It's Usually Safe to Eat Food Past the Expiration Date—Here's How to Know When It's Ok (2024)

There's no standardized system for food dating in this country. So is it really any wonder why dates on packaged foods are a bit, baffling? Approximately 40 states require dates on some perishable foods, like meat and dairy, so nowadays, you're likely to see your groceries labeled. But spoiler alert (pun intended): Food products are safe to consume past the date on the label, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

In order to reduce food waste, FSIS recommends that regardless of the date, consumers should evaluate the quality of the food before deciding to eat it or throw it away. (The one exception: Federal law requires a date on all infant formulas for safety and it should always be followed.) So what exactly do expiration dates mean then, and how long is food really good for?

RELATED: How Long You Can Store (Almost) Anything in the Fridge and Freezer

With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple compiled this simple guide to reading expiration dates and when to worry about food safety, so you can shop smarter and waste less.

It's Usually Safe to Eat Food Past the Expiration Date—Here's How to Know When It's Ok (1)

How to Read Expiration Dates

Depending on where you live, you may see different dates on your food and each has a different purpose. Here's a bit of clarity based on information from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and FSIS.

Best If Used By/Before: This is a quality assurance date and serves as a "suggestion" for when the taste and quality of food are at their peak. It is not a purchase or safety date.

Use By: This is the suggested date by when you should eat the food. But just because it's a day or two past the use-by date doesn't mean that consuming it will make you sick, although you should evaluate the quality of the food yourself after this time. It is not a safety date, except when used on infant formula.

Sell By: This is not a safety date, but rather a date for retailers that helps them determine how long an item should remain on the shelf. According to the IFT, "one-third of a product's shelf-life remains after the sell-by date for the consumer to use at home."

Freeze By: According to the USDA, this date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

RELATED: 7 Foods To Consider Freezing Right Now

How Long Are Foods Good After the Expiration Date?

"With an exception of infant formula, if the date [on your food] passes during home storage, a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident," according to FSIS. You can tell if a food is spoiled if it has an off odor, flavor, or texture.

With that in mind, here are the recommended expiration date guidelines for common foods thrown away too early.

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Food Expiration Date Chart

EggsEat within 3 to 5 weeks when refrigerated
YogurtEat within 2 weeks when refrigerated; within 2 months when frozen
MilkDrink within 1 week (opened) when refrigerated; within 3 months when frozen
ButterEat within 3 months when refrigerated; within 6 months when frozen
BaconEat within 2 weeks (unopened) or 1 week (opened) when refrigerated; within 1 month when frozen
Cold cuts, packagedEat within 2 weeks (unopened) or 5 days (opened) when refrigerated; within 2 months when frozen
Hot dogsEat within 2 weeks (unopened) or 1 week (opened) when refrigerated; within 1 to 2 months when frozen
KetchupEat within 6 months (opened) when refrigerated; can store in pantry for 1 year (unopened)
MayonnaiseEat within 2 months (opened) when refrigerated; can store in pantry for 3 months (unopened)
Jams and jelliesEat within 6 months (opened) when refrigerated; can store in pantry for 1 year (unopened)
Rice and dried pastaEat within 2 years
Beer, bottles and cansDrink within 1 day (opened) when refrigerated; can store in pantry for 9 months (unopened)
Soda, bottles and cansDrink within 2 days (opened) when refrigerated; can store in pantry for 6 months (unopened)

How Long Does Canned Food Last?

Yes, canned food can go bad. According to the USDA, high-acid canned goods, like tomatoes and citrus fruits, will keep for up to 1.5 years. Low-acid canned goods—that's pretty much everything else, including vegetables, meat, and fish—will last for up to 5 years, which makes them some of the top emergency foods to stockpile.

Canned foods are sterile, so they won't host bacteria, but eventually, the taste and texture of the items inside will deteriorate over time. Keep them at room temperature in a dark place (as you would with oils and spices), like a cabinet or a pantry, and avoid buying bulging, rusted, leaking, or deeply dented cans as they have a higher chance of being spoiled. Using an organizing tool in the same vein as a spice rack can help you keep track of your canned food to ensure proper rotation.

How Long Does Frozen Food Last?

Items from the freezer section are safe to eat indefinitely. They have expiration dates because they won't taste good forever; flavor and texture break down over time. Once you open a bag of frozen peas or corn, pour out a portion rather than reaching in with your hand, which can introduce bacteria. (Bacteria can't grow in the freezer, but they can survive. If you don't cook an item after you defrost it, the bacteria could still be dangerous.)

RELATED: 7 Major Mistakes You're Making With Your Freezer

How Long Do Leftovers Last?

Have a giant pot of chili that would feed a team of football players? Invite them over. According to the USDA, most refrigerated leftovers last 4 days, tops. Dishes that contain seafood or uncooked ingredients, like mayonnaise, spoil faster; so be sure to eat them within a couple of days. Don't let uneaten food linger on the counter for more than 2 hours. The longer a dish sits at room temperature, the more susceptible it is to bacteria growth. It's fine to put warm food in the refrigerator or freezer. When handling a dish that will take many hours to cool fully—a huge stockpot full of stew, say—transfer it to several smaller containers first.

Meanwhile, leftover meals you freeze yourself should be tossed in 3 to 4 months. After that, they can become icy and start to take on the flavors of other foods in the freezer.

RELATED: How to Reduce Food Waste in Your Home

Are you still concerned your food has gone bad? Consult our handy food storage guide, and find out how long everything lasts in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. You can even print out the version below and put it up on the fridge for future reference.

