Here’s What You Need to Know About Food Expiration Dates | March 22, 2025

Eggs are safe to eat for up to three to five weeks after purchase. Place them in a basin of water and check for freshness. If they sink, they’re still good; if they float, it’s time to say goodbye. Chicken and meats can stay refrigerated for a day or two after their sell-by date; freezing is your best bet if you want to keep them longer. Milk: As long as it doesn’t have an off-odor or curdle, milk can often stay drinkable for about a week beyond its “best before” date. Milk: As long as it doesn’t have an off-odor or curdle, milk can often stay drinkable for about a week beyond its “best before” date. Dried goods like rice and pasta can last forever as long as they’re stored in a cool, dry environment. Some research estimates that rice lasts for 4 to 5 years. Canned Foods: Canned goods are particularly sturdy. As long as the cans are in excellent condition (no dents, rust, or swelling), they are safe to eat. Frozen foods can remain safe to eat virtually forever if stored at 0°F (-18°C) or colder. However, over time, the quality can degrade. Finding Contamination: Continued on next pageOn your food containers, you have probably come across a series of words, including “Best if Used by,” “Use by,” and “Sell by.” Often, these labels are misleading and give us the impression that it is inevitably dangerous to ingest food after a certain date. In fact, these labels are more about when the product tastes and looks its best—during its prime quality. Even after these dates, the product is still safe to eat. “Best if Used by” indicates the date when the food tastes and is at its freshest. “Use By” indicates the recommended expiry date for the product to be consumed in order to ensure optimum quality. Designed for stores, “Sell By” will allow businesses to decide how long they want to present a product for sale.
Reduce food waste:

Finding out that about thirty percent of the food produced in America is wasted each year is frightening. Our tendency to rely primarily on expiration dates is one of the culprits behind this astonishing figure. We throw away food that can still be consumed, which not only affects our own financial situation, but also environmental issues.

So how long can you keep some common foods past their expiration date?

Eggs: