6 Foods You Should Never Eat Past the Expiration Date, According to Doctors
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Youdle) – You're no stranger to the endless chore of stocking and re-stocking your pantry, right? It's a constant dance of freshness and safety, of making sure your hard-earned money doesn't get wasted on spoiled food. With that in mind, it's essential to know which foods should never be eaten past their expiration date, according to reporting from Real Simple.
Proper storage can extend freshness, but not safety. Sure, keeping foods like mushrooms dry or salads well-sealed can delay spoilage, but expired items should still be thrown out to prevent any nasty foodborne illnesses. It's a tough pill to swallow, but safety first, right?
Some foods are high-risk and should always be discarded once they hit their expiration date. If you've got raw meat, deli meats, unpasteurized cheeses, or mushrooms in your fridge and their time is up, it's time for them to go. They can quickly grow harmful bacteria like salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli after their expiration date. Not something you want on your dinner plate, is it?
While some pantry staples can last past their “sell-by” dates, the “use-by” or expiration date marks the last day certain foods—like meat and dairy—can be safely eaten. And though tossing out potentially hazardous food may feel like a stab at your wallet, it's a necessary evil for keeping yourself and your family safe. Here are the six foods to watch:
Raw Meat
Raw Fish and Seafood
Deli Meat and Cold Cuts
Packaged Salads
Unpasteurized Cheeses
Mushrooms
So next time you're doing a fridge clean-out or grocery shop, keep these tips in mind.
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