Kitchen Basics

15 Foods You Can Still Eat After the Expiry Date

Posted by Karen Kwan. Last updated on June 18, 2019

You find a box of crackers in your pantry that's past its best before date – do you still dig in? In many cases, expiration dates are important indicators of how safe the food is to consume, but with certain items, it's used as more of a guideline. Here, we've rounded up 15 products that are fine to eat past the expiry date, so long as you take the proper precautions.

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Canned Goods

<p>The expiry date of canned foods usually indicates three years from when it's been shelved, but you can consume them past the date for up to four more years. Make sure to keep your canned goods in a cool, dry spot, and if there are any dents, rust or leaking, that's when it's time to ditch the goods.</p>
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Hard Cheeses

<p>Hard cheeses such as Cheddar and Parmesan are still alright to eat even after mold has started to form. Just make sure to cut off any moldy parts before shredding for your <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/16-wacky-ways-to-eat-mac-and-cheese/" target="_blank">mac and cheese</a> or topping your pasta. Generally, hard cheeses are okay to eat for a month past the expiration date.</p>
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Eggs

<p>Have you ever gone to make an <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/omelette-recipes-eggs/" target="_blank">omelette</a> and noticed the date on your egg carton has already passed? Eggs are another staple that people don't always use up within the expiry date label. Here's a trick to check if eggs have gone without cracking them open: place in a bowl of water to assess its buoyancy. If it sinks, it's still safe to eat; if it floats, throw it in the compost bin.</p>
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Bread

<p>The best by date on fresh bread is assuming you're keeping your loaf sitting on the counter. But so long as you don't see mold growing on your grains, it should be okay to make that sandwich or <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/heavenly-french-toast-recipes/" target="_blank">French toast</a>. If you want to extend the shelf life of your bread, store it in the fridge — it can last for up to two weeks — or keep it in the freezer.</p>
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Butter

<p>If your butter is about to expire, pop it into the freezer to keep it fresh for longer. Keep in mind that it's best to use it all once you've thawed it. Have quite a bit of butter left over? Use it for your next baking recipe.</p>
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Yogurt

<p>If unopened, yogurt is safe to eat for 1-3 weeks past its sell-by date if stored in your fridge immediately after purchase. It can also be frozen for up to two months, which could also be helpful with morning smoothie prep. A small amount of liquid in your opened container of yogurt doesn't mean it's gone bad. That's whey, which a simple stir will fix. If you see excess liquid pooling at the top and curdling on the bottom, it's time to toss that yogurt out.</p>
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Dry Pasta

<p>Pasta won't spoil easily because it's a dry product. You can use it well past the expiration date, so long as it doesn't smell funny (egg pasta can produce a rancid odour). Generally, dry pasta has a shelf life of two years, but you can typically push it to three. So go ahead and make that <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/comfort-food-classic-top-25-lasagna-recipes/" target="_blank">lasagna</a> or carbonara using the noodles you found hidden at the back of your pantry.</p>
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Salad Mixes

<p>Those packages of salad mixes, spinach and arugula are okay to eat past the due date. If the leaves have wilted, just cut off those bits before use. When your greens are starting to decay though (think mushy, slimy leaves), it's time to chuck. If your lettuce is still in good shape, here are <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/meal-sized-salads/">15 healthy meal-sized salads</a> for dinner inspiration.</p>
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Frozen Food

<p>Ice-cold temperatures prevent foods from going bad, so any packed frozen foods are generally safe to eat past the expiration date. If the food gets freezer burn due to dehydration caused by oxidation it won't be very tasty. However, if you're feeling frugal, freezer burned food is still safe to eat.</p>
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Cookies, Crackers and Chips

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

<p>Chocolate can last way beyond the best before date depending on the grade, how it is stored, and whether the package is opened or not. Ideally, you want to keep your chocolate products in a cool, dry place at a temperature of 70ºF/21ºC or less. For semisweet chocolate chips, they can be stored in the pantry for 2-4 months past the printed date, from 6-8 months in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator, and from 2-3 years in the freezer. Milk chocolate will last up to 8 months past the printed date in the freezer. Also, don't mistake fat or sugar bloom on your chocolate for mold. Despite the splotchy look, it can still be safely consumed or used in baking your favourite <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/sinful-chocolate-desserts/" target="_blank">chocolate desserts</a>.</p>
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Peanut Butter

<p>If unopened, both smooth and crunchy peanut butter will keep for one year past its best before date whether stored in the pantry or fridge. Once it's been opened, both are good for 3-4 months in the pantry or 6-8 months in the refrigerator past that date. Natural peanut butter has a shorter shelf life -- just 2-3 months in the pantry or 3-6 months in the fridge beyond its best before date. It's perfectly normal for a natural separation of oil in your natural peanut butter. You can either stir it back in or pour it out and use it for cooking. If your smooth or crunch peanut butter changed to a hard, dry texture or the colour darkens, it's time to throw it away.</p>
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Cereal

<p>Not everyone likes the same cereal in a household. If members in your family enjoy different brands, those cereal boxes can stock up and take longer to consume. Rest assured, cereal is okay to eat for up to six months past the best before date — so long as you can handle the stale flavour! Alternatively, you can bake with it instead. Here are <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/cereal-bar-snack-recipes" rel="noopener" target="_blank">20+ tasty cereal snack ideas</a>. </p>
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Pickled Items

<p>Pickled cucumbers, peppers, beets or other vegetables are good for 1-2 years past their best before date, whether opened or unopened, and can be stored in the refrigerator or pantry. They may lose their crunch over time but are still safe to consume. How do you know if pickled items have gone bad? A sure sign is a rounded or dome-shaped top of the lid, which indicates the jar was not sealed properly. When opening a new jar of pickles, you should hear a pop when the seal breaks.</p>
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Ketchup, Mustard and Relish

<p>Condiments like ketchup, mustard and relish have a long shelf life. If your ketchup is unopened, it can be stored in the pantry for up to a year past its best before date. Once it's been opened, store it in the fridge and consume within six months. Yellow mustard can be stored unopened for up to 2 years past its date, or for a year in the fridge once opened. Unopened pickle relish can be kept in your pantry for up to 2 1/2 years, or up to nine months in the fridge after opening.</p>
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