I cannot wait to clean out my pantry later this month (with a friend). It’s one of the chores that is on my to-do list. Seems like I’m constantly pulling out food, checking dates, and tossing if it’s old …
That’s one benefit of yearly (or bi-yearly) sorting through the pantry. You can check for old food items.
Which brings me to this question. What is the guideline to use when tossing old food? What if the date is right on the edge of being “old?”
And what about refrigerated items?
To be honest, sometimes I just can’t toss things. So I fudge a little and use them anyway …
Especially items like yogurt or sour cream or even whipping cream. I always use my “nose” and smell it first.
As Grace, over at A Southern Grace says, “… tossing food causes me great pain because in many cases, the food in question is perfectly fine and just as delicious and usable as the day it was made.” (You can join in on the conversation and read all of her comments, too.)
I also like what the Gourmet Sleuth has to say.
Can I Eat Food Past The Expiration Date?
You can certainly eat most foods beyond any “convenience date.” If the date is explicitly an “expiration date” then proceed with caution. For an example, a steak a few days past a sell by date is probably not going to hurt you. A box of crackers 2 months past a best by or use by date are typically just fine. Smell the food, does it smell OK? If it smells spoiled or rancid, toss it out.
Here are some other sites/guidelines to read:
USDA – US Food Labeling guidelines fact sheet
SFGate – The Dating Game, Freshness labels are a manufacturers’ free-for-all.
Do you fudge a little regarding dates on food, or are you rigid and you toss no matter what?
(My friend Barb feeds hers to the dogs and chickens, which, btw …. we are thinking about getting chickens. Do you have chickens?) Happy Weekend, friends!
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. 
These are great questions! Yes, I have been known to open up items that were past the expiration date. Once, when I was single I had some friends over, and I opened up a bottle of salad dressing (it had expired TWO YEARS prior). It was still fine. I was a little embarassed
Kim´s last [type] ..Recipe Search
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Other than staples, we try not to keep more than we can use in a week in the pantry/frig. And, I do a quick clean of both BEFORE going to the grocery store each weekend. This cuts down on waste. And, I agree…most times things are fine a bit past the expiration date.
Lauren@SimplyLKJ´s last [type] ..Whats a girl to do
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One year ago yesterday we arrived back to Ukraine, and perhaps you remember that someone messed up and sent our shipment through China so that we waited until the middle of May to receive what had been packed the first week of January- including a bunch of consumables! It was painful- we had paid for them and they were necessary for the family member who needs a gluten free diet….so all the expired rice cakes, instant grits, and a few other items were used. We have to bulk order from Germany, can buy no less than a case of anything, and every so often we’ll get something that expires in a month. My kids just finished a case of Goldfish crackers that expired in October. {Sigh} Anyway, I am totally looking forward to the summer of 2012 when I no longer have to buy bulk, I can go to an American store in my own vehicle, have nice people wait on me, and use a credit card without worrying that the number will be stolen by the time I get home….no more expired food for us!
Tara G. @ Mrs. Yellow Hat´s last [type] ..A Bedtime Prayer
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kirstin Reply:
February 5th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Love your comment!!! I think we take so much for granted in America
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I am pretty cautious but like you I do the smell test especially on dairy products. As far as canned goods when I clean out my pantry if it hasn’t already expired I try to pull those to the front to use first, but if it’s over a year passed date I toss it.
My pantry is a constant battle! Oy!
Kim @ Homesteader’s Heart´s last [type] ..Friday Funnies! May the Force Be With You!
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I am somewhat lackadaisical about the dates on canned goods but when I buy I try to put the new ones behind the old ones in the pantry. I usually only buy enough dairy and produce to use in a few days and meat goes in the freezer if it isn’t going to be used in the next day or so. Then again I may shop more frequently than most people, going to small produce markets, butchers and shops that specifically sell fish. I only shop at a supermarket when I absolutely must.
