’t been opened and is stored well.

What is the expiration date?

The expiration date in the product tells the consumer the last day a product is safe to consume. The expiration date is not in all products. It is required on certain products that have a specific nutritional composition that could change after the expiration date.

The expiration date is required in some products such as

Liquid diets

Foods sold by a pharmacist

Meal replacements

Nutritional supplements

Infant formula

If a product has passed the expiration date, it should not be consumed.

What is the best-by date?

Best by date or best before date tells the consumer that food is no longer fresh or in the same shape such as texture and taste as when you bought it. It might lose some freshness, taste, aroma, or nutrients but it doesn’t mean that the product has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat.

The safety, freshness, and taste of the products depend on how it has been stored. So, if the product has not been handled correctly, it can lose all its qualities long before the best-by date.

What happens if you eat tofu after the best-by date?

Tofu can last for a long period of time if left unopened. Once open, tofu is a highly perishable food because it has a high moisture content. Tofu can very easily grow mold and bacteria and give you food poisoning.

To know if tofu is still good after the best-by-date check

the best-by date

if the package is still in a good condition

if the color of the tofu is still good and the smell. If it looks brownish or smells bad, do not eat it.

Food poisoning or also called foodborne illness is caused when you eat something that is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Sometimes you don’t have to ingest the virus or bacteria, it is enough by eating their toxins to have symptoms of food poisoning.

Symptoms might start within an hour of eating contaminated food. Symptoms include

Vomiting

Nausea

Stomach pain

Diarrhea

Fever

The whole sickness caused by food poisoning can last one day to several days. Food poisoning is life-threatening to immune-suppressed patients, the elderly, pregnant women, and young children.

How long does tofu last?

If the package has not been opened it can last past the best-by date. Shelf-life of tofu is about 2 to 3 months if the package is unopened.

Once open, it can last for about 3 to 5 days if stored well in an airtight container. Tofu in its original packaging can last for long periods of time. After the best-by date, it can lose some flavor and texture but it is still safe to eat.

How to store tofu for it to last longer?

If the package is unopened it can be stored in your pantry for 2 to 3 months. Once the package is open, tofu is a perishable food that can go bad between hours at room temperature. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator at a proper temperature and consume it for 3 to 5 days.

Tofu can also be frozen if you are not going to eat it right away. Open the package, drain the water, wrap it in plastic or aluminum and store it in an airtight container in the freezer. It can last up to 6 months but the texture might change a little.

Follow this link for more information on how to store leftover tofu.

Other FAQs about Tofu that you may be interested in.

Can you eat silken tofu without cooking it?

Where did tofu originate?

Can you freeze Aburaage?

Can you eat tofu raw?

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat tofu after the expiration date, what is the expiration date, what is the best-by date, what happens if you eat tofu after the best-by date, and how long does tofu last, and how to store tofu for it to last longer.