What You Need to Know About Food Expiration Dates - WebMD

4. Expiration Date ... Expiration dates use phrases like “expires on” or “do not use after” for products. Expiration dates are used on food ... Diet&WeightManagement Home News Reference Slideshows Quizzes Videos Questions&Answers DietPlansA-Z PopularDietPlans HealthyWeight ToolsandCalculators HealthyEating&Nutrition Best&WorstChoices AllGuideTopics RelatedTopics WeightLoss&Obesity Fitness&Exercise Food&Recipes FoodCalculator BMICalculator Diabetes CholesterolManagement MoreRelatedTopics Diet&WeightManagement FeatureStories Foodproductsoftencomewithsometypeofexpirationdate.Manufacturersandstoressometimesusedifferentwordingforexpirationdates.Learnwhatthedatesmeanandhowyouknowiffoodisgoodornot. UnderstandingFoodExpirationDates Thedatesyouseeonfoodlabelsarenotusuallyrelatedtofoodspoilage.Instead,thedatestellyouhowlongfoodmaintainsthebesttasteandtexture.Federallawdoesnotrequirefoodqualitydatesexceptoninfantformula.‌ Youmayseedifferentwordingonproductlabels.Howlongisfoodgoodforbasedonthewording?Byunderstandingexpirationterms,youcanbetterinterprethowlongyourfoodisgood.Ifyoustoreandhandleyourfoodproperly,itmaystillbegoodafterthedateprintedonthepackaging. 1.Sell-ByDate Refrigeratedproductsmostoftenhavesell-bydatesonthelabels.Storesusethisdatetoknowwhentoremoveproductsfromshelves.Youcaneatfoodafterthesell-bydate.Forexample,dairyproductsaregoodfor1weekafterthesell-bydate.Eggsaresafefor3to5weeksafterthesell-bydate.Examplesoffoodthathavesell-bydatesinclude: Milk Yogurt Cream Eggs Lunchmeat Saladmixes 2.BestifUsedbyDate Eatyourfoodbeforethisdateforthebestflavorandquality.Yourfooddoesn’tspoilafterthisdate,butitmaydryoutornottasteasgood.‌ Packdates.Manufacturersandretailersusethisdatetotrackandrotateinventory.Foodproductsthatusepackdatesinclude: Cannedgoods Crackers Cookies‌ Spices‌‌ Yourfoodmaybegoodformonthsorevenyearsafterthisdatewithproperstorage.Compromisedpackageshaveholes,dents,orbulges.Don’teatfoodfromdamagedpackagingbecauseitmaynotbegood.Don’teatfoodifithasabadsmell.‌ 3.Use-ByDate Eatfoodbythisdateforthebestquality.Manufacturersassignthesedatestofoodproducts.Yourfoodmaybegoodpasttheuse-bydate. 4.ExpirationDate Expirationdatesusephraseslike“expireson”or“donotuseafter”forproducts.Expirationdatesareusedonfoodproductslike: Infantformula Babyfood Vitamins Over-the-countermedications Cakemix Bakingpowder Pectin‌ Theseproductshaveanexpirationbecausetheymaynotfunctionthesameafterthedatelisted.Yeastmaynotbeaseffective.Medicationsmaynotofferthesameresults.Bakingmixes,jams,andjelliesmaynothavethedesiredtexture. Continued 5.QualityAssuranceDate Manufacturersandretailersusethiswordingonproductswithalongshelflife.Yourfoodproductsmaybegoodafterthequalityassurancedate.Theymaylosesomeflavor,orthetexturemaychange.Keepinmindthatqualityisnotthesameassafety.Foodproductswithqualityassurancedatesinclude: Boxedmacaroniandcheese Boxedsoups Bakeryitems Cereal Peanutbutter Mayonnaise GeneralFreshnessGuidelines Oncefoodarrivesinyourhome,it’sgoodforacertainlengthoftime.Thisguidelineisanestimate.Around90%ofpeopleintheU.S.don'tunderstandexpirationdatesonfoodlabels.Theythrowawayfoodthatisstillgoodorcouldbefrozenforlater.‌ Yourfoodmaybegoodforslightlymoreorlesstimebasedonhowyourstoreit: Milkisgoodfor7daysinyourfridge.Storeitinthebackofyourfridgeforthecoldesttemperatures. Eggsaregoodfor3to5weeks.Likemilk,youshouldstoreeggsinthebackofyourfridge. Groundmeatandpoultryaregoodfor1or2daysinyourfridge.Ifyouplantouseitlater,freezeitrightaway. Cookedmeatandpoultryaregoodfor3to4dayswhenstoredinyourfridge. Lunchmeatisgoodfor2weeksbeforeit’sopenedand3to5daysafterit’sopened. Dryriceorpastaisgoodfor1to2yearsinyourpantry.Onceprepared,it’sgoodfor3to4daysinyourfridge. Steaksaregoodfor3to5daysinyourfridge.‌ Cannedfruitisgoodfor12to18monthsinyourpantry.Onceopened,it’sgoodfor5to7daysifstoredinthefridge. AvoidWastingFood Youmayfeeltemptedtothrowawayfoodafteritpassesitsexpirationdate.Manypeoplethinkthatfoodmakesthemsickaftertheexpirationdate.Foodborneillnessesarenotaresultofnaturaldecay.Bacteriagrowincontaminatedfood,somakesureyoustorefoodproperly.‌ Continued Iffoodsitsoutatroomtemperatureforlongerthan2hours,throwitaway.Afterpreparingameal,storeleftoversquicklytoavoidcontamination.Youcanalsokeepyourcountersandfoodprepsurfacescleanandfreeofharmfulbacteria.‌ Ifyoudon’tplantousefoodrightaway,freezeit.Bacteriacan’tgrowinfreezingtemperatures,sofreezingextendsyourfood’sshelflife.Youcanfreezemilk,bread,andcheese.Ifyouplantofreezeeggs,beatthemfirstandstoretheminasealedcontainer.‌ Extendthelifeofyourproducewithbetterstoragetechniques.Examplesinclude: Wrappingbroccolistalksinadamppapertowel Storingceleryinaluminumfoil‌ Puttingasparagusinacupwithwater‌ Whenthetimecomestodisposeofanyfoodyoudidn’teat,youcancompostproduceandpackagedfoodslikebread.Compostingislikerecyclingbecauseyouputyourfoodtouseinsteadofthrowingitaway.‌ Pagination 10WorstSandwichesandBetterChoices GuidetoEatingHealthyCarbs BecomingaVegetarian:FoodstoChooseFrom WhyAmIAlwaysHungry? 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