How-To: Store It, Use It and Save
Use it? Or lose it? quiz
See if you know what to keep or toss from eight sample foods, so you aren’t throwing away food that’s still good.
Question 1
Your milk’s “Sell By” date was yesterday.
The sell-by date is the last day the store can have food on the shelves. If the food looks and smells okay, it probably is. Use it soon or (for meats and cheeses) freeze.
Milk is likely good for a week after the date.
Question 2
Your fruit has soft or moldy spots.
Many firm fruits and vegetables (like apples and carrots) and hard cheeses can still be used if you cut off the mold, plus about an extra inch around the bad spot.
Use the good parts of the fruit in a cooked dessert or smoothie.
Question 3
Your baby’s formula is past the “Expiration” or “Exp” date.
Follow expiration dates closely for baby formula, medicine and vitamins.
Even unopened formula should not be used after the date. Check dates and buy the one with the longest shelf life.
Question 4
Your carrots (or other vegetables) are getting soft.
If food is starting to wilt or soften, don’t toss them yet! Sometimes putting them in cold water will help them firm back up. Unless they have a bad smell or are getting moldy, add these veggies to soup, stew, chili, omelets, casseroles—they don’t have to be on the ingredients list. Just chop and add them in.
Cut up soft vegetables and freeze them for later—food stops ripening in the freezer.
Question 5
Your lettuce has tiny bugs on it.
If the food looks fresh and there are just a few little bugs (especially on food from a farmers market) just rinse them off. If there are a lot of bugs, or if there are worms or it feels slimy, toss it.
Small brown spots aren’t harmful to eat. You can also cut around them if the rest of the leaf is healthy.
Question 6
The canned beans at the food pantry are dated “Best By” last month.
Canned foods can often last far beyond the date shown. If your food pantry is giving things out, they’re safe to eat. In fact, canned beans can be good for a few years after the date shown.
Small dents in cans are okay. A big dent that you can fit your finger in may mean the food inside isn’t safe to eat.
Question 7
Your potatoes have green spots. Or they have sprouted.
Potatoes with green spots or sprouts can have toxins. The same is true of potatoes that taste bitter. Stay on the safe side and throw them out.
Keep your potatoes out of the fridge. Cold air turns the starch to sugar and can make them darken when cooking.
Question 8
Your bread has tomorrow’s date on it, but you’ll never eat it all in time.
Put your bread in the freezer before it has a chance to get moldy. Other grain-based foods, such as flour, cereal, pasta and rice can be good for 6 months to 2 years after the date.
Putting a slice of frozen bread in the toaster activates the starch to make bread chewy again.
You got out of 8 right
Want to know more?
Take a look at this handy list of foods and their real shelf lives.
Next, we’ll learn some great tips for stretching meals to save time and money.
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