Darla
Darla´s last [type] ..Sketchbook 2011 – 2-4-11
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I volunteered at a food bank last summer and our task was to sort the random food that had been donated. They had a chart on the wall of how far past the “use by” date something could actually be used. I wish I could link you to the chart, but I was surprised by how many items could go a year past their date and still be fine (all dry and canned goods of course, nothing perishable). I learned that most of those dates are for product freshness/quality not necessarily safety. So I fudge a little bit more now than I used to.
Our group also made it a challenge to see who could find the most out of date item. We found things that were 10+ years past their expiration date! Why you would think that’s ok to donate to someone else? At that point, just throw it out!
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bobbie Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I agree, why give something aways that you wouldn’t feel comfortable feeding your family. This is not giving our best.
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If it’s in a can and the can is in good shape (no rust, no leaks, no majorly horrible dents), I use it regardless of the date. If it’s in the fridge unopened, like sour cream or cottage cheese, I open and smell, maybe taste; if I get that far OK I’ll probably use it, regardless of the date. If it’s been frozen, I’ll thaw it, open and stir, try a bit and probably use it. I used to shop at a dented can place and bought all sorts that was out of date, ate and and lived to tell the tale.
NO GO AREAS: I once worked (as in public health investigation) a case of botulism; I worked several, but this one stood out. The woman had opened a jar of home canned tomatoes and wasn’t sure about them, so she tried a taste. NO!!!!! Botulism can kill! I might have sniffed, but if in doubt, home canned things need pitching, no test involved whatsoever.
We bought a ham shank at a market but didn’t cook it for a 3 days. Though it was vacuum packed and had been refrigerated, the smell from the crock pot was not nice. It went in the bin.
I wouldn’t use out of date contact lens products. If it’s not sterile, it’s not safe and agents which maintain sterility have a shelf life.
I once saw – in the dented can place – some out of date contraceptive foam for sale. Talk about a false economy!
Otherwise, I’m pretty cavalier about dates…
Shelley´s last [type] ..Cars Ive Loved and Left – Part II
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My pantry has been known to be out of date (kind of like my wardrobe at times). I fudge sometimes and use them. Now, if it is in the fridge and is out of date, I don’t take chances. Well, at least not with the humans at my house, the poor chickens get all the out of date, smelly stuff. It does not effect their egg production or taste and it has not killed any yet.
Blessings,
The Park Wife
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I had this dilemma a couple of weeks ago with an Angel Food cake mix that was a year past it’s date. I figured the only part of the mix that would loose effectiveness would be the leavening agent so I went ahead and baked it. It rose just fine so I thought I was in the clear. I put it on the table and a few hours later during the party I noticed it was collapsing! It was pretty funny.
Also, Pop does have a “use by” date and it does matter! The taste gets “off”.
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I was at a party last summer where people were talking about this subject. Several of them said they would throw away a can of food if it was one day past the date stamped on it. I was appalled! (First off, who actually looks at the dates?! If the can looks fine, I don’t ask questions.) A friend sitting next to me had just become a registered dietitian. She said that canned goods are fine past their use-by dates. Quality, color, texture and perhaps minor nutritional benefits might decrease, but they are perfectly fine for consumption. I felt validated!
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I tend to want to toss it all but Dear is pretty adamant that if it’s in a can or if it is pickled or whatever it should be perfectly fine …
ellen b´s last [type] ..FFF February Begins…
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We have always just used our nose to tell if an item was good to eat. Those dates on those cans are just guidelines. Americans waste way too much food, and it is just not right to throw away food that is perfectly good. I am in the Care business, having Registered Care Facilities for the Elderly. The state mandates that we go by the expiration dates and at the facilities we do but in our personal lives we do not. If you shop at canned warehouse stores you will find items that they are selling are usually close to the date stamped on them or past the date. Things are preserved very well. Here is a tip when we have to get rid of canned goods at our facilities I take them to homeless shelters or food banks where they will be put to good use.
Blessings to you and yours
Curtis & Sherrie
Curtis & Sherrie´s last [type] ..Kids all grown up
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I’m a fudger.
