Items that you can eat even after the expiration date has passed

Most people are afraid to consume items that have passed their use-by date, but there are foods that can actually be consumed even after the expiration date marked on the package.

Contrary to popular belief, not all items have an expiration date. Food expiration dates can be quite confusing. It happens that we unknowingly throw away many products, even though there is no need, Telegrafi reports.

Most items should always be looked at carefully and thrown away after their use has passed, so before that we should pay special attention to the dates when it comes to meat, fish and seafood, but many items of others are perfectly fine for food.

However, there is a big difference between "use by" and "best before...". When the expiration date passes it means that it is dangerous to consume those items, but "best before" means that the food will be at its best until that date. After the date passes, the items will not be dangerous, but they will also not contain their flavor.

Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in Brooklyn, tells Bustle. "As a general rule, anyone with a weakened immune system should not eat food past the expiration date, unless it is visibly spoiled or smells bad."

In fact, these dates no longer indicate the quality of the food but its safety. Sellers must take care of the foods and sell them by the specified deadline in which they have the best quality, but with these products you can freely ignore the numbers written on the package.

cookies

Thanks to the preservatives, the cookies are safe even two months after the expiration date. But they lose their taste. If you want to make them crispy, you can try briefly heating them in the oven.

Open

Even bread can be consumed, only if it is stored correctly. Someone says that the refrigerator is the best place, but if it is the so-called, without freezing, "no frost", since there is no moisture in it, which accelerates the appearance of mold in the bread.

Dry doughs

Spaghetti, pasta and all articles of this kind which are not prepared fresh, but dry and packaged. So, they have a longer shelf life, while they can be edible even after three years if stored in a cool, dry and airtight environment.

milky

It is surprising that milk is included in this list, but it is more important for milk to still have the usual taste and aroma, than when it passes the deadline. If it doesn't look like that, starts to go rancid and mushy, smells like yogurt or cheese, don't use it. However, when it comes to the expiration date - it is sometimes not even certain, everyone has happened to buy milk that was spoiled, even though the expiration date has not passed.

yogurt

If it is not opened, or there are no holes in the packaging, you can use it up to three weeks after the expiration date. Of course if it smells like spoiled milk, has changed texture and looks more like yogurt - throw it away immediately.

Hard cheeses

Kačkavalli has a hard rind, so the mold cannot penetrate deeper into the cheese. Therefore, these cheeses can be eaten without fear, just remove the mold well. If it happens to change its taste, aroma and texture, throw that cheese away immediately.

Meat - be careful, don't risk it if you're not sure

If you're not sure the meat is edible, throw it away. After the expiration date, the meat may still be safe to eat, but the assay does not cause it to have an unpleasant flavor, be redder, darker, or release a thick liquid. Put the meat, which is before the expiration date, into the deep-freezing refrigerator and thus you will "extend" its use-by date.

White rice

This refined grain is packed with preservatives and if kept in an unopened package or in a vacuum bag, it will surely not spoil. Brown rice, on the other hand, can spoil. The best temperature to store rice is at 4.5°C or less. Rice is best stored in plastic food containers (PETE) or glass jars.

eggs

Although they are known to be perishable items, if you keep them in the refrigerator all the time, they can be eaten up to three weeks after the expiration date. Rotten eggs have a characteristic strong smell, so we know they are no longer usable.

Green salad

As long as it looks fresh and green, but not moldy, you can eat it, even if it has passed its use-by date.

Frozen vegetables

If they never thaw and stay in the freezer without taking them out of the freezer, frozen vegetables can last forever. Of course, if you thaw them and they look like drool, have a weird smell, are moldy or discolored, throw that bag away.

Sugar

If stored in a cool place and in packaging that protects it from moisture, it will have an indefinite shelf life.

chocolates

As long as the chocolate has the same taste, it can be eaten. Sometimes its surface can be a little crunchy, but that's because of the sugar, which crystallizes after a while. But when it is brighter than the fresh one, it means that under the influence of heat the fat has melted in it and it comes to the surface.

CIPS

They also lose their freshness, but they are safe to eat, even thanks to the large amount of salt. However, it is best not to wait more than three weeks after the deadline.

Coffee

Packaged coffee that you opened and forgot about can be used even three to five months after the marked use-by date. Coffee beans do not lose their qualities even after half a year.

The tea

Regardless of whether it is packed in bags or leaves, you can consume it six months after the expiration date.

Hard drinks

Whiskey, vodka, gin, brandy... all can be consumed long after the expiration date. So long, that there is little chance that you won't drink them until then, Telegrafi reports.

Mustard and ketchup

Unopened ketchup can last up to a year, so it is important to use it within six months of opening. Mustard can be stored up to two years after the expiration date, namely one year in the refrigerator after you have opened it.

Spices have a shelf life of two years

Cinnamon, pepper, red pepper, almost all spices retain their qualities two years after the marked date of use, but it is important to store them in glass packaging and in a dry and dark place.

Pickles

Of course, pickles can have a shelf life of up to two years, if they are canned vegetables, every housewife knows that, when it remains unused during the winter, it can be consumed the following winter.

Canned products

Most canned food has a shelf life of several years, they are edible long after the expiration date. Undamaged cans stored in a cool, dark place can last up to four years.

vinegar

Since we use it as a preservative, it is logical that its shelf life is unlimited. If the bottle is open, it can slightly change the taste, that is, it reduces its intensity, but until it suits you, use it freely.

Soy sauce

Soy sauce should be stored in an airtight container. High-quality sauce can only be made through natural fermentation, a process that usually takes anywhere from a few months to two years. Only this type of sauce can last more than three years.

honey

Original honey does not lose its qualities over time, so it is good until it is used up. Moreover, if you put the honey in tightly sealed jars, you can be absolutely sure that it cannot spoil, since it will not come into contact with air and water. /Telegraph/