Is it okay to eat tortillas after the expiration date?
In this article, we are going to answer can you eat tortillas after the expiration date, what is the expiration date, what is the used-by date, what happens if you eat tortillas after the used-by date, and how to store tortillas so they can last longer.
Can you eat tortillas after the expiration date?
Tortilla does not have an expiration date, instead, tortilla has a use-by or best-by date that recommends you to consume the tortillas before that date. A use-by date doesn’t mean tortillas will spoil after that date but they might start to deteriorate and harden.
You can eat tortillas up to 7 days after the use-by date. Tortillas might be a little less fresh but they are still good. You should not eat them if they have any mold on them.
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 used-by date?
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 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 tortillas after the used-by date?
Usually it is safe to eat tortillas after the use-by date but if tortillas haven’t been stored correctly they can grow mold very easily. If tortillas are exposed to a lot of moisture it is easier for mold to grow in them.
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
How long do tortillas last?
The shelf life of tortillas depends on how they are stored. Flour tortillas can last less than corn tortillas. In the pantry, flour tortillas can last for a week after the used-by date, in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks after the used-by date, and in the freezer up to 8 months after the used-by date.
Corn tortillas might last for longer because of their ingredients. In the pantry they can last up to 10 days after the used-by date, in the refrigerator they can last up to 8 weeks after the used-by date and in the freezer, they can last up to 8 months after the used-by date.
If you see any sign of mold, even if the use-by date hasn’t passed, you should not eat them at all because you might feel bad.
How do you store tortillas so they can last longer?
Tortillas should be stored correctly so they can last longer. The main ingredient of tortillas is wheat flour or corn flour depending on if they are flour tortillas or corn tortillas. Flour can very easily grow mold if exposed to moisture so they have to be stored correctly.
Flour and corn tortillas can be stored in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. If the original package protects tortillas from moisture, they can be stored in the original package. If not, it is recommended that they are stored in a sealed bag or an airtight container.
The refrigerator contains high humidity levels so tortillas need to be protected. In the freezer, they can last for longer if you wrap them in aluminum and then store them in a freezer bag.
Follow this link for more information on how to keep tortillas soft.
Other FAQs about Tortillas that you may be interested in.
How to make a 6-inch tortilla?
Can you eat flour tortillas with diverticulitis
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat tortillas after the expiration date, what is the expiration date, what is the used-by date, what happens if you eat tortillas after the used-by date, and how to store tortillas so they can last longer.
Citation
http://www.eatbydate.com/grains/baked-goods/how-long-do-tortillas-last-shelf-life-expiration-date/