I use the sniff test and will use dairy beyond the expiry date, if it smells fine. Meat is more difficult, because it all smells bad to me when it is raw! Good post.
Elen´s last [type] ..Get your Friday going…
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I use some out of date but I read some where about not using mixes that contain flour’ I can’t remember why but I think you can get seriously sick. Does anyone know why? When it comes to milk/dairy products I have my husband taste it for me.. LOL
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Karla @ {TheClassyWoman} Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I remember reading that too, they specifically mentioned pancake mix and biscuit mixes but I also can’t remember why, for a couple dollars it’s certainly not worth become seriously ill!
Karla @ {TheClassyWoman}´s last [type] ..A GIVEAWAY for the Heart!
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I try my best to buy only what we need and will use up. I also base my meals on what is expiring quickest. So, if I’ve had a steak sitting in the fridge for 2 days vs. chicken in the freezer, no matter what we ‘feel like’ having, we try to use up everything by using this method so we don’t have to toss it.
My hubby sometimes uses spinach that is starting to wilt in his smoothies and freezes the bags all the time. For veggies and fruit, we usually freeze them to use them for something else and if they are past the point of being edible, they at the very least go out to our compost pile, back into the earth.
With the canned and packages goods, I try not to eat expired foods but like you, use my nose as the guide. I’ve been known to cut away the mold off cheese (I cut way around it though) if I don’t havve any other cheese on hand. As a rule, I never serve anything that is expiring or past expiry to guests. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for them becoming ill.
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kirstin Reply:
February 5th, 2011 at 9:09 am
we do the same things!!!
kirstin´s last [type] ..When New Recipes dont Fly!
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kirstin Reply:
February 5th, 2011 at 9:13 am
As others have said, food usually doesn’t last long enough to go past the expiration date, my cupboards are empty well before that point. Sometimes however I may go to our grocery outlet and some canned items, or boxed items may be pushing or past their expiration date and I may buy them. It really depends on the product. I get a bit nervous with dairy and don’t let it last long past the expiration date. I can pretty much echo the majority of women who commented.
Great post. Nope we don’t have chickens, I have friends who do and they love it.
kirstin´s last [type] ..When New Recipes dont Fly!
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Great question Sandy! My answer is that it “depends” on what it is. For most canned things, I use my senses…smell and sight, sometimes taste (depending on what it is). But, I really am cautious on things like canned milk, which I forget about and then it is way past the date and I end up tossing it. Like some of the other comments, this really hurts to toss out food.
If it is fresh or cooked food from the fridge, I am pretty careful about this…again, using those senses. I do recognize that our food is different now and so I don’t trust it and am more careful but I think that expiration dates are on so many things these days that just about make me laugh.
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I put a list on the outside of my fridge noting what’s in the fridge and freezer and amounts. This helps me actually use that last cup of buttermilk or 1/2 cup shredded cheese or bit of ham up instead of tossing it out! There’s now a huge difference now in how much food gets eaten vs thrown out at our house.
Melissa D´s last [type] ..Working- working- working
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Oh yes. . .we have chickens.
My beloved worked at a grocery store for many years in the dairy department. They needed to sell the milk etc before the best before date but milk and certainly other dairy items are meant to be safe for consumption days after. So eat away.
About canned items. ..I don’t worry about canned items within reason . ..but I do check for dents and any lids that don’t seem as deflated anymore.
So far .. .so good.
I think I’ll clean my pantry again too.
Lovella´s last [type] ..cooking classes at Lepp Farm Market
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Oh this is a fun one! Yes – I definitely use food past its expiration date – usually without telling my husband because he can be a little squeamish about that. But I don’t trust myself to smell milk to see if it’s okay, because to me, it’s just always a little “off.” And when food that comes in a box (ie instant potatoes) gets caked together, you just know it’s time for it to go.
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If it’s a “best before” date rather than an “expiry date” it is fine to use within a reasonable time. I confess to eating yogurt a month past the best before date and it was fine. I would be more careful with home-canned goods. I made a cake mix last week a couple of months past the date and everyone loved it.
I have chickens and I so enjoy them. So nice to have all the fresh, farm-raised eggs I want and no worries about injected hens or inhumane conditions.
Bobbiann´s last [type] ..White Doves
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Fresh items (like meats/veggies) I am more rigid with than canned or boxed. Though, I still use my eyes and nose to double check!
My aunt has chickens and she loves them! She has several unique varieties and they are so much fun to watch and she keeps all her friends and family in fresh, organic eggs (though often uniquely colored ones!) all the time.
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As others have said, food usually doesn’t last long enough to go past the expiration date, my cupboards are empty well before that point. Sometimes however I may go to our grocery outlet and some canned items, or boxed items may be pushing or past their expiration date and I may buy them. It really depends on the product. I get a bit nervous with dairy and don’t let it last long past the expiration date. I can pretty much echo the majority of women who commented.
Great post. Nope we don’t have chickens, I have friends who do and they love it.
kirstin´s last [type] ..When New Recipes dont Fly!
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Usually I don’t have enough money to stock up. I usually buy only what we will eat within the week/month. I don’t have a pantry either. So food rarely expires at our house. I am pretty rigid with dates though. If it’s a couple days past, I will smell and probably still eat if it smells okay.
Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top´s last [type] ..A Valentines Cupcake Liner Wreath- a Prettier Mantel and a Vignette
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Oh my word! Love this topic! I was just talking with some friends about it.
Several of them are totally sticklers about the expiration dates. Me, on the other hand, I’m a totally expiration date renegade. Especially for canned goods or dry shelf goods like pasta, rice and baking mixes.
I’m much more careful about refrigerated goods, but I’m sure I have some salad dressings in the fridge that are way past their “use by” dates.
I did get burned on a baking mix just last weekend, though. I was making some cornbread in the box and it didn’t come out right. It didn’t rise properly and the textures was way off. I pulled the box out of the trash and saw that it was expired by 1 YEAR! GAH!
Kimba´s last [type] ..Super Bowl Food!
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I am not a stickler for expiration dates. Even for highly perishable items, like milk I buy the ones with the date farthest away, put into the fridge immediately and do not leave it sit on the counter. Other than that we have eaten even some home canned foods (mostly jams) 8+ years past the date of manufacture. It was all fine. There are clear signs of spoilage for home canned goods. You can see a list of them on my blog. Cleanliness, proper canning method & length of time and sterile containers go a long way to keep your home canned foods safe beyond a year.
Blessings,
~Mrs. R
http://honeyfromflintyrocks.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/a-few-thoughts-on-expiration-dates/
~Mrs. R´s last [type] ..Valentine’s Day Sale!!
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I just got busted on this question from my Aunt. I was making an amazingly simply cocunut cake this past Christmas season. My condensed milk I picked out of the pantry was 5 years old. She was gracious enough to tell me NOT to use it! I couldn’t believe the date! This means I had to have packed and unpacked that silly can for 3 different moves!!!!
I also would like to add that I would love to see YOUR pantry! I love your blog!!!
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I always do the sniff test and I’m pretty cautious. When I put groceries away, I always rotate back to front in both the pantry, refrigerator, & freezer so the older items are right in front.
CAS
Carol´s last [type] ..Just some randomness
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I’m not rigid about dates and I will stretch if possible. It really depends on the food item in question. My husband on the other hand is very strict about dates and even if it has not reached the date… say by a week he will toss out unless I have direct plans within the next day or so. I find that to be a little silly but whatever.
Regina´s last [type] ..An Introduction to Golf
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I’m late to comment here…but, I’m very lax about the expiration dates on canned goods. I honestly feel that those dates are most likely arbitary and on there just because the FDA said they had to be, I seem to recall a time when there were no dates.
I’ve never opened a purchased canned product that was ruined, I feel that their process is pretty foolproof and given the amount of preservatives they throw in, I’m going to take a gamble and eat an expired can here and there!!
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