It's Usually Safe to Eat Food Past the Expiration Date—Here's How to Know When It's Ok (2)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the standard expiration date format for foods?

    The standard format is MMDDYY, where “MM” refers to the month, “DD” refers to the date, and “YY” refers to the year. So if a product says 101525, it means that the product expires on October 15, 2025.

  • Is it safe to buy food on its expiration date?

    Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to buy food on its expiration date. Expiration dates have more to do with the food's overall quality and texture instead of when it is safe or not safe to eat. As long as there are no signs of spoilage, you can eat it, but it might not taste as fresh as it once was.

  • What foods can you not eat after the expiration date?

    While most shelf-stable foods are safe to eat much longer than their expiration date. The same goes for frozen foods, as bacteria cannot grow in the freezer. But things like milk, cheese, fresh vegetables, and fruit should not be eaten past their prime because they can harbor bacteria that can be dangerous to your body, This is caused by the natural breakdown of organic matter. You'll also be able to tell that these foods have gone bad based on their appearance and smell.

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Sources

Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.

  1. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food Product Dating. Accessed Jan. 18, 2023.

  2. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), ScienceDaily, The Difference Between "Use-By" "Sell-By" and "Best-By" Dates. Accessed Jan. 18, 2023.

  3. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Shelf-Stable Food Safety. Accessed Jan. 18, 2023.

  4. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Leftovers and Food Safety. Accessed Jan. 18, 2023.

It's Usually Safe to Eat Food Past the Expiration Date—Here's How to Know When It's Ok (2024)

FAQs

It's Usually Safe to Eat Food Past the Expiration Date—Here's How to Know When It's Ok? ›

"With an exception of infant formula, if the date [on your food] passes during home storage, a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident," according to FSIS. 1 You can tell if a food is spoiled if it has an off odor, flavor, or texture.

How safe is it to eat food past expiration date? ›

Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.

Do you eat food that's past its expiration date if it still smells and looks fine? ›

"The sniff test remains the best gauge," Kaplan says, so if it looks and smells good, your food is still probably safe to eat. Of course, it's still best to err on the side of caution to avoid getting sick, so if you have any doubts about the safety or quality of your food, toss it out.

How long can you eat expired can food? ›

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.

How do you know the expiration date of food? ›

First, look for a date with the phrase “use by,” “sell by,” or “best by.” The date will typically be in a “Month/Day/Year” form, so a code like 110324 would mean November 3rd, 2024.

How many days you can eat after expiration date? ›

For sell-by dates that go past at home, you can continue to store the food for a short amount of time depending on what it is. Some common products are: ground meat and poultry (1 to 2 days past the date), beef (3 to 5 days past the date), eggs (3 to 5 weeks past the date).

What foods can you not eat after the expiration date? ›

But things like milk, cheese, fresh vegetables, and fruit should not be eaten past their prime because they can harbor bacteria that can be dangerous to your body, This is caused by the natural breakdown of organic matter. You'll also be able to tell that these foods have gone bad based on their appearance and smell.

Can you eat 20 year old canned food? ›

Good news: Shelf-stable canned goods are safe more or less indefinitely, lasting up to five years or more according to the USDA.

Can you eat expired food if it hasn't been opened? ›

Are Foods Safe to Eat After the Date Passes? With an exception of infant formula (described below), if the date passes during home storage, a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident (Chill: Refrigerate Promptly).

How long can you eat eggs after the expiration date? ›

"As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.

Will I be OK if I ate expired food? ›

You can get food poisoning from expired foods if they are spoiled or contaminated, so it really depends on what you're eating and exactly how expired it is. Perishable foods such as meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables are more likely to make you sick.

How long does it take for expired food to make you sick? ›

The time it takes food poisoning symptoms to start can vary. Illness often starts in about 1 to 3 days. But symptoms can start any time from 30 minutes to 3 weeks after eating contaminated food. The length of time depends on the type of bacteria or virus causing the illness.

Which drugs should never be used past their expiration date? ›

Examples include:
  • Anticoagulants & antiplatelets (blood thinners)
  • Epinephrine pens.
  • Inhalers (especially rescue inhalers)
  • Insulin.
  • Nitroglycerine tablets.
  • Seizure medications.
  • Thyroid medications.
Aug 23, 2023

Should you throw away food on the expiration date? ›

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.

How strict are use by dates? ›

FSA guidance for households on use-by dates includes: never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok. it is safe to eat food until midnight on the use-by date shown on a product, but not after, unless the food has been cooked or frozen.

Are eggs still good 2 weeks after the sell-by date? ›

While each carton of eggs is marked with an expiration date, if properly stored at 40°F or lower, they should be safe to eat for longer—usually two to three weeks past the expiration date. If you need healthy recipes to use up the eggs in your refrigerator, try one of these delicious egg recipes.

Is it safe to eat bagged salad after use-by date? ›

Therefore, if the "best-by" date has passed, you might still be able to eat the greens—but they might not have the same quality, taste, and freshness as before, says Havern. "If the leaves still look firm and [there's] no visible deterioration of the leaf tissue, you can still use them," Worobo says.

Is it safe to buy expired food? ›

"If it is stored in a safe manner, it's usually going to be okay after a use-by, best by or best-before date. It does not mean that that food is unsafe," said Registered Dietitian Sarah Barnes, who is the assistant professor of nutrition at La Salle University.

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