🍽️ What You Need to Know About Food Expiration Dates


👃Smell	Sour milk? Rotten eggs? Off odors = toss it
👀Look	Mold, discoloration, cloudiness in liquids
👐Feel	Slimy texture on meat or fish? Dried-out or brittle produce?
🎯Taste (if safe)	A tiny taste test — only if no signs of spoilage

✅ When in doubt, throw it out — but don’t assume expired = unsafe.

✅ What's Usually Safe After the Date?


Milk	5–7 days past “Best By” (if refrigerated and smells fine)
Yogurt & Cheese	1–2 weeks past date; cut off mold on hard cheese
Eggs	3–5 weeks past “Sell By” — try the float test: Fresh eggs sink
Canned Goods	1–5 years (if undamaged and stored properly)
Dry Pasta, Rice, Cereal	6–12 months past date — watch for bugs or off smells
Frozen Foods	Indefinitely safe — quality dips after 6–12 months

💡 Freezing stops bacteria growth — so freeze leftovers before the date!

Some foods should never be risked:


Raw Meat/Poultry	Slimy texture, foul odor, grayish color
Vacuum-Sealed Deli Meats	Sour smell or slimy film — high risk for listeria
Cut Produce or Leftovers	Mold, mushiness, sour smell — especially if left >4 days
Baby Formula	Never use after “Expires On” — nutrients degrade

🩺 High-risk groups (pregnant women, elderly, immunocompromised) should be extra cautious.

Food waste is a global issue:

Simplified date labeling could cut waste by 800,000 tons per year (ReFED estimate).


Learn label meanings	Stop tossing good food
Store food properly	Extend freshness (e.g., herbs in water, berries washed in vinegar)
Use the FIFO method	“First In, First Out” — move older items to front
Freeze extras	Bread, milk, cooked meals, even cheese
Compost scraps	Turn peels and coffee grounds into garden gold

🥣 Pro Tip: Make a “use me first” bin in your fridge for items nearing their date.


❌ “Expiration dates are set by the government”	False — mostly set by manufacturers voluntarily
❌ “One day past the date = dangerous”	Not true — spoilage takes time and depends on storage
❌ “All moldy food must be thrown away”	Not always — hard cheeses and firm veggies can be trimmed
❌ “If it looks okay, it’s safe”	Risky — some harmful bacteria (like listeria) don’t change appearance