9 Useful Ways To Use Expired Foods (2024)

FAQs

What can we do with expired food? ›

In an effort to reduce food waste, it is important that consumers understand that the dates applied to food are for quality and not for safety. Food products are safe to consume past the date on the label, and regardless of the date, consumers should evaluate the quality of the food product prior to its consumption.

“In the case of most commercially processed foods, it's contamination during processing and packaging that leads to foodborne illness, not the age of the food. So, even after some time passes, candy should be safe to eat as long as it was properly handled and it remains unopened prior to eating.”

Mayo Needs to Be Tossed Two Months After Opening

A safe rule of thumb is anything that contains mayonnaise should be tossed at the time of its expiration, especially if the jar has been opened, says dietitian Bess Berger, RDN, with the New Jersey-based company Nutrition by Bess.

Pour juice, pop and other drinks down your sink. Pour spoiled milk in your green cart for composting. Use newspaper, flyers and used paper towels to help soak up any excess liquid. Only put in what can be absorbed by the contents of your kitchen pail (fuller kitchen pails can absorb more liquids than emptier ones).

When cookies or chips get old, the stale taste is quite obvious. But as long as it doesn't smell funky (the oils in the cookie may go bad over a long period of time) and it doesn't crumble apart in your hand, then it's okay to eat.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

While it should stay good longer in the fridge as opposed to stored in the pantry, it will go bad eventually. Once you refrigerate peanut butter, don't forget about it indefinitely. If refrigerated peanut butter has passed the expiration date on the packaging, throw it away, no matter when you opened it.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, canned contents are safe to eat as long as the can is in “good shape.” The Canned Food Alliance agrees, citing 100-year-old canned food that was recovered from sunken ships and tested microbiologically safe.

Eating a ten-year-old candy cane might not be the most enjoyable experience, as the candy could become stale, lose its flavor, or develop an unpleasant texture. However, it's unlikely to cause any serious harm, as sugar is a natural preservative.

Do lollipops expire? ›

Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and other individually wrapped candies can essentially last forever if they're stored right and kept away from moisture. Dark chocolate can last one to two years in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk and white chocolate will last up to 10 months.

However, if properly stored, licorice candy has a shelf life of 6-12 months and will remain safe to consume well past its expiration date. So yes, it is safe to eat expired Twizzlers! The only time you need to worry is if there's an off smell or mold appears on your licorice.

Yes, condoms do expire. Most have expiration dates printed on the packaging. Avoid using a condom after its expiration date because it will start to break down and be much less effective at preventing STDs and pregnancy.

Yes, ketchup can go bad. If unopened, commercial ketchup “can last for up to a year in your pantry,” says Okegbe, but once opened and refrigerated, it should ideally be consumed within six months. If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe.

However, if the dressing is significantly past the expiration date, or if there are any signs of spoilage (such as an off smell, appearance, or taste), it should be discarded.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that most food is safe even after such dates unless “spoilage is evident.” Given the lack of clarity about what these dates mean, many consumers employ a “when in doubt, throw it out” strategy.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

Finally, if food is no longer edible, we work to convert it to animal feed, compost or energy.

Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture. Beyond this date, the product begins to deteriorate although it is still edible: Expiration Date: Means what it says - if you haven't used a product by this date, toss it.