![]() ![]() Unless there’s something inherently wrong with the food from the start, you will not get sick from using any of these things long after you’ve purchased them, according to Boyer. That almond flour your ex-girlfriend bought earlier this year when she was learning to make macarons? No problem. That pack of basmati rice you bought two years ago when you wanted to mix things up a little bit? Go for it. In terms of safety, you’re good to use whatever’s in your pantry as long as there aren’t any pests in it. There, the expiration date is, in fact, an indicator of the product’s safety and is required by law to be clearly displayed on the packaging. The only exception to this rule is baby formula. Food and Drug Administration or any other official authority. Manufacturers pick these dates, and the process isn’t regulated by the U.S. “ choose to put a date there to give people an indication for how long that company is willing to confirm that product will be of good quality. Some people think this will prevent them from eating something that’s bad for them, but the truth is expiration dates are only there to ensure the quality of a product-its flavor and texture. The myth behind expiration dates “Wait… what do you mean these crackers are expired?” RyanMcGuire via PixabayĪll the food you buy at the grocery store, no matter its lifespan, has some sort of “best by,” “consume by,” or “best used by,” date. But according to Boyer, it’s not that easy, because expiration dates have nothing to do with safety. ![]() This is when people who abide by expiration dates purse their lips and dismissively shake their heads at the ones who refuse to do so. “Most food that’s in a pantry has been manufactured such that it’s not going to support a lot of microbial growth,” says Renee Boyer, a professor at the Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech. You can basically have them forever and they will always be good to go.īut things are more complicated with semi-perishables. With non-perishables, it’s equally easy-they just don’t spoil. Knowing when to get rid of perishable foods is pretty easy-they look bad, smell worse, and usually have fungus, mold, or other types of microorganisms growing all over them. That could be canned food, sugar, salt, honey, or dried beans. Finally, non-perishable foods are those that do not spoil. These include grains, flours, and dried fruit. Semi-perishables, once opened, can have a shelf life of six months to a year, if handled correctly. ![]() ![]() Foods such as meat, milk, vegetables, and some cheeses fall into this category. The first category has a limited shelf life and must be stored in a temperature-controlled environment. safetyĪll food can be classified in three large groups: perishables, semi-perishables and non-perishables. Those of the latter, however, are filled with stuff that could be exhibited in a museum, hoarded from time immemorial.ĭeciding who’s right and who’s wrong depends on what type of person you are, but we’re here to tell you there is a scientific answer to the burning question: Is this ok to eat? Spoilage vs. The pantries of the former usually look more like a grocery store-neat and tidy. There are basically two kinds of people in the world: those who fervently abide by expiration dates, and those who don’t. Your pantry either looks like this or like the place where expired food goes to die. ![]()
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