​​Can you eat expired tomato soup?

In this article we are going to answer: can you eat tomato soup, what is the expiration date, what is the best by date, what happens if you eat tomato soup after the use-by date, whether is tomato soup healthy to eat, and how long does tomato soup last, and how to store tomato soup. 

Can you eat expired tomato soup?

The most common presentation of store-bought tomato soup is canned soup. Canned tomato soup does not have an expiration date, instead, it has a best-by date. 

Canned tomato soup is safe to consume after the use-by date as long as it has been stored correctly and the can has not been damaged. 

Open tomato soup can last about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Home-made tomato soup does not have an expiration date or best-by date but looks for the best-by date of the ingredients, it normally can last in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days. 

What is the expiration date on canned tomatoes?

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 with 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 on canned tomatoes?

Best by date or use-by date tells the consumer that food is no longer fresh or in the same shape, 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 product’s safety, freshness, and taste 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 tomato soup after the use-by date?

Canned tomato soup that hasn’t been opened won’t harm you unless the can is damaged or it has some signs of being spoiled. If tomato soup has changed in color, taste, and smell, it might cause food poisoning. 

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 not 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

Is tomato soup healthy to eat?

Tomato soup is an excellent source of vitamin C, antioxidants such as lycopene, and flavonoids. Tomato soup has been linked to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancer

Canned tomato soup is not as healthy as homemade tomato soup. Canned products have added ingredients and are high in sodium and fat. 1 can of tomato soup gives you up to 1150 mg of sodium. 

High sodium in canned tomato soup is worse than the benefits it can give you. So stick to homemade tomato soup as long as you can. 

How long does tomato soup last?

Canned tomato soup has a very long shelf life. If the can is still unopened it can last up to 2 years if it is still in good condition. Once open, it has to be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days. 

Home-made tomato soup can last up to 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, homemade tomato soup and canned tomato soup can last forever if stored before it is spoiled. Once unfreeze, it should be eaten right away and not frozen again. 

How to store tomato soup?

Unopen canned tomato soup should be stored in a cool dry place. Once open, pour it into an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator at 40 F for up to 3 days. Home-made tomato soup should be stored in an airtight container too in the refrigerator.

If you want to freeze tomato soup, store it in an airtight container or a freezer bag with a date; it can last for a very long time. 

Follow this link on how to freeze tomato soup.

Other FAQs about Tomatoes that you may be interested in.

Can a dog eat a tomato?

Why are tomatoes red? 

Why is a tomato a vegetable?

What happens if you eat a bad tomato?

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat tomato soup, what is the expiration date, what is the best by date, what happens if you eat tomato soup after the use-by date, is tomato soup healthy to eat, how long does tomato soup last, and how to store tomato soup. 

Citation

https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18526#:~:text=How%20can%20you%20tell%20if,rusting%2C%20bulging%20or%20severely%20dented.

https://ovenvia.com/can-expired-tomato-soup-make-you-sick/#How_long_does_homemade_tomato_soup_last

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