When it comes to food, we all make sure that whatever is being consumed is of good quality. A bad odour or different texture are some of the many signs that tell you the food has gone bad, and it’s better to toss it in the trash. Another way we rely on the edibility of food is by referring to its expiry date printed on the package. But what if we tell you that the expiry dates aren’t entirely accurate? What if you gotta know that you could use the foods past their expiration dates, with the quality of food being safe as ever? Read on to find out which foods can last up to how long after their printed dates.
1. Yoghurt
If you keep an unopened yoghurt in the fridge, it can survive past its expiry date for one to two weeks. Whereas, if you freeze it, it can survive up to two months.
2. Eggs
They can be used for three to five weeks after they are purchased, irrespective of the expiry date printed on the carton. If you store hard-boiled eggs in the fridge, they will be safe to consume for a week.
3. Ketchup & Mustard
As long as the bottle of Ketchup is unopened, it can last up to six months. In the same way, mustard is safe to consume for a year.
4. Pasta
If you’ve purchased dry packaged pasta, it can last up to one year past its expiry date. If it’s fresh, uncooked pasta, it can be used four to five days past it’s printed date and six to eight months if you freeze it. Same goes for cooked pasta too.
5. Raw Meat
While raw meat can only be stored for five to six days in the fridge, it can go past its expiry date if you freeze it, depending on the type of meat. If you freeze ground meat, it can last for three to four months. Whereas a whole turkey or chicken can be used when frozen for a year.
6. Peanut Butter
You can use an unopened jar of peanut butter (which has preservatives) past one year of its expiry date, with or without refrigerating it. On the other hand, natural peanut butter can be stored for three to six months past its expiry date in the fridge.
7. Breakfast Cereal
An unopened box of breakfast cereal can go past its printed date for six to eight months. Once opened, it is still good to go for four to six months. But a cooked cereal will only last up to four or five days if it’s stored in the fridge after being prepared.
8. Raw Fish
An unopened can of fish like tuna last up to anywhere between two to five years past its expiration date. If you’ve purchased raw fish, it will last up from six to eight months in the freezer. But if you purchase an already frozen fish, it can go for ten to twelve months. These stand true only if the fish doesn’t thaw.
Now you know that for some foods, you don’t have to blindly follow the expiration date and waste a lot of food that is still very much consumable, especially when it’s unopened and frozen. Which one of these shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments below.Don’t forget to follow us at @missmalinilifestyle to never miss a beat!