The post The Food Expiration Dates You Should Actually Follow appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

Are you the type that religiously checks expiration dates? Before you toss out your food, you might want to rethink those stamped-on numbers. It might surprise you to learn that the majority of expiration dates are not expiration dates at all.

As people around the globe are quarantined in the homes due to COVID-19, many are making meals at home from scratch to save money–and their sanity. Nothing cures boredom better than trying a new recipe or whipping up some comfort food. If you’ve found yourself digging through your pantry to find that elusive, years-old cream of tartar you forgot you had, it’s helpful to know what’s still good and what should be replaced. To start, you need to understand what expiration dates really mean.

The Truth About Expiration Dates

There are different types of people and various schools of thought when it comes to expiration dates. Older generations raised by parents who lived through the Great Depression might think everything is “still good.” Younger generations who have no qualms about wasting food might chuck everything as soon as that magical printed date appears the calendar. As with everything, there’s a balance. It’s important to understand what these dates mean and why the FDA uses them.

In fact, the FDA does not actually require products to be dated with one exception: infant formula. This means that all dates on food are determined by the manufacturers and retailers. It’s up to them to analyze the ingredients in their products, how they’re packaged, and how long they’ll stay fresh. They’ll then choose a date to stamp on the package, but this doesn’t mean you can’t eat the food after that date.

Check some of your food and you’ll notice that most of the dates include a phrasing next to our underneath that describes what that date means. Rarely will you see “Expiration Date” as the wording of choice. Instead, common phrases include “Best If Used By/Before,” “Sell-By,” or “Use By.” These are guidelines that the manufacturers use to ensure their products are consumed at peak freshness. These dates have nothing to do with whether the food is safe to eat. Retailers are also not legally required to remove this food from their shelves once this date is passed. (1)

Avoiding Food Waste

Because there are no real expiration dates on most food, most products are perfectly safe to consume beyond their printed dates. As long as foods are properly handled and stored, they’ll last longer than you’d think. Since so many people misunderstand what expiration dates mean, good, wholesome food is often wasted. This is especially important now, as the economic uncertainties of the coronavirus epidemic make avoiding waste an excellent idea. (1)

It’s also good to avoid waste to help the environment. A 2012 study by Reuters revealed the average American family of four produces an astonishing 132 pounds of food waste each month. This adds up to over $160 wasted money per month – tossed in the garbage along with the food products. Aside from wasting money, American landfills contain over 40% of all food harvested in the U.S. Though some food does go bad, misconceptions about food dating contribute to the waste problem. (2)

How Long Foods Really Last

Once you throw out everything you thought you knew about expiration dates, it’s key to understand how long basic foods truly last. Of course, smelling something to see if it’s spoiled isn’t always the best way to tell. Here are some basic guidelines for the major food groups you likely currently have in your fridge and pantry. These dates are also dependent on storing and refrigeration the products properly. (3)

Dairy Products

Butter: Butter will last 6-9 months in the fridge and about 1 month past the packaged printed date.
Milk and Cream: As a general rule, milk, half-and-half, and heavy cream will last about 1-2 weeks past the printed date.
Cheese: Depending on the hardness or softness of the cheese, it can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months past the printed date.

Proteins, Fruits, and Vegetables

Eggs: These staples will last 3-4 weeks beyond the sell-by date.
Chicken and Beef: Fresh, uncooked meats only last 1-2 days past the date, while cooked meat will last about a week.
Fruits and Vegetables: This will depend widely on the type of fruit or vegetable and how it’s stored. You can usually tell by the look of it when it’s past its prime. However, outer browned leaves on many heads of leafy veggies can always be removed to use the fresher inner core.

Grains, Cans, and Pantry Staples

Bread: Depending on the type, bread can last anywhere from 2-3 days to a week after the expiration date. Freezing is a great option to extend the shelf life from 6 months to a year.
Uncooked Pasta and Rice: Dried pasta lasts 1-2 years and uncooked rice lasts 6 months to 5 years, depending on the type.
Canned Foods: Most canned foods have best-by dates ranging from 1-4 years. Storing them in a cool, dark place can extend their shelf life to 3-6 years.
Pantry Foods: Baking staples like sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and corn starch can last indefinitely if stored properly. Flours can last from 4 months-1 year beyond their printed dates. Spices can hang on to their flavors and potencies for 2-5 years past their dates.

This is, of course, not an exhaustive list. Checking how long food lasts online is a great resource if you’re not sure about a product you’ve had for a while. Knowing how expiration dates really work will ensure you avoid wasting food and keep your pantries well-stocked during leaner times.

The post The Food Expiration Dates You Should Actually Follow appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

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