We've all had our moments of incredulity regarding expiration dates. We sniff open milk cartons, swishing around their contents in search of any strange scents or inconsistencies. When none can be found, some of us declare the milk (or wine, or butter, or eggs -- the list goes on) fine to consume. And it usually is. But this haphazard method of determining how safe our food products are to eat could have dangerous side effects, or, at the very least, the occasional upset stomach.
According to The Boston Globe, a whole lot of Americans believe that consuming foods after their expiration date is unsafe -- three fourths of Americans, to be exact. This could be due to the vague language used to mark the shelf life of foods. Which is why we're here to set the record straight when it comes to expiration dates.
According to WebMD, there are a number of ways to classify food dates: There's the "sell by" date, the "best if used by" date, the "use by" date and the "born on" date. All concern freshness more so than safety.
Ketchup
Ketchup will maintain its quality for six months in the fridge. It's still safe to eat after this date (unless it has developed an off odor or mold appears).
Olive OIl
Olive oil can stay fresh for 18-24 months either in or out of the fridge. It is recommended that you keep it in a cool dark place -- and refrigeration is suggested if you live in warm climates. Most times, you will have long finished the oil before it comes even close to perishing.
Eggs, Raw In The Shell
Eggs stay good for 3-5 weeks in the refrigerator and up to one year in the freezer (note: it's not recommended to freeze them in their shell). Eggs will normally keep long past the sell-by date; but to ensure that they last as long as possible avoid storing them in the refrigerator door -- the coolest part of the fridge is best.
Milk, Pasteurized
Milk will stay good one week past the sell by date, and three months in the freezer. But of course, if milk has developed on off odor or flavor, it's best to discard it.
Yogurt
You have a 7-10 day window after the sell by date to enjoy your yogurt, (and one to two months if stored in the freezer.) But if mold appears, discard the yogurt. And if it was frozen, it's best to thaw it in the fridge.
Mayonnaise
Don't throw it out just yet! An open jar of refrigerated mayonnaise is safe and good for consumption up to 2-3 months after the marked expiration date. And even then, the product may still be safe to eat, it just might begin to change in terms of texture and color.
Peanut Butter
An open jar of peanut butter will remain fresh up to three months in the pantry. After that point, it's recommended to store the peanut butter in the fridge (where it can maintain its quality for another 3-4 months). If you don't refrigerate, oil separation may occur.
Pickles
Pickles, once opened, stay good for a whole year in the refrigerator. So if you've just come across a jar in your fridge, chances are, they're still delicious. Same goes for brine-packed jars of olives and capers.
Soy Milk
Despite what you might think, soy milk has a similar self life to regular milk. It lasts about 7-10 days after the date indicated on the carton.
Sour Cream
Sour cream is a tough food item to judge, since it's supposed to have a slightly soured taste. It can keep two weeks, tightly covered, in the fridge. And unlike most other dairy products, it doesn't freeze well.
Vinegar
The shelf-life of vinegar is almost indefinite according to versatilevinegar.com. Aesthetic changes such as color or the development of sediment may occur in non-white vinegars over time, but the product is still safe to use.
Honey
Even more so than vinegar, honey's quality remains unchanged over time. The low water content and high acidic level makes the food an unfavorable breeding ground for bacteria, in spite of its sugary nature.
Mustard
When purchased at a store, mustard lasts anywhere from one to two years past its expiration date. This variation is due to differing storage methods -- when left unopened in the pantry, mustard lasts an extra year. Homemade mustard doesn't have the same shelf life, and expires much more quickly.
Almond Milk
Just like milk and soy milk, almost milk lasts 7-10 days past its printed date, unless it's stored unopened in the pantry, in which case this beverage can stay good up to a month after.
Whipped Cream
Canned whipped cream can last up to three months past its printed date, whereas Cool Whip only lasts about 7-10 days.
Butter
Plain ol' butter lasts about 2 weeks after its expiration date; Butter with olive oil lasts about a week more than that. Stick butter in the freezer and it can last up to 9 months longer.
Half and Half
Once opened, half and half, and all other liquid creams, last about 5-7 days after their expiration date.
Coffee
An open container of ground coffee will last 3 to 5 months past the best before date, whereas coffee beans will last up to 6 months.
Pasta
Dry pasta may seem to have an infinite shelf life. It doesn't, but it has quite a long one -- It'll last 1-2 years past the best before date.
Deli meat
Packaged lunch meats last about 7-10 days longer than the best by date, whereas fresh meats will last around 5-6 days. Salami and pepperoni last much longer -- around 2-3 weeks.
Syrup
Syrup may get thicker or darker when it gets older -- it may even crystalize. But it is never technically "spoiled."
Tea
Whether your tea leaves are packaged or loose, they'll last anywhere from 6 months to a year past their expiration date.
Spices
With the exception of mint, which has a slightly shorter shelf life, most spices from cinnamon to cayenne pepper last 2-3 years past their expiration date.
Olive oil can stay fresh for 18-24 months either in or out of the fridge. It is recommended that you keep it in a cool dark place -- and refrigeration is suggested if you live in warm climates. Most times, you will have long finished the oil before it comes even close to perishing.
Eggs, Raw In The Shell
Eggs stay good for 3-5 weeks in the refrigerator and up to one year in the freezer (note: it's not recommended to freeze them in their shell). Eggs will normally keep long past the sell-by date; but to ensure that they last as long as possible avoid storing them in the refrigerator door -- the coolest part of the fridge is best.
Milk, Pasteurized
Milk will stay good one week past the sell by date, and three months in the freezer. But of course, if milk has developed on off odor or flavor, it's best to discard it.
Yogurt
You have a 7-10 day window after the sell by date to enjoy your yogurt, (and one to two months if stored in the freezer.) But if mold appears, discard the yogurt. And if it was frozen, it's best to thaw it in the fridge.
Mayonnaise
Don't throw it out just yet! An open jar of refrigerated mayonnaise is safe and good for consumption up to 2-3 months after the marked expiration date. And even then, the product may still be safe to eat, it just might begin to change in terms of texture and color.
Peanut Butter
An open jar of peanut butter will remain fresh up to three months in the pantry. After that point, it's recommended to store the peanut butter in the fridge (where it can maintain its quality for another 3-4 months). If you don't refrigerate, oil separation may occur.
Pickles
Pickles, once opened, stay good for a whole year in the refrigerator. So if you've just come across a jar in your fridge, chances are, they're still delicious. Same goes for brine-packed jars of olives and capers.
Soy Milk
Despite what you might think, soy milk has a similar self life to regular milk. It lasts about 7-10 days after the date indicated on the carton.
Sour Cream
Sour cream is a tough food item to judge, since it's supposed to have a slightly soured taste. It can keep two weeks, tightly covered, in the fridge. And unlike most other dairy products, it doesn't freeze well.
Vinegar
The shelf-life of vinegar is almost indefinite according to versatilevinegar.com. Aesthetic changes such as color or the development of sediment may occur in non-white vinegars over time, but the product is still safe to use.
Honey
Even more so than vinegar, honey's quality remains unchanged over time. The low water content and high acidic level makes the food an unfavorable breeding ground for bacteria, in spite of its sugary nature.
Mustard
When purchased at a store, mustard lasts anywhere from one to two years past its expiration date. This variation is due to differing storage methods -- when left unopened in the pantry, mustard lasts an extra year. Homemade mustard doesn't have the same shelf life, and expires much more quickly.
Almond Milk
Just like milk and soy milk, almost milk lasts 7-10 days past its printed date, unless it's stored unopened in the pantry, in which case this beverage can stay good up to a month after.
Whipped Cream
Canned whipped cream can last up to three months past its printed date, whereas Cool Whip only lasts about 7-10 days.
Butter
Plain ol' butter lasts about 2 weeks after its expiration date; Butter with olive oil lasts about a week more than that. Stick butter in the freezer and it can last up to 9 months longer.
Half and Half
Once opened, half and half, and all other liquid creams, last about 5-7 days after their expiration date.
Coffee
An open container of ground coffee will last 3 to 5 months past the best before date, whereas coffee beans will last up to 6 months.
Pasta
Dry pasta may seem to have an infinite shelf life. It doesn't, but it has quite a long one -- It'll last 1-2 years past the best before date.
Deli meat
Packaged lunch meats last about 7-10 days longer than the best by date, whereas fresh meats will last around 5-6 days. Salami and pepperoni last much longer -- around 2-3 weeks.
Syrup
Syrup may get thicker or darker when it gets older -- it may even crystalize. But it is never technically "spoiled."
Tea
Whether your tea leaves are packaged or loose, they'll last anywhere from 6 months to a year past their expiration date.
Spices
With the exception of mint, which has a slightly shorter shelf life, most spices from cinnamon to cayenne pepper last 2-3 years past their expiration date.