Can you get sick from eating expired Nutella?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “can you get sick from eating expired Nutella” with an in-depth analysis of the health implications of eating expired Nutella. Moreover, we are going to discuss tips to store Nutella properly.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

Can you get sick from eating expired Nutella?

When it comes to Nutella, you do not get sick from eating expired Nutella as long as it is stored properly and there is no sign of spoilage associated with it.

No doubt that Nutella suffers flavor and textural changes over time and also tends to go rancid owing to the oxidation of fats/oils but eating expired Nutella does not pose health issues as long as there are no signs of spoilage associated with it.  

It is worth mentioning that instead of “expiry date” you will find a “best before” or “best by” date written on the jar of the Nutella.

The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the bottle of Nutella refers to the quality rather than safety so the Nutella doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date. 

This date refers to the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of Nutella but you can still use Nutella that is past this date as long as it was stored properly.

Thus, you should do a sensory evaluation of your Nutella to reach a final verdict on whether or not it is still suitable to consume. 

Certain indicators point out bad Nutella. You should consider the appearance, smell, and taste of the Nutella to reach a final verdict on whether it is still suitable to consume or not.

Appearance

If you spot a mold or any other organic growth in your Nutella container then it is an indication of bad Nutella and the best thing to do in this scenario is to get rid of such Nutella.

Smell

If you smell something rancid or foul while taking a sniff test of Nutella then it is an indication of bad Nutella and it is better to toss it out.

Taste 

If the Nutella smalls and looks okay then you can go ahead and take a small bite of the Nutella and if you feel that its taste has changed (sour or bitter) or it has developed some off-flavors then it is better to get rid of such Nutella.

Texture 

Nutella will become dry and hard with time and as it is an ongoing process therefore if you reach a point where the spread has suffered from so much textural change that it is difficult to use it then it sure is time to discard it.

So you should consider the points mentioned above before deciding whether you are going to eat Nutella or not.

It is worth mentioning that the incidence of separation of oil on top in Nutella is rather a common phenomenon as Nutella contains a high amount of oils in it. All you gotta do in such a scenario is to stir the spread really well and it will be back in its original shape.

Unopened commercially processed Nutella lasts for about 6 months past the “best by” date when kept in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

On the other hand, once you open your commercially processed store-bought Nutella, its shelf life decreases and it lasts for about 6-12 months when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry.

It is worth mentioning that the figures mentioned above are the estimated shelf life of Nutella and Nutella can last even longer than this, provided that it is stored properly.

You can read how to make Nutella cake here.

Other FAQs about Nutella which you may be interested in.

What happens If you eat expired Nutella?

Does Nutella go bad? Does Nutella expire? 

Tips to properly store Nutella

As Nutella contains hazelnuts and dairy, owing to which it has a limited shelf life, therefore care should be taken while storing Nutella.

  1. Nutella should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place away from direct sunlight and heat. Therefore you can safely store Nutella in a cool and dry corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.
  1. You should not store your Nutella in a humid environment.
  1. Moreover, close the lid of the Nutella jar as soon as you scoop out the Nutella that you need to minimize the air (oxygen) exposure of the Nutella.
  1. Do not use a wet or dirty spoon to scoop out Nutella from the container.
  1. You should always use dry and clean cutlery to scoop out Nutella from its jar.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you get sick from eating expired Nutella” with an in-depth analysis of the health implications of eating expired Nutella. Moreover, we discussed tips to store Nutella properly.

Citations

https://chocolatebarcabarete.com/qa/can-expired-chocolate-make-you-sick.html
https://eatdelights.com/nutella-expire/

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