In this article, we answer the following question: Can products be used after the expiration date? We will tell you which products are safe to eat after they have expired and for how long you can use them. 

Can products be used after the expiration date?

There are products that you can eat safely even if they have expired. Most people who see that a product has expired throw it away directly, without thinking. True, but there are also foods that, if you know how to keep and read the label, you can still eat even if they are out of date.

The label indicates the freshness of the food, and most of the time, they do not become toxic if they have exceeded the date marked on the package, but simply do not taste as intense. You just have to check if it smells weird, rotten, or looks in a way that makes you suspect, otherwise – you can still use them.

Products you can use after they have expired

Dried pasta can usually be eaten within two years, but it seems that they can be cooked after more because they do not contain water. 

Bread can be eaten even though it has expired. If it has mold you can remove only the affected part and the rest is good to eat. But do not consume it if it tastes sour.

Yogurt is also on the list of foods that can be consumed in one or two weeks after it has expired. But if it is open and has expired, then it is only good for three days. 

Chips that have not been opened can be consumed even after four or five months from the date of their expiration, and if you managed to open the bag, you have not finished it, but they have expired, you can only eat them within about three weeks.

Chocolate can be eaten after a few months from the expiration date. Although it is said to taste better if stored at room temperature, to consume it after the deadline marked on the package you must store it in a cool place. Chocolate is irresistible, so it is unlikely to keep it until it expires!

Mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, sauces, all can be consumed after a few weeks from the expiration date, of course, if you do not notice anything strange about their appearance and if they do not smell different.

Pasteurized milk can be consumed several days after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. However, it must have been kept at a low temperature in the back of the refrigerator shelves.

Frozen vegetables or fruits that have not been opened can still be safely consumed even eight months after the date on the package.

Canned food has a long life. Except for those containing acidic vegetables or fruits, tomatoes, or pineapple, for example, they can also be eaten two years after the expiry date.

If they have not been unwrapped, the cereals can be eaten after six or eight months from the expiry date. However, if the packaging has been opened, they are only good four or six months after they have expired.

How long can you safely eat expired food?

Years:

Gem – 6 months – 1 year

Beer – 6 months – 2 years

Dry pasta – 1 year

Pickles – 1 year

Olives or capers in brine – 1 year

Mustard (stored in the refrigerator and with the lid on) – 2 years

Spices – 2 – 3 years

Months:

Margarine – 1-2 months

Nutella – 1 – 2 months

Ground coffee – 3-5 months

Bulk tea or sachets – 6 months

Coffee beans – 6 months

Olives (without brine) – 2 – 4 months

Peanut butter – 3 months

Mayonnaise – 3 months

Olive oil (kept in a cool, dark place) – 18 – 24 months

Ketchup – 6 months

Flour – 6 – 8 months

Dried fruits – 3 – 6 months (in the closet), 6 – 12 months (in the refrigerator)

Weeks:

Cream cheese – 1 – 2 weeks

Butter – 2 – 3 weeks

Eggs (kept in a cool area of the refrigerator, not on the door) – 3 and 5 weeks

Cream (sealed container, in the refrigerator) – two weeks

Melted cheese, cream cheese – 1 – 2 weeks

Bread (stored in the refrigerator) – 2 weeks

Days:

Pizza – 3 – 5 days

Hummus – 4 – 6 days

Milk – 5 – 7 days

Mushrooms – 7 – 10 days

Cream – 7 – 10 days

Bacon – 7 days

Soy milk – 7 – 10 days

Yogurt – 7 – 10 days

Pasteurized milk – 7 days

Salmon – 1-2 days

Tofu (open packaging) – 3-5 days

There are also products that have a shelf life, although they last permanently if kept in the refrigerator: honey, maple syrup, and vinegar.

For expired foods that do not appear on our list, check the information on the eatbydate.com website.

Conclusions

In this article, we answered the following question: Can products be used after the expiration date? We told you which products are safe to eat after they have expired and for how long you can use them. 

The simplest analysis that anyone can perform to test the safety of food is the “organoleptic”, i.e. taste, smell, and appearance. If a product passed the test, it is safe to consume even if it’s out of date.

If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know!

References

Cdc.gov

Webmd.com

MedlinePlus.